Point of order, Mr. Speaker! (II)

Another great moment in recent Bow-Wow Parliamentary history:

May 18, 2004

PREMIER WILLIAMS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, in a truly open and accountable and transparent government, there is never a question of being caught at anything. It is all there for the public to see at any particular point in time.

When I was Leader of the Opposition, and my colleagues know, we did not voluntarily receive documents from this government when they were in government. It was not a matter of course that they passed over all kinds of documents to us. So it is a little two-faced, to say the least, to get on this way in questions.

…

MR. PARSONS: A point of order regarding a matter that did occur during Question Period. Again, we are required under the rules to wait until Question Period is over to raise the point of order. I make reference to the Premier’s first response to the first question. I would submit that he used unparliamentary language. He said that the question put forward by the Leader of the Opposition and the actions of the Leader of the Opposition, he was being two-faced.

Mr. Speaker, we are all aware - and you are certainly aware - that whether or not the use of a particular word is or is not unparliamentary can vary from time to time, depending upon the circumstances, the tone that was used at the time that it was uttered. I think it is quite clear, Mr. Speaker, that the use of the words - I have checked in Beauchesne here, I do not see the specific words two-faced here, but there are certainly lots of incidents in Beauchesne where that type of wording, saying that someone’s actions and behaviour is two-faced, certainly causes a negative connotation and is unparliamentary. I think the Premier should withdraw that remark as being unparliamentary.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER WILLIAMS: I actually withdraw that remark, Mr. Speaker, that the Leader of the Opposition is, in fact, no-faced.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!