Tensions flare as top federal health official scolded in the House for failing to turn over documents
The president of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) was publicly admonished in the House of Commons on Monday for failing to turn over unredacted documents demanded by MPs related to the firing of two scientists at Canada’s highest security lab.
In an extraordinarily rare procedural move, PHAC president Iain Stewart was escorted to the bar in the House of Commons chamber where he was reprimanded by House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota, which sparked off a series of tense exchanges between the government and opposition.
His admonishment was brought on after PHAC refused to provide further paperwork containing more details related to why scientists Xiangguo Qiu and her husband, Keding Cheng, were removed from Winnipeg's National Microbiology Laboratory in July 2019 and then later fired by the agency.
“The House of Commons possesses privileges that are an integral part of the 1867 constitution, such as the power to require the production of documents,” said Rota. “As guardian of these rights and privileges, that is precisely what the House is asking me to do today, by ordering the speaker to reprimand you for the Public Health Agency’s contempt refusing to submit the required documents.”
Opposition parties joined forces last week to pass a Conservative-led motion finding the federal government and PHAC in contempt of Parliament. As part of the motion, Stewart was ordered to bring the documents with him to his admonishment, but he showed up empty-handed Monday.
His decision to appear, but not abide by the other request of Parliament sparked a furious series of exchanges between Liberal and opposition MPs who were in the Chamber to watch the public reprimand unfold. Rota had to interject and demand order.
Throughout the proceedings, Stewart stood silent, hands clasped and holding his blue surgical mask, which he removed when he entered the West Block House of Commons chamber. At times he would check his phone, and after approximately 30 minutes, MPs unanimously agreed to dismiss him.
After he left, the procedural wrangling continued. The Conservatives argued that Stewart showing up without the documents was yet another breach of parliamentary privilege.
“This government, Mr. Speaker is rolling back 18 decades of parliamentary evolution, with its defiance of now four orders of this House and its committee,” said Conservative MP Michael Chong.
Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux balked at what his party viewed as a shame-worthy display of disrespect of a public servant.
"Having Mr. Stewart at the bar was very difficult for many of us to witness. The amount of time he stayed at the bar was deeply offensive to many members," he said.
He went on to say: "It seemed somewhat, in my opinion, shameful," touting Stewart's work leading the agency through the COVID-19 pandemic.
The requested material was also supposed to contain details on whether the firing of the scientists is linked to the fact that four months prior to having their security clearances revoked, Qiu sent a shipment of Ebola and Henipah viruses to the Wuhan Institute of Virology in March 2019, the same lab that’s at the centre of a new probe launched by the U.S. to determine the origins of the COVID-19 virus.
While Stewart did not speak on Monday, his office presented a letter outlining the reason why he was unable to share the information requested. As he told the House Health Committee on Friday, he’s obligated to abide by legal and privacy restrictions given that the situation is under RCMP investigation.
“I am a career public servant and, as a career public servant, I am required to follow the law,” Stewart told the committee.
Stopped by reporters on his way out of the building on Monday, Stewart had no comment about the admonishment.
Health Minister Patty Hajdu, who oversees PHAC, wasn’t physically present in the chamber for the admonishment but in earlier statements during question period she said it’s “disappointing” to see the Conservatives “play games” on issues of national security.
She also noted that unredacted documents have been provided to the top-secret National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP), which the Conservatives yanked their members from in protest last week.
“Unredacted documents were provided to the appropriate committee of parliamentarians who have the expertise and clearance to review documents that are sensitive in this nature. We will never put Canadians national security at risk,” said Hajdu.
In an interview on CTV News Channel’s Power Play later in the day, Chong said NSICOP isn’t the appropriate home for the documents.
“It’s akin to putting the fox in charge of the hen house. This is a committee of the prime minister’s office, its members are appointed and serve at the pleasure of the prime minister. The prime minister can deny the committee information,” he said. “It’s not a committee of Parliament.”
The Conservatives are now calling for Parliament’s sergeant-at-arms to conduct a search of the PHAC offices for the documents.
NDP MP Jack Harris seemed to agree with the proposal.
“We have a situation where the president of the Public Health Agency of Canada has complied with part of the order, but not the full order, and therefore, he is in breach of the order of this House. A proper remedy has been suggested,” he said.
The Liberals, meanwhile, have proposed two alternatives that they say would balance the right of parliamentarians and the duty of the government to protect information related to national security.
Government House Leader Pablo Rodriguez said an ad hoc committee may be formed with safeguards in place and a panel of arbiters to determine the relevancy of information. Or, that the law clerk and parliamentary counsel be assisted by national security experts in their analysis of the documents before presenting material to MPs.
Calling a private citizen to be publicly shamed by the Commons hasn't happened since 1913, though two MPs were disciplined this way approximately 20 years ago for grabbing the ceremonial mace inside the Chamber during proceedings.
