heckling

Scott Gilmore: On your first day in the House, you’re going to see your colleagues heckle. It’s a stain on the beating heart of our country.

A new report finds that women are more likely to hear heckling that focuses on gender, intelligence, age, race or ethnicity, and appearance

Many have tried to kill heckling in the House. All have failed.

This day in Twitter tales from the trail: Wednesday brought a heckler in the east and an election platform in the west

Anyone can yell insults at the ballpark. Mastering the delicate art of heckling takes finesse.

Mackenzie Grisdale’s full report on heckling includes a few explanations and observations from MPs, including this from the NDP’s Bruce Hyer.

In a pair of posts, Mackenzie Grisdale considers the practice of heckling.

The Mark rolls out a series of 14 short proposals from Canadians of various stripes, including thoughts on democratic reform, Parliamentary committees, community organization, taxation, free votes and heckling.

Government members audibly hissed as Liberal Yasmin Ratansi asked a question about various allegations concerning the Natural Resources Minister.

Ralph Goodale, expressing his displeasure with something or other Pierre Poilievre said.

A pair of young journalists led Jack Layton’s scrum yesterday with questions about heckling in the House. They would seem to have followed up with a couple other MPs, similar exchanges showing up in the scrum transcripts. The last question posed to Jim Flaherty surely demonstrates a degree of chutzpah that bodes well for the future of this industry.
Question: Mr. Layton, did you notice a difference since you spoke out last week about sexist bullying in the House of Commons?

Jack Layton: I have noticed a difference.  There were even some times when I was able to ask a complete question and nobody shouted out.  I saw today the Conservative Whip got up and waved his hand at some of his members who were shouting so although still at a certain point in today’s discussions things got a bit wild but I haven’t heard the same sexist insults that we were hearing before in the last week. So let’s hope that people have turned a page on that.

Question: Do you think heckling takes away from the democratic process?

Jack Layton: I beg your pardon?

Question: Do you think it takes – heckling takes away from the democratic process of Question Period?

Jack Layton: Well, free speech is one of our fundamental principles and it’s pretty hard to speak freely when people are yelling at you when it’s your turn.  That would never be allowed in a classroom or in any other kind of meeting.  It only seems to be acceptable here.  I think that’s why it has to stop.

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Liberal stagehand John Mraz suggests a legislated end to heckling.