Middle finger raised, chair struck: Manitoba MLAs call out poor behaviour after short-lived civility plea

Question period at the Manitoba legislature has descended into accusations of inappropriate conduct in recent days after one MLA flashed their middle finger and another struck a colleague's chair with the back side of their hand. 

Such behaviour is at odds with the emotional speech made by Tory MLA Bob Lagasse at the start of question period Thursday, who after documenting his recent struggles with depression, urged his legislature colleagues to show each other kindness.

"In this environment of political theatre, we tend to be harmful to the detriment of our own and our others' mental health," he said.

His address brought MLAs from all parties to their feet, but the civility was short-lived.

The heckles continued as usual and, an hour later, Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont raised his middle finger after he says he was frustrated at a non-answer from Progressive Conservative house leader Kelvin Goertzen.

Only a day earlier, on Wednesday, an emotional NDP MLA Bernadette Smith said she's questioned her safety in the legislature, particularly as an Indigenous person, after PC MLA Blaine Pedersen hit her chair. He was trying to get Smith's attention, Pedersen's colleague had told the house. 

Deputy speaker Andrew Micklefield urged legislature members after question period Thursday to keep their emotions in check.

"We can have all the benefits of of this place, including lively debate, I'm not wanting to squash that at all, but clearly things can get out of hand and have crossed some lines," he said.

"Let's make sure none of us are contributing to that, either by ourselves or perhaps by stoking others' unfortunate behaviour."

It started on Tuesday, during question period, when Pedersen seemingly tried to get the attention of Smith by whacking the back of her chair. Smith, who was seated, immediately turned around and the two MLAs appeared to have a brief discussion, according to legislature assembly video, which the NDP provided to media.

WATCH | Pedersen whacks the chair of NDP MLA:

Smith alleged Pedersen was trying to prevent her from speaking. 

"The MLA from Midland may not like what I have to say, but the people of Manitoba sent me here and I have every right to say what I need to say without being hit while I sit in my chair. That's wrong.

"We don't hit people in their chairs when people are sitting in them and try to change the opinion of the person while sitting there or stop them from speaking their mind," Smith said through tears.