Tensions flare between Poilievre and Singh in the House after NDP says it will back Trudeau Liberals

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh got into a heated exchange in the House of Commons on Thursday, just minutes after Singh announced his party would not be supporting the Conservatives’ first non-confidence motion against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh got into a heated exchange in the House of Commons on Thursday, just minutes after Singh announced his party would not be supporting the Conservatives’ first non-confidence motion against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government.

“He is a fake, a phony and a fraud. How can anyone ever believe what this sellout NDP leader says in the future?” Poilievre said to Singh during question period, posing questions to Singh, rather than to any member of the government.

As he did, heckling could be heard from NDP MPs, including complaints that this question wasn’t related to government business.

In response, Singh, who sits further down on the same side of the chamber as Poilievre, yelled over to the Official Opposition leader, leading to an eruption of jeers and cheers from all sides of the House.

House Speaker Greg Fergus then paused proceedings for a few minutes in an attempt to bring order to the chamber.

Microphones were muted on the live feed from the floor of the House of Commons and cameras did not cut away from the Speaker’s chair. But, as those in the viewing galleries above the chamber could see, Singh got out of his seat and continued to address Poilievre, pointing at him from the floor.

“I would suspect, although the chair didn't hear, that there might have been some strong words which were exchanged between members,” Fergus said after the tense moment, reminding all MPs that question period is meant to hold the government accountable, not opposition parties.