The spirit of seasonal goodwill has not been in evidence in our national House of Commons this week as debates degenerated into some distinctly unparliamentary comments.
First up on the naughty list was MP Justin Trudeau, who called the federal environment minister a nasty four-letter word in the heat of debate. Trudeau promptly apologized for losing his cool. His lump of coal seems appropriate considering the debate on climate talks that prompted the outburst.
Fuddle duddle it wasn't, but Trudeau is hardly the first politician to descend to a potty-mouthed response on issues.
Recently the NDP's Pat Martin took to Twitter with some f-bomb comments about the Conservatives' penchant for closure on debate.
Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson's less-than-dignified comments after a committee meeting last year even became a cellphone ring tone.
Agreed, the recent intemperate responses by Opposition MPs have been fuelled by the rock-em sock-em attitude of a government not shy about flexing its majority. But when it comes to debate by our elected leaders, Churchill this isn't. Whatever the madding crowds are up to, most Canadians still don't expect profanities spewing from their doctors, lawyers, police, bosses - or their politicians.
Trudeau later told reporters his famous father would have likely been disappointed his outburst wasn't French - where serious swearing is all about religion and the equivalent word for excrement has a milder meaning.
To which we say, shiddle shaddle.
