BC Premier John Horgan has apologized for being sworn in on the floor of the legislature on Monday, at the end of a heated question period focused on health care.
Horgan was answering a question from Trevor Halford, Surrey-White Rock MLA, about the province family doctor crisisthat has left nearly a million British Columbians without their own doctor.
Horgan, who had previously been accused by Halford of blaming the federal government for the province’s health problems, later defended himself, saying he never tried to blame the feds.
But after being booed several times, Horgan began yelling directly at the opposition bench.
CLOCK | Horgan says ‘f–k’ on the floor of the BC Legislature:
At the end of a chaotic question period focused on healthcare, Horgan is heard dropping the bombshell. 1:32
“Do you want to hear it? Do you want to hear it, or do you just want to hear your voice? Why don’t you go to the bathroom and talk to yourself there?” Horgan asks.
“You don’t want to hear answers in this place. Seriously… Do you really care or do you want to hear yourself? Do you want a headline or do you want action? Ah, f–k.”
The question period ended shortly after, with chairman Raj Chouhan asking members to refrain from making the discussions personal, saying, “Please, let’s behave like adults.”
Horgan initially posted a statement on her Twitter account, saying, “If my mom was still around, she’d be on her way to the legislature with an Irish Spring bar.” [soap].”
If my mom was still around, she’d be on her way to the Legislature with a bar of Irish Spring. pic.twitter.com/T27OxScmH8
But the prime minister later returned to the legislature to issue a full apology.
“Earlier today at the end of question period, my passion for health care got the better of me and I made some unconscionable comments that could well have offended members of this chamber or others,” Horgan said.
“I apologize for that and withdraw those comments without reservation.”
Government seen as vulnerable
Gerald Baier, a professor of political science at the University of British Columbia, said the family doctor crisis was one of the issues the BC NDP government is currently struggling with, and that is why Horgan was likely anxious to push back opposition parties.
“It wasn’t unexpected,” Baier told CBC News. “It was a tug-of-war on family doctors and some issues where Liberals hope to show the NDP is vulnerable.”
Baier said that Horgan’s oath dated back to the days of a more image of “fight” for the premier of BC who was once nicknamed “Hulk Horgan.”
“This is one of the perceptions that he had to overcome before the 2017 election,” Baier said. “He managed to keep a lot of that kind of fighting spirit a little bit more contained. But, you know, this is one of those times where he just couldn’t do it.”
Halford, whose question ultimately prompted Horgan’s profanity, said the PM’s misstep was the result of “frustration” that he didn’t have an answer for BC Liberals regarding the province. family doctor theme.
“The fact is that we actually have children in the [legislature] gallery today,” Halford told CBC News.
“I think those kids deserve a lot better than seeing the province’s premier use profanity when we were talking about the fact that a million British Columbians don’t have a doctor.”
Halford questioned Horgan’s commitment to resolving the crisis, saying the prime minister focused on political attacks rather than solutions.
“I hear people say this is a desperate problem and one that the prime minister doesn’t have an answer for.”
Reference-www.cbc.ca