Conservatives' New Tactic: Heckling Female MPs into Silence
The Conservative Party's new tactic in the House of Commons is gender
based heckling. When women opposition MPs speak,the heckling by the
Conservatives becomes so loud so as to drown out the questions of
these elected women. They are using their noise and numbers in an
attempt to silence women in the house. This was demonstrated 2 days
ago when Carolyn Bennett (LIB) rose to ask a question in the House.
Megan Leslie (NDP) has also spoken out about this issue.
Yesterday Jack Layton made the following statement in
the house.
L'hon. Jack Layton (Toronto-Danforth, NPD) : Monsieur le Président,
les citoyens nomment un député à cette Chambre pour représenter leurs
valeurs de coopération et de respect mutuel. Nous assistons
régulièrement à des écarts de comportement du députés qui déshonorent
la confiance que les gens ont placé en nous.
During question period we have been witnessing undeniably sexist
heckling from members of the government side. This abuse is growing
hotter, it is growing more frequent and there is more bullying. I can
hear some of it now, except in this case it is not targeting women as
it all too often does in this chamber. It targets women representing
opposition parties, all the opposition parties in the House.
L'intimidation sexiste n'est aucunement justifiable au Canada et ne
peut en aucun cas être tolérée dans notre Parlement.... Read more
As a parliamentarian, as a man, a father, a grandfather, I call on the
government's leadership to really get a grip on its members and set a
higher standard.
Action suggestion: Let's write to the speaker, Peter Milliken, about
this issue requesting that he begin to act as Speaker and discipline MPs
who conduct themselves in sexist and intimidating ways:
Peter Milliken
316-N Centre Block
Ottawa, ON
K1A OA6
E-mail address SpkrOff@parl.gc.ca
I hope some of you will add your voice to demonstrate against this by
writing to Milliken or Conservative MPs. The Conservatives are
providing another reason why women will not run for elected politics.
Well....it seems that play book action is trying to be instrumented everywhere.
The women should all heckle the CON MP's and Harper everytime too.
Letter written and sent off...
November 4, 2009
Hon. Peter Milliken, Speaker
316-N Centre Block
Ottawa, ON
K1A OA6
Mr. Milliken,
As a tax-paying citizen working to ensure your salary, I am entitled to see Parliamentarians held in check when partisan politics have government MPs heckling female Opposition speakers into inaudibility.
This display of unadulterated sexism is a disgrace, and you are directly responsible for allowing it to go on, even after MPs Megan Leslie and Jack Layton have denounced it.
I await your answer as to what you intend to do to bring the government party to order.
Martin Dufresne
They have been doing this consistently too Bill Siksay since before the last election. I am glad someone else has noticed the misogyny even though the homophobia has apparently not been noticed. Of course Bill makes himself a Con target by being an out spoken opponent of their crime and security agenda. The nasty and vicious attacks on my MP have been going on for along time with no commentary by Jack or any one else.
wow, i thought you guys supported heckling.......especially you remind......talk about the pot calling the kettle.....
not that i agree with this tactic it is disgusting and those responsible should be reprimanded
I take exception to this.
Thanks boomboom....
and I did not know that kropotkin, as I have not watched QP, in a few years. Unless am in the city. That is freaking nasty....and I wish I had known before I sent my letter off.
On that note, I got a letter back from Speaker of the House already, asking me for my mailing address, which I totally forgot to put in, as he responds back by regular mail apparently.
so do i. why is it ok for babblers to heckle......?
Susan, this is a gratuitous personal attack, dragging an issue from one forum to an unrelated one and off topic. a triple play. Please don't. I am aware you have felt personally attacked youself, as has pretty much everyone on the board but this is not how to deal with it.
I looked at the title and wondered what was "new" about this tactic.
thread drift/So if everyone on the Board "have felt personally attacked" what can be done about it?/end thread drift
My thought exactly.