IN DEPTH
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
'Democracy requires constant vigilance' Trudeau testifies at inquiry into foreign election interference in Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testified Wednesday before the national public inquiry into foreign interference in Canada's electoral processes, following a day of testimony from top cabinet ministers about allegations of meddling in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. Recap all the prime minister had to say.
As Poilievre sides with Smith on trans restrictions, former Conservative candidate says he's 'playing with fire'
Siding with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on her proposed restrictions on transgender youth, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre confirmed Wednesday that he is against trans and non-binary minors using puberty blockers.
Supports for passengers, farmers, artists: 7 bills from MPs and Senators to watch in 2024
When parliamentarians return to Ottawa in a few weeks to kick off the 2024 sitting, there are a few bills from MPs and senators that will be worth keeping an eye on, from a 'gutted' proposal to offer a carbon tax break to farmers, to an initiative aimed at improving Canada's DNA data bank.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Was this the bug that stung you? Wasp sightings revive murder-hornet concerns; no detections confirmed
As temperatures rise out of a mild El Nino winter, Canada's buggy season is already upon us again, and this year, the bugs are looking especially big.
Adding just 10% ultraprocessed foods to healthy diets may raise risk of cognitive decline, stroke
Eating more ultraprocessed foods is linked to a higher risk of cognitive decline and stroke, even if a person is trying to adhere to a Mediterranean diet, the DASH diet or the MIND diet, a new study found.
Bangkok hospital says most seriously injured from turbulence-hit flight need spinal operations
Many of the more seriously injured people who were on the Singapore Airlines flight that hit severe turbulence need operations on their spines, a Bangkok hospital said Thursday.
'We'll need all hands on deck': Details emerge after deadly boat crash near Kingston, Ont.
Police say they have wrapped up their on-scene investigation into a deadly boat crash in eastern Ontario as details of the incident begin to emerge.
Charlie Colin, founding member of the pop-rock band Train, dies at 58
Charlie Colin, bassist and founding member of the American pop-rock band Train, best known for their early-aughts hits like 'Drops of Jupiter' and 'Meet Virginia,' has died. He was 58.
WestJet planning new fare category for travellers willing to forgo carry-on bag
WestJet Airlines plans to launch a new cheaper fare category that would be available to travellers willing to fly without a carry-on bag.
Tiny plastic shards found in human testicles, study says
Human testicles contain microplastics and nanoplastics at levels three times higher than animal testes and human placentas, a new small study found.
A U.K. lawmaker returns to work as 'the bionic MP' after losing his hands and feet to sepsis
Britain's fractious politicians shared a rare moment of unity on Wednesday, when a Conservative lawmaker returned to work six months after sepsis put him in a coma and forced the amputation of his hands and feet.
Nine killed in Mexico stage collapse at campaign event
A stage collapsed at a Mexican election campaign rally on Wednesday, killing nine people and injuring dozens as high winds tore apart the large, concert-style structure, scattering politicians and attendees.
Local Spotlight
'Best experience ever': B.C. baker on making it to the finals of Netflix's 'Is it Cake?'
When Jujhar Mann said he wanted to be a pastry chef on a grade school career project, he didn't imagine that pursuing his dream would land him on a popular Netflix baking competition.
Winnipeg chef delivers Manitoba cuisine to Houston diners
A city known for its history, ties to outer space and southern barbecue, is also home to a Winnipeg chef dishing out dozens of perogies.
Montreal photographer captures dramatic Canada goose vs. fox fight on video
A Montreal photographer captured the moment a Canada goose defended itself from a fox at the Botanical Garden.
Beyond books: Halifax libraries lends instruments, sports equipment, memory kits and more
Public libraries in Atlantic Canada are now lending a broader range of items.
'A special bird': The unbreakable bond between purple martins and humans
Flashes of purple darting across the sky mixed with the serenading sound of songs will be noticed more with spring in full force in Manitoba.
7-year-old Pokémon prodigy heading to Hawaii for world championship tournament
Catching 'em all with impressive speed, a 7-year-old boy from Windsor, Ont. who only started his competitive Pokémon journey seven months ago has already levelled up to compete at a world championship level.
VIDEO Born without front legs, this dog has been inspiring the world for 3 years: Dresden farm owner
A sanctuary dedicated to animals with disabilities is celebrating the third birthday of one of its most popular residents.
From DVDs to rehearsals: Halifax theatre company transforms Video Difference building into arts hub
2b Theatre recently moved into the old Video Difference building, seeking to transform it into an artistic hub, meeting space, and temporary housing unit for visiting performers in Halifax.
'Another pair of eyes watching over me:' How a B.C. woman's service dog saved her from drowning
A B.C. woman says her service dog pulled her from a lake moments before she had a seizure, saving her life.