Beyond The Commons

 Beyond The Commons

Aaron Wherry covers all the goings-on in and around Parliament Hill. Follow Aaron on Twitter: @aaronwherry

Categories: Beyond The Commons, Capital Read

Idea alert

by Aaron Wherry on Friday, October 8, 2010 3:03pm - 0 Comments

Shortly before Question Period this morning, the NDP’s Bruce Hyer proposed a game of musical chairs.

Mr. Speaker, I am dismayed and embarrassed by MPs heckling and catcalling here in the House. Canadians do not like it. It does not have to be this way.

In Scandinavia I have observed firsthand the way in which proportional representation leads to rational discussion and debate, mutual respect, workable compromises and much better governance than we have here. Our constituents are looking to us for statesmanship, leadership and effective government that represents not just regions and factions but all Canadians.

I have an idea that could help us achieve some of that mutual respect and co-operation that is needed to desperately right now. We could choose to change our seating charts and abandon the hockey bench blocks of seating in the House by party. We could randomize seating here in the House. Some time spent in the House next to members from other parties will lead to recognition of us all as people with whom we can share ideas with more mutual respect.

Our constituents want better. They deserve better. Let us act now to improve our system and our behaviour.

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  • Margaret

    Start answering questions, and the yelling might stop. It doesn't sound all that bad to me anyway. So what? It really does not bother me, and I'm sure it doesn't bother 75% of Canadians, and probably more like 90%.

    Yell away. Just answer the questions. That is the biggest problem in Parliament, is the evasiveness and shiftiness of this government.

  • Phil_King

    By all means, make Harper, Ignatief, Layton and Duceppe sit together!

    • Silly_Walks

      You could sell tickets for that. Balance the budget that way!

      • brooster

        And it would be legal, too…extreme fighting has just been licensed in Ontario

        • Charles H.

          Did anybody else just hear the old Star Trek fight music start up?

          • MostlyCivil

            Bet you Tony (Slam-Wow) Clement has a foreign object in his tights.

            Wait, I'm not sure I like the way that sounds…

          • Holly Stick
          • MostlyCivil

            Good lord, those are horrid. And hilarious. I wonder how many cabinet ministers have those already?

  • Margaret

    What does bug me is the sanctimoniousness, and holier-than-thou-ness, and Sunday-School-teacher attitude of the people who are proposing these ridiculous solutions.

    How about tackling rude drivers instead?

    • government_noob

      Which rude drivers? The ones that drive too slow and clog traffic? The ones that drive too fast and cause a danger? The ones that drive large vehicles and obstruct your vision? The ones the ride bicycles and ignore traffic laws? The ones that can't see further than three feet in front of their hood and cause traffic jams by slamming on their brakes?

      In any event, every time I've tried to tackle another driver I've ended up on the receiving end of a very stern lecture from an angry police officer.

    • Reverend_Blair

      Pierre Pollievre?

    • Mike T.

      It's very hard to tackle them when they're still behind the wheels of cars – dangerous even!

  • gottabesaid

    This is a silly idea. Instead of yelling and screaming and heckling, there will be yelling and screaming and heckling and fisticuffs.

    Wait a sec.

    This is an AWESOME idea.

    • Dave

      Thirty million Taiwanese can't be wrong.

  • ColdStanding

    He didn't just dis hockey, did he?

  • WDM

    Maybe he'll get to sit next to Michael Chong, that way they can have a nice chat about why Hyer was one of only 44 MPs to vote against Chong's QP Reform motion, and at first glance the only non-BQ MP to do so.

    • bennji1977

      I believe that Don Davies (NDP) voted against it as well

      • WDM

        Thanks! I thought another one did, but when I did a quick scan of the nay list today I only noticed Hyer.

  • Emily

    Well, it's a start.

    Maybe in another century or so we'll actually have them sitting around a table talking to one another, instead of yelling across an aisle.

    • government_noob

      Sheer madness, Emily. Won't anyone think of CPAC's ratings?

  • John W.

    This is an interesting idea. Like many of it's kind, I never heard it before. I'm trying to think of the downside. Questions could still be asked and answered. Debates would still be the same. Why not?

  • government_noob

    Did anyone throw anything a Hyer when he made this suggestion?

  • tobyornotoby

    Maybe Hyer is thinking of Thunder Bay City Council where the councillors sit around a table. Locals fondly remember two-term mayor Walter Assef's choke hold on one of the councillors during a meeting. Broadcasts of those meetings were a big hit on the local community televison station in the 80's. Like wrestling only real.

    • Jenn_

      So sorry. I meant to thumb you up and missed, just a little to the right.

      • tobyornotoby

        It's okay, I can handle it, as long as you're "just a little to the right."

        ;-)

  • Dave

    Crazy fact! Here's a list of all the NDP provincial governments which, having been elected under FPTP, proceeded to bring in PR legislation:

    • Orson Bean

      Exactly. Glenn Clark and the BC NDP didn't mind FPTP one bit in the 1990s, when they managed to win more seats than the BC Liberals despite losing the popular vote.

      • Greg

        Which is exactly why we need PR. Thanks Orson.

  • Blue

    Last week the MP`s were depressed and sad.
    This week they are dismayed and embarrassed.
    Next week they will be ———- and —————.
    What a bunch of sucky-babies.

    • David_M.

      Next week they will be ———- and —————.
      still there & disappointing a nation?

  • Greg

    "PM to Iggy: Sorry, I can't answer that question, I'd be able to give you the financial numbers if my industry minister were not sitting at the other end of the room. Let me try to get him on the cell phone."

    How it works now is, John Baird gets up and insults Iggy while the PM is out of the House, giving a speech to workers, warning of evil Liberals.

  • s_c_f

    This idea ranks right up there with Fortier's periodic 15-year referendums.

    How the heck can the government consult with other members of the government if they're all over the place? Same goes with the other parties.

    "PM to Iggy: Sorry, I can't answer that question, I'd be able to give you the financial numbers if my industry minister were not sitting at the other end of the room. Let me try to get him on the cell phone."

  • John W.

    That's not how it works in the House. That's a total misrepresentation.

  • ajo

    John W. is right – s_c_f is totally misrepresenting what happens in the house. Under Hyer's very sensible proposal, s_c_f's scenario could be addressed by the PM merely asking the industry minister to speak to the issue.

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