Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre abruptly cut off in Canadian House while questioning Chinese spying
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Speaker of the House Anthony Rota did not want to allow an emergency debate on why the government failed to inform MP Michael Chong that he and his family were being targeted by the Chinese Communist Party.
(LifeSiteNews) — Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre had his microphone abruptly cut off by Speaker of the House Anthony Rota on Tuesday after he demanded an emergency debate be held to investigate why one of his MPs was being targeted by agents of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Rota, who has been a Liberal MP for decades, rejected an emergency debate be held, saying, “I do not want to enter into an argument here.”
Poilievre wanted the House to discuss why one of his MPs, Michael Chong, was kept in the dark from both the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and the Trudeau government about the fact he and his family were the targets of spying and intimidation tactics by agents of the CCP, as per a top-secret report.
Conservative MP and former party leader Andrew Scheer said that the issue was “pressing.”
“Beijing has sought and continues to seek to influence and intimidate Canadian citizens,” he added.
Scheer went on to note that “Beijing’s intimidation tactics are not limited to Members of Parliament but are being deployed against many Canadians of Chinese descent in communities across the country.”
“These allegations are widely reported and well established through House of Commons committee testimony.”
Despite the calls from Conservative MPs, Rota refused to budge and gave no reason as to why he would not allow an emergency debate. His decision was met with loud jeers from the opposition Conservatives.
At this point, Rota asked Poilievre if he had anything to say to the “Chair?” The conversation then went as follows:
- Poilievre: “Actually he does have something to say – ”
- Some Hon. Members: “Oh, oh!”
- Poilievre: “You asked me if I had something to say. I do – ”
- Some Hon Members: “Oh, oh!”
- Poilievre: “I think it is outrageous. We stand in this Parliament to represent our constituents, and we need the ability – ”
- Some Hon. Members: “Oh, oh!”
- Rota: “If he continues, he will be ejected from the House.”
- Poilievre: “You asked me.”
- Speaker Rota: “I am cutting you off.”
It was at this point Poilievre’s mic was cut. However, he continued, saying, “I find your ruling baffling.”
“We have a Member of Parliament who was threatened,” adding that he would not let the speaker “shut us down.”