Tempers flare in the House of Commons over Iraq mission non-answers

[jakeXT]

Tue, Sep 23: NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair wanted to talk about Canada’s military mission in Iraq. Conservative MP Paul Calandra wanted to talk about a NDP fundraiser’s inflammatory comments about Israel. What followed was an utterly bizzare exchange which ended with Mulcair questioning the Speaker of the House’s integrity.

The government's refusal to answer questions about Canada's deployment in Iraq sparked a flare-up during question period in the House of Commons on Tuesday.

Given the already testy atmosphere in the House, that may not be all that surprising. What was unexpected, however, was how Speaker Andrew Scheer chose to handle it.

After several attempts to elicit an answer to even the most basic questions on Canada's 30-day mission — like, for instance, just when those 30 days officially began — it was clear to observers that NDP Leader Tom Mulcair had pretty much had it.

Since MPs returned to Ottawa last week, both the NDP and the Liberals have tried to pin the government down on the start date for the 30-day mission. Several government representatives, including Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, have confirmed the clock began ticking Sept. 5, but not one Conservative has been willing to say that in the House.

Twice in a row Tuesday, the prime minister's parliamentary secretary, Paul Calandra, replied to Mulcair's queries on the Iraq mission by demanding Mulcair explain a two-months-old Facebook comment, posted by someone identifying themselves as an "NDP fundraiser," which expressed harsh criticism of the Israeli Defence Force and frustration over media coverage of the Gaza conflict.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/tempers-flare-in-the-house-over-iraq-mission-non-answers-1.2775543

[ctsnowman]

1. So Canada

does have Tea Party members. AKA Republicans.

[DaDeacon]

2. AKA...idiots!!!!