A dispute in the legislature involving profanity and alleged threats was resolved Monday when remarks by Alberta House of Representatives leader Jason Nixon were withdrawn.
Independent MLA Todd Lowen asked Parliament Speaker Nathan Cooper last week to sanction Nixon over last month’s tense exchange.
On March 31, Lowen, who was expelled from the United Conservative Party last year, submitted documents to the legislature, which he claims will prove that members of the government are telling lies about him.
In response, Nixon told the president, “The man just called me a devilish liar in the middle of the damn legislature.”
Nixon also said he would submit a proposal to change the rules of the legislature to prevent MPPs from submitting documents to win political points against their opponents, an idea Lowen called alarming and the opposition NDP described as “chilling”.
After a two-week break in the legislature, Lowen asked the president to rebuke the leader of the House of Government. He raised the privilege, claiming that Nixon had tried to intimidate him into silence.
On Monday, when Cooper was expected to rule on whether Nixon had broken the rules, Nixon’s statement was read by House Deputy Speaker Joseph Shaw.
Shaw said Nixon had no intention of insulting anyone by threatening to prevent MSP from entering documents in the legislative register.
“On behalf of the head of the Government House, I am happy to withdraw any remarks made during this exchange at the command post on March 31, 2022, which may have caused the violation,” Shaw said.
Nixon did not appear in the Legislature during Monday’s exchange. Cooper said it was “unique” that Nixon had asked a colleague to read a statement for him when dealing with such a serious issue.
Nixon’s spokesman Paul Hamnett said Nixon was “dealing with an urgent government issue outside of Edmonton” and noted that MPPs often talk about each other in the house.
Nixon had previously withdrawn his swearing comments and apologized for using Lowen’s name in the legislature, which is against the rules.
Cooper said the issue was closed.
Add Comment