May 18, 2016

OTTAWA, ON – The Leader of the Official Opposition and interim Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, Rona Ambrose, made the following statement in response to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s behaviour prior to a vote in the House of Commons this evening.

“In my nearly twelve years as a Member of Parliament, I have never seen a fellow member – let alone a Prime Minister – act as disrespectfully and recklessly toward his colleagues, or toward Parliament, as I did this evening.

“Prime Minister Trudeau’s behaviour today was shocking. He demonstrated a complete lack of respect for members of the House of Commons, and for Parliament. His clear intent was to intimidate Members physically and his actions resulted in my NDP colleague Ruth Ellen Brosseau being shoved into a desk. She was clearly shaken up.

“No one should ever have to deal with this kind of behaviour in any workplace. The fact that it’s the Prime Minister of Canada is embarrassing. He should be ashamed of his actions.

“Today’s actions by the Prime Minister are also a culmination of Liberal attempts to curtail debate on key issues and remove the tools the Opposition has to hold the government to account.”