Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise on a point of order under Rules 23 (h), (i), (k) and (m). I’ve waited until today to raise this point of order, because I wanted to review the unedited Hansard.
Mr.
Speaker, yesterday during debate on
Committee Motion 45-16(2), Mr. Abernethy said, and I quote from page 106 of unedited Hansard for Tuesday, June 10, 2008: “I clearly understand why the Member for Deh Cho is upset. We are knocking off $300,000 for the 60th parallel visitors’ park.”
Mr. Abernethy’s comments alleged that I was upset. I’m not sure how this was determined, since I did not speak to the motion. His comments also impute that I was defending government projects in my own constituency, which I did not.
Mr. Speaker, I consider Mr. Abernethy’s remarks to be disrespectful to me, my constituents and to the concept of consensus government. These comments and remarks do little more than create disorder in the House. It is my exclusive right and privilege to state my opinions and beliefs in this Assembly, and I am very concerned that Mr. Abernethy may have infringed on this right by suggesting that I put my position on the motion under debate.
In this regard I believe Mr. Abernethy’s comments offended the practices and precedents of this Assembly.