“Other MPs talked about being de-motivated, disengaged in the House, when they hear the heckling,” he said. “Canadians tune out as well.”
But Cullen may have misquoted some facts in support of his argument when he referenced an Environics Institute study from 2012.
“Only 17 percent of Canadians trust Parliament and attributed the lack of trust to the explosive and partisan bickering of the minority parliaments between 2004 and 2011. This has only increased under the current government’s regime,” he said.
But the study did not look into why trust in Parliament was falling. Trust has marginally improved rather than worsened in recent years, noted Keith Neuman, executive director of the Environics Institute.
Neuman said it was difficult to conclude why trust in parliament fell, but said attributing it to partisanship was a reasonable interpretation.
“It’s entirely plausible it is a factor, but difficult to nail down,” he said.
“Negativity, fighting, and conflict between parties is certainly not something Canadians are happy to see.”
Some MPs leave the House crying due to the insults and personal attacks, said Cullen.
“There is no workplace in the country that would accept that kind of behaviour.”
Other groups concerned with democratic reform have suggested broken election promises and Canada’s first-past-the-post electoral system are to blame for low turnout. Elections Canada has said civic education would improve turnout.
Civility hit a low point Dec. 5, 2012, when Government House Leader Peter Van Loan stormed across the floor of the House to call out Cullen. Van Loan and NDP leader Thomas Mulcair both swore during the event, which some news outlets described as a near brawl.
But Cullen noted the NDP make mistakes also, and that all parties could improve. He dismissed concerns that a heavy-handed speaker could abuse those additional powers in the future.
Speakers Struggle with Unruly MPs
Current Speaker Andrew Scheer has raised the issue several times, and campaigned for the role of speaker in part on a pledge to crack down on MPs that misbehave.
Last December, he told MPs he needed their cooperation to maintain civility.
“My authority to enforce the rules depends on the co-operation of the House,” he said. “Our electors expect all members to make greater efforts to curb disorder and unruly behaviour.”
He warned of the dangers of that behaviour almost exactly one year earlier in 2011.
“Left unchecked, a deterioration in order and decorum risks impeding the work of the House,” he said.
The NDP’s motion may not get much traction with the Conservatives, but it has the support of Peter Milliken, one of the most highly regarded men to hold the Speaker’s post.
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