Conservative Member of Parliament demands government respond in English (to make for a better clip)

[applegrove]

https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/mps-are-acting-out-for-one-reason-and-it-s-the-ugly-truth-few-want/article_1dfc7091-7099-5db1-8ef9-0cc07657762c.html

"SNIP..........

Alberta Conservative MP Rachael Thomas — whose aggressiveness turns off many of her own caucus colleagues — was in her usual feisty mood. She started by asking how this deal fixed a power imbalance between big tech and the news industry. But as St-Onge responded, Thomas berated her for not answering the question — even though the minister was, in fact, doing just that.

Perhaps Thomas wasn’t listening to the simultaneous interpretation of the minister’s answer in French. Or maybe she just wanted to make a point for her audience — not those of us who had tuned in to the 8:15 a.m. hearing, but those who would watch later on social media, once Thomas had clipped the video of her own diatribes and posted their exchange online.

That is, after all, what this is all about. And it’s unfortunately become what most exchanges in the House of Commons are about. The intention is not to hold the government to account, or to have probing, insightful exchanges; it’s about the video clips of fake outrage that can be generated to mobilize support and raise funds.

“I notice that you answer my questions in French, but other English questions you answer in English if they are from your Liberal colleagues,” she told St-Onge. “I realize it is completely your choice, we are a bilingual country, but if at all possible I’d love to have it English —”

.........SNIP"