NDP leader apologizes for telling MLA Steven Fletcher to 'keep your mouth shut'

NDP leader Wab Kinewhas apologized after he was taken to taskfor allegedly telling a fellow MLA to keep his mouth shut.

After his member's statement condemning the government's response to climate change Tuesday, Kinewwalked to the back row of the chamber totell independentMLA Steven Fletcher to be quiet while he'sspeaking.

He reportedly told Fletcher, "you better keep your mouth shut," said Liberal MLA Cindy Lamoureux.

The line appeared to beoverheard byConservativeMLA Wayne Ewasko, who brought the matter up in the Houseminutes later, callingit an embarrassment.

Kinewtold question period he was merely conveying to his colleague that he should not speak during apoint of order.

Not heckling: Fletcher

In response, Fletcher said he was not heckling, but discussing a procedural issue with several people, including adeputy clerk.

"I'm sorry to the member if that was somehow bothersome to him," he told his colleagues.

While Fletcher said he took no offence to Kinew's statement, Speaker of the House MyrnaDriedgerdescribed the incident as a "teachingmoment" to encourageMLAs to treat each otherwith respect.

Afterward, Kinewsaid he approached Fletcher to apologize.

"I said in the future Iwon't be quite so forceful with my language. Iwill endeavour to couch my language in extremely soft terms so that everyone is able to, I guess, understand the substance of what I'msaying andnotbe put off by perhaps the delivery," he told reporters.

"The substance of what I'm saying is relevant. When somebody's making a point in the House, whether it's a question, whether it's a statement, other people shouldn't be talking."

Watch the back-and-forth over Kinew'swords:

'In the future I won't be quite so forceful with my language' : Wab Kinew

6 years ago

Duration 3:16

NDP leader Wab Kinew has apologized after he was taken to task for allegedly telling a fellow MLA to keep his mouth shut.