It goes beyond Calandra
Re: The smirking face of the government, Sept. 25
Great editorial. The latest exchange between Opposition leader Thomas Mulcair and the prime minister’s parliamentary secretary, Paul Calandra, tends to reinforce the unfavourable reputation that some Canadians have for their elected representatives. Canadians’ call for more respectable behaviour during question period has gone ignored for a long time.
While Calandra (who apologized on Friday) may be following his direction from the prime minister’s office, Speaker Andrew Scheer should have insisted on a more appropriate answer. If he does not currently have that authority, the required legislation should be adjusted as it is evident we can’t count on the politicians to change their juvenile behaviour.
As for MPs that sit there during question period expressing their amusement with contrived replies, they are just as bad. And we wonder why people have such a high disregard for some of our elected representatives.
Dale Boire,
Ottawa
A childish circus
Honourable Canadians look at question period and question the legitimacy of our democratic institutions. What person of character would want to serve in such a circus? All Canadians should be saddened by this childish spectacle.
Tom Conklin,
Ottawa
The government’s man
I am reminded of an old Navy saying, “A ship is known by its boats.” In this case Paul Calandra is the boat. The government is the ship.
Don MacKay,
Ottawa
