Layton is least civil MP, study finds

[CHIMO]

In the business of politics it sometimes pays to be negative, says a university researcher who studied question period decorum in Ottawa.

A controversial study released Wednesday by McMaster University’s Alex Sevigny concluded that NDP Leader Jack Layton, who has often promised to return civility to the 308-member Parliament, is in fact the least civil MP of all.

But Sevigny told the Toronto Star that being uncivil is not necessarily a bad thing, especially for opposition leaders vying for recognition and sound bites during the rough and tumble of question period.

The study, conducted during the spring, found that Layton is among the worst offenders in the Commons, for negative exchanges during Question Period. Incidentally, he was virtually tied with former Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1000687--layton-is-least-civil-mp-study-finds?bn=1