International Affairs

Some unidentified MPs blocked a tribute Monday to free speech icon Vaclav Havel by Green Leader Elizabeth May.

The House of Commons paused after question period in Ottawa to praise the political playwright who helped peace-fully bring down the communist government of Czechoslovakia and became the first president of the Czech Republic.

In case you missed it, early Monday evening Green party leader Elizabeth May rose in the House to add a few words on the late Czech president Vaclav Havel to those already offered up by Citizenship Minister Jason Kenney, NDP foreign affair critic Hélène Laverdière, and Liberal interim leader Bob Rae.

Then a curious thing happened. As May was about to deliver her remarks, Speaker Andrew Scheer rose to ask if she had the unanimous consent of the House to speak. By all accounts, at least a pair of ‘no’ answers came from the Conservative side of the floor — you can watch the exchange on the video at right. Twitter is still rumbling with disgust, the nay sayers have yet to reveal themselves, but here are the words that an uncivil House wouldn’t let May speak.

And that, alas, was when the spirit of parliamentary camaraderie and metapartisan goodwill ground to a halt. 

 “Commons just denied @ElizabethMay unanimous consent to speak about Vaclav Havel. sorry, that's pathetic. #cdnpoli
Susan Delacourt

Conservatives just refused to let party leader @ElizabethMay rise to pay tribute to Vaclav Havel. He was a champion of free speech. #irony
Justin Trudeau, MP

Andrew Scheer continued the Speaker’s tradition of hosting a Robbie Burns dinner. Scheer does not own a kilt but did wear a plaid tie. Green Leader Elizabeth May said grace before MPs dug in. May, who had to put her theology studies on hold after moving to B.C., sported a plaid dress she bought at Suttles & Seawinds in Nova Scotia, and plaid shoes she’s had since 1991. Since she rarely wears them, they’re in pretty good shape, she says. Associate Defence Minister Julian Fantino sported a small pin of an F-35 and Canadian flag. “We’ve procured this one,” quipped the minister, whose department’s multi-billion-dollar fighter jet procurement process has been hitting some snags.

In November, Elizabeth May was twice denied the House’s consent to mark Remembrance Day. This afternoon she was apparently denied an opportunity to join the Conservatives, New Democrats and Liberals in honouring Vaclav Havel. Justin Trudeau is unimpressed.

Conservatives just refused to let party leader @ElizabethMay rise to pay tribute to Vaclav Havel. He was a champion of free speech. #irony