Liberal MP says his House of Commons penalty should have been the same as Poilievre’s

Liberal MP Yvan Baker criticized House of Commons Speaker Fergus on Wednesday after Fergus doled out two different punishments for similar infractions.

Baker was speaking out on the day that both he and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre were able to speak in the House again after being penalized by Fergus for refusing to withdraw an objectionable comment. Baker’s penalty had been in place for six months, Poilievre’s for just one day.

“The punishment should have been at least as equal, if not more severe, given what he did was far more severe,” Baker said before the Liberal caucus meeting on Wednesday.

Fergus sanctioned Baker in March after the Toronto MP alleged that people supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin had “taken over the Conservative party.”

Poilievre was sanctioned on Tuesday for accusing Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly of pandering to supporters of the terrorist organization Hamas.

Poilievre made that comment during question period on Monday, the one year anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, after he asked the Liberals to condemn “genocidal chants from hateful mobs on our streets.”

Joly responded by naming the seven Canadians killed in the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and saying the government stands with the Jewish people. Poilievre insisted that was not equivalent to condemning antisemitism.

All MPs unanimously backed a Conservative motion Monday condemning antisemitism and the Oct. 7 attack.

Both Baker and Poilievre were asked to withdraw their comments, and neither did.

Poilievre did not appear in the House for question period Tuesday after Fergus ruled that he wouldn’t be recognized to speak. The Conservatives did still get their questions, but the first several questions were posed by deputy leader Melissa Lantsman.

The Conservatives criticized Fergus, accusing him of trampling on democracy and silencing the Opposition.

Fergus moved to end Baker’s punishment after Poilievre’s infraction, noting the two situations were extremely similar and pointing out the Conservatives loudly objected to Baker’s comments and demanded action against him.

Fergus has been struggling to maintain order in an increasingly volatile atmosphere in the House of Commons.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 9, 2024.