Speaker Expels Poilievre from Commons Amid Tense Exchange Over ‘Wacko’ Remark Directed at PM

In a fiery exchange during Tuesday’s question period, Speaker Greg Fergus took a decisive action, ejecting Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre from the session following a heated confrontation with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Poilievre’s expulsion stemmed from his denunciation of Trudeau’s endorsement of British Columbia’s initiative to decriminalize select hard drugs as “wacko,” labeling the Prime Minister himself as such.

Refusing to retract his statement despite Fergus’s call to withdraw the “unparliamentary language,” Poilievre persisted, offering only to substitute “wacko” with either “extremist” or “radical.” Fergus swiftly enforced Poilievre’s removal, citing behavior deemed unacceptable.

Pierre Poilievre refused to withdraw his comments a number of times before being removed from the House for the day for disregarding the rules of the House pic.twitter.com/U3TP0Osoh7

— Polling Canada (@CanadianPolling) April 30, 2024

Subsequently, the Conservative caucus staged a collective departure from the Commons chamber in solidarity with their ousted leader, leaving an unmistakable void in the parliamentary proceedings.

Taking his grievance to social media, Poilievre reinforced his stance, characterizing Trudeau’s drug policy as “wacko,” pointing to the alarming death toll from overdoses in B.C. and the concerns raised by healthcare professionals as evidence.

Meanwhile, Trudeau did not shy away from the verbal joust, branding Poilievre as “spineless” and accusing him of resorting to personal attacks to garner votes, referencing past controversies including Trudeau’s own instances of wearing blackface.

Trudeau further accused Poilievre of aligning with extremist factions, citing his recent visit to a protest camp where symbols associated with radical ideologies were displayed. Emphasizing Poilievre’s alleged failure to denounce such groups and referencing endorsements from contentious figures like Alex Jones, Trudeau painted a picture of calculated political maneuvering.

Responding to accusations of racism, Poilievre pointedly criticized Trudeau’s administration for allocating funding to individuals with a history of anti-Semitic rhetoric, highlighting a case where funding was revoked following public outcry.

The tumultuous session also saw Conservative MP Rachael Thomas removed from the chamber for her outburst directed at Fergus, underscoring the charged atmosphere prevailing during the proceedings.

In this high-stakes political clash, tempers flared, and accusations flew, illustrating the deep divides and contentious exchanges characterizing contemporary Canadian politics.