Dear Editor: I would like to comment on the filibuster that took place in the House of Assembly before Christmas. The house was at the time dealing with two important bills — 60 and 61.
Bill 60 deals with expropriation of land and creating a right of way for the transmission line which will run from Muskrat Falls in Labrador to Soldier’s Pond outside of St. John’s.
Bill 61 creates a monopoly for wholesale power generation for Nalcor in the province and excludes the Public Utilities Board from considering Muskrat Falls when it comes to setting electricity rates for consumers.
I was watching most of the filibuster on TV and I was really upset when MHA Keith Russell got up on his feet to debate those two bills when all of a sudden he said that MHA Yvonne Jones had given him a “big sloppy wet kiss” at a fundraiser in his district, and he also called her a “washed up actress and referred to her as “honey.”
Russell’s comments came across to me as arrogant and degrading to every single woman who sits in the legislature. To make matters more downgrading to woman, and also to me, was to see MHA Steve Kent sitting in front of Mr. Russell clapping his hands when Mr. Russell was degrading Yvonne Jones.
As a taxpayer of this province, I believe Mr. Russell should be kicked out of the PC party.
Mr. Russell was found in contempt of the legislature for four comments that were deemed offensive to woman by the Speaker of the house.
If Mr. Russell remains a part of Premier Dunderdale’s caucus it will indeed be a black mark on the entire PC government.
It is also time for the Speaker, Mr. Ross Wiseman to get more strict with those members who attack other members.
The Speaker had to admonish Natural Resources Minister Jerome Kennedy on Dec. 19 when he shouted at Bay of Islands MHA Eddie Joyce that he didn’t have a Grade 6 education and to sit down because Mr. Joyce was stupid.
Who does Mr. Kennedy think he is?
Mr. Kennedy is supposed to be a leader and be a representative of the people of the province and to act in such a way is disgusting and degrading.
The Speaker had to ask Mr. Kennedy three times before he finally withdrew the remarks, “stupid.”
Dave Kane, Stephenville Crossing
