Treasury Board President Scott Brison appeared to have bitten off more than he could chew after he attempted to answer an opposition MP’s question while chowing down on his lunch.
Brison earned himself a gentle reprimand from the Speaker of the House of Commons Thursday, since eating in the House of Commons is against the rules.
The Nova Scotia MP was responding to Conservative MP John Brassard, who questioned why Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne was paid over $23,000 in public relations services fees by the federal government for her recent trip to Israel.
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“All of us know that Ontario is broke, but why are Canadian taxpayers paying for Kathleen Wynne’s public relations bills?” Brassard asked.
“Mr. Speaker, on an ongoing basis, our government consults with and engages Canadians,” Brison said laboriously in between bites, before giving up and sitting back down.
MPs on both sides of the House were seen laughing, but Brassard had little appetite for the humour of the moment.
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“I’m sorry Mr. Speaker, I should have let the member finish his lunch before he answered,” he quipped disapprovingly, unable to stomach his fellow MP’s conduct.
Brassard then repeated his question but Brison declined to answer, prompting House Speaker Geoff Regan to deliver this zinger: “I trust that the honourable President of the Treasury Board is simply ‘ruminating’ on the question that was proposed and he knows we aren’t allowed to eat in the House.”
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