‘Elbowgate’: Canada’s PM Trudeau faces no sanctions, won’t have to apologise again for parliament fracas

Justin Trudeau, Canada’s prime minister, will not face sanctions or be forced to apologise again over accusations that he manhandled one member of parliament and accidentally elbowed another, a parliamentary committee decided on Tuesday.

The country’s normally staid House of Commons erupted into chaos earlier this month after a visibly annoyed Trudeau strode into a group of MPs, grabbed Conservative Gord Brown by the arm and led him out of the group.

Parliamentarians had been waiting to vote on a controversial motion put forward by Trudeau’s Liberals that sought to limit debate on their assisted suicide legislation. The vote was delayed as several New Democrat MPs gathered around Brown, seemingly impeding him from taking his place.

Trudeau reportedly swore as he strode toward Brown, telling MPs to “get the fuck out of the way”. Video of the tussle showed Trudeau inadvertently elbowing New Democrat Ruth Ellen Brosseau as he pulled Brown away from the group.

Mayhem ensued. MPs shouted and pounded their desks as Tom Mulcair, leader of the New Democratic party, lashed out at Trudeau. “What kind of man elbows a woman? It’s pathetic! You’re pathetic!” Mulcair shouted.

Trudeau apologised three times for sparking the heated melee, including one apology directed at Brosseau. “I want to take the opportunity … to be able to express directly to [Brosseau] my apologies for my behaviour and my actions, unreservedly,” he said.

The incident dominated Canadian news coverage for days and sent #Elbowgate trending on twitter. Brosseau was left fending off personal attacks, including accusations that she was “crying wolf”.