A series of apologies!

Last week there were a series of apologies issued by Prime Minister in the House of Commons. The first one concerning the KomagataMaru incident was historic and got the deserved attention all over the world, especially in India. Even the non-communicative Chief Minister of Punjab S. Parkash Singh Badal responded by congratulating Prime Minister Justine Trudeau. His assertion that “Canada can’t solely be blamed for every tragic mistake that occurred with the KomagataMaru and its passenger. But Canada’s government was without question, responsible for the laws that prevented these passengers from immigrating peacefully and securely. For that, and for every regrettable consequence that followed, we are sorry,” was not only well accepted but gave a firm impression that young Prime Minister has the ability to say it from the core of his heart. It’s pertinent to mention that the apology offered by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is the second from a Canadian primeminister. Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper delivered an apology in 2008 in British Columbia, and since Prime Minister Trudeau delivered it in the House of Commons, made it “official”, and got the leaders of the opposition parties to share their views too. Interim official opposition leader Conservative MP Rona Ambrose said, “It is important that Canada acknowledges our wrongdoing of the past, as we have always stood for social injustices at home and abroad.” Outgoing leader of the New Democratic Party Tom Mulcair brought forth the history when he stated, “KomagataMaru incident was the result of racist and discriminatory laws, much like the Chinese Head Tax designed to exclude entire groups from Canada.”

Trudeau went on to acknowledge Defense Minister HarjitSajjan. A century ago, the Ministers family might well have been turned away from Canada, Trudeau gravely stated. Today, the minister is an essential member of this government and sits beside us, here, in this House. Every member of the House, cutting across the party lines as well as those in the gallery, rose to their feet to applaud that fact. Canada had let the world know that country’s multicultural identity is celebrated and sincere regret for the past wrongdoing against specific groups is expressed.

The good will so earned by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was short lived and within one day he was back to offer another apology, that didn’t find favor with the members of the house and he had to come back the next day to be more explicit in his apology. Sadly, #elbowgate has overshadowed the good work. Videos of the elbow gate had gone viral in the shortest possible time. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was wrong to march across the floor of the House of the Commons and push his way through Members of Parliament and grab Conservative MP and opposition whip Gordon Brown by the arm and pull him towards his seat in the House and while doing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is seen having elbowed NDP MP Ruth EleenBrosseau in the chest in the process. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was prompt to offer an apology. This time he not only appeared insincere but also to be rushing through as if he wanted the issue to end as soon as possible. Opposition remained unimpressed. He was back to apologizing again for the elbow issue. The third one in three days on two issues! This time the remorse could be felt. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau not only apologized to the two Members of the Parliament for his behaviour but also to the speaker and all the Members. How a Prime Minister who won accolades all over the world for offering apology for the KomagataMaru incident looked disgraced in span of a day.

One wonders, had Gordon Brown not maintained his calm! Had he reacted with the same short temper as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, forcefully pushed the prime minister’s hand away! Before a vote on Bill C-14, the government’s assisted-dying bill, to one point, the prime minister stood in a face-to- face confrontation with Thomas Mulcair, the NDP leader visibly angry and shouting at Trudeau, calling him “pathetic” twice. Trudeau apologized for his behaviour, saying he didn’t mean to hurt anyone. “I had noticed that the Official Opposition Whip seemed to be impeded in his progress down the hall. And I felt that this lacked in respect for Parliament,” Trudeau said. And while taking Gordon Brown with him, video shows him elbowing New Democratic Party (NDP) MP Ruth Ellen Brosseau, who is jolted back by the force of Trudeau’s blow.Brosseau said that Trudeau’s elbow left her feeling so “overwhelmed” that she had to leave the chamber, causing her to miss the subsequent vote. NDP House Leader Peter Julian added that Trudeau had, in his view, “manhandled” Brown by grabbing him and sending him towards his seat.

“What kind of man elbows a woman? It’s pathetic! You’re pathetic!” NDP leader Tom Mulcair told Trudeau afterwards. The issue soon became an issue of race, Another NDP party member, Niki Ashton, described Trudeau’s elbow as a “deeply traumatic”act that prevented the Commons floor from being a safe space for women. “He made us feel unsafe and we’re deeply troubled by the conduct of the prime minister of this country,” Ashton said.

Conservative leader Rona Ambrose, meanwhile, described Trudeau’s stunt as “embarrassing” and revealing a “complete lack of respect” for members of Parliament.

Prime Minister Trudeau was forced to say sorry three times for his conduct, temper and elbow in contrast to the one apology offered more than a century later. He should have been remembered for the apology in the House of Commons for KomagataMaru, but whenever that would be discussed his conduct and temper would come back to remind Canadians of his disregard for fellow members.