NDP Leader Liz Hanson was reprimanded in the assembly last week for accusing interim Liberal leader Sandy Silver of lying.
During debate on a supplementary budget bill, Silver took his chance to speak as an opportunity to attack his political rivals.
After criticizing the Yukon Party at length on the Peel plan, the proposed amendments to the Oil the Gas Act, the summer’s deputy minister shuffle and other matters, he turned his attention to the NDP.
He accused the party of being against oil and gas development and mining in all circumstances.
He then condemned Hanson for speaking up during the Whitehorse municipal election and allegedly using her political clout to try to bring down one of the candidates.
“He has lied about the leader of the Official Opposition,” said Hanson.
“I would warn the member to retract and apologize for the use of that word,” said Speaker David Laxton.
“Mr. Speaker, I will apologize for using the word ‘lie’, but in fact, the member for Klondike has misrepresented the facts as they are on the record,” replied Hanson.
The Speaker then reminded Silver that the debate at hand was not in fact related to the municipal election, and urged him to bring his comments to the matter at hand.
The next day, the Speaker reprimanded Hanson a second time.
“When the chair asks a member to withdraw, retract or apologize for something they have said, that withdrawal, retraction or apology should be unqualified. This is not an opportunity for the member to restate, rephrase or justify the offending words.”