Immigration Minister Marc Miller was admonished in the House of Commons during question period Thursday when he told Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to “grow a pair” and get his security clearance.
Miller withdrew the comment but has yet to apologize for the language.
The minister was responding to a question from Poilievre for the government to detail its plan to address immigration concerns that led U.S. president-elect Donald Trump to threaten a 25-per cent tariff on all Canadian imports when he takes office in January.
“According to (Miller’s) department, there are half a million people here illegally, all of whom could be tempted to go south of the border, provoking a massive retaliatory response,” Poilievre said. “So once again, what’s the plan to fix what he broke?”
Miller responded by accusing Poilievre of “pandering to people, entertaining false hope, promising visas to everyone, promising they won’t get deported.”
He then turned to Poilievre’s refusal to get a security clearance to receive classified information on foreign interference allegations, including against Conservative Party members, which Poilievre has argued would prevent him from speaking publicly about matters he may be briefed on.
“He needs to grow a pair (and) get the briefing,” Miller said, which led to a lengthy period of disorder in the House.
Marc Miller tells Pierre Poilievre to ‘grow a pair’ in heated exchange | Read more |