Fletcher takes centre stage with legislature filibuster

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This article was published 04/10/2017 (2982 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Independent MLA Steven Fletcher brought the normal business of the Manitoba legislature to a standstill Wednesday, citing matters of parliamentary privilege.

And he didn’t rule out continuing his one-man filibuster Thursday.

Fletcher, who was kicked out of the Progressive Conservative caucus in June and has launched a legal challenge against a law that prevents Manitoba MLAs from switching parties between elections, dominated the first day of the fall sitting of the legislature with privilege motions that pre-empted question period.

Eight times between 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m., Fletcher (Assiniboia) made claims that his personal privileges as an MLA had been violated.

Speaker Myrna Driedger repeatedly ruled him out of order, and he repeatedly challenged her rulings — first with the support of the three-member Liberal caucus, fellow independent MLA Mohinder Saran and NDP MLAs Ted Marcelino (Tyndall Park) and Jim Maloway (Elmwood).

While NDP members later ceased to support his motions, the Liberals continued to do so.

The filibuster prevented Wab Kinew from attacking the government’s agenda in what would have been his first question period since being elected NDP leader last month. The Opposition had been ready to question the government on its health-care reforms and the possibility of introducing health premiums.

“There’s a lot of concern right now about health care and the closures of (hospital emergency rooms),” Kinew said later, when asked about whether he was disappointed in how the day turned out.

University students had come to the visitors’ gallery to witness the Opposition raising concerns about a bill that would allow colleges and universities to next fall raise tuition by five per cent plus the rate of inflation, he said. But Fletcher’s filibuster prevented questions from being asked.

“It’s really too bad that we didn’t get a chance to address those issues. Instead, we were focused on the fact that people on the other side can’t get along,” Kinew said referring to the split between Fletcher and the PC caucus.

Premier Brian Pallister called Fletcher’s actions “a blatant abuse of the rules.”

“Points of privilege should be thoughtfully prepared and should be selectively used, and neither of those things were on evidence today,” he said.

However, the premier wouldn’t go so far as to say parliamentary rules should be changed to prevent an MLA from raising repeated matters of privilege that tie up the business of the legislature.

“You have to respect the individual member’s rights,” Pallister said.

“It will be ultimately the member (Fletcher) who pays the price for the conduct, and that is as it should be,” the premier said, without elaborating.

Speaking to reporters, Fletcher would not elaborate about his motivations for disrupting an entire day of legislative business — although he hinted it had to do with his ongoing fight to allow MLAs to cross the floor to join another party. He has filed a lawsuit in Court of Queen’s Bench on the matter. However, the government may introduce legislation as early as Thursday to avert a court case.

Included among Fletcher’s matters of privilege Wednesday were the safety of MLAs given the recent acts of violence in North America and his ability as an independent MLA to make statements in the legislature and communicate with constituents.

“Today was a learning moment for all of us,” Fletcher told reporters. “I need to reflect on what has transpired today.”

In theory, there are no limits on the number of points of privilege a member can make and there’s no time limit, he said.

The three-member Liberal caucus could gain party status (four members) in the legislature should Fletcher or some other MLA cross to their side.

River Heights MLA Jon Gerrard said he and colleagues Cindy Lamoureux (Burrows) and Judy Klassen (Kewatinook) supported Fletcher’s motions on their merits — not in a bid to entice him into the Liberal fold.

“We backed him on matters of privilege where we thought he had a reasonable case,” Gerrard said. “Steven has been very clear that he’s not doing this to switch parties. He’s doing this on a matter of principle.”

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca