EDMONTON – Alberta Progressive Conservative Leader Ric McIver returned to the legislature Tuesday without having to apologize for the insubordination that got him kicked out in the first place.
“Yesterday was a day I hope not to repeat any time soon,” McIver told Speaker Bob Wanner prior to question period.
“I became convinced, rightly or wrongly, that all was not in order.”
On Monday, McIver was escorted out of the house by the sergeant-at-arms when McIver refused to sit down after accusing Wanner of prejudging a decision against him.
Normally a politician has to apologize to the Speaker to be allowed back in, but this time Wanner invited McIver to return without it.
McIver then stood in the house and while not apologizing for his earlier accusations, acknowledged Wanner had the right to eject him.
“You were correctly discharging your duties and acting within the scope of your authority. I recognize that,” said McIver.
“I think it’s time for us to move forward,” Wanner replied.
It was the end of what had been a rare and dramatic event in Alberta’s legislature.
It began late Monday afternoon when McIver moved a private member’s motion — an effectively symbolic gesture — affirming the principle that parents have a say in where and how their children are educated.
Such motions are usually allowed to stand or receive friendly amendments.
But this time the NDP caucus decided to introduce an amendment saying that choice should be for instances where alternatives are not available in the public system.
McIver felt that was out of bounds, saying it undercut the intent of his original motion.
Watch below: Cooler heads seemed to be prevailing after Progressive Conservative party leader Ric McIver was kicked out of the legislature on Monday. McIver got the boot during a heated debate on a motion over choice in Edmonton. Tom Vernon explains.
The two sides then argued over whether the motion should be allowed before Wanner read out his decision in favour of the NDP.
However, the reasons for Wanner’s decision had already been printed almost word for word on a piece of paper before the debate had even begun.
That piece of paper was accidentally given to McIver. He then took to his feet to accuse Wanner of prejudging the debate in favour of the NDP caucus, of which Wanner is a member.
“This is not the way you run a legislature,” McIver said to Wanner.
When McIver refused to take his seat unless Wanner reversed his decision, Wanner ordered him out.
Earlier Tuesday, Wanner told the house that the piece of paper had come from the officials who sit at the table in front of him in the chamber.
He said to keep the business of the house flowing, the officials sometimes anticipate arguments and research an issue to get timely advice to him.
Wanner said the piece of paper was simply advice and nothing more.
“I want to assure members that I had not seen the amendment before it was introduced in the assembly,” said Wanner.
Wanner fulfills a crucial role in the legislature. While he is a member of the governing caucus, he is expected to act as an impartial referee in the legislature to respect the rights of all members.
Premier Rachel Notley and NDP house leader Brian Mason said their caucus respects the firewall that exists between it and Wanner in his role as Speaker and dismissed any suggestion of impropriety.
“We had no input to that whatsoever, and I want to make that perfectly clear,” said Mason.