Elizabeth May could be invited to speak at next year’s Press Gallery dinner, despite controversial remarks
Posted May 11, 2015 10:31 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA (NEWS1130) – Green Party Leader Elizabeth May could still get the chance to take the stage at next year’s Parliamentary Press Gallery dinner, despite a controversial speech at the event on Saturday.
“Humour… can go, sometimes, too far,” says Manon Cornellier, the president of the Parliamentary Press Gallery, who adds while some politicians are encouraged to be funny, they are not stand-up comics and sometimes don’t know where the line is.
Cornellier says leaders are responsible for what they say, but she doesn’t want to break the tradition of inviting them to speak.
“Everybody can do a misstep. If she’s re-elected, and if we decide that leaders are making speeches, she will be invited, like anyone else,” she adds.
Part of May’s comments on Saturday included, “Omar Khadr, you’ve got more class than the whole ****ing cabinet.”
May has apologized for her comments, saying it was a failed attempt at humour at an event where politicians are encouraged to be a bit edgy.
Planning for next year’s dinner hasn’t started yet, but Cornellier says the Gallery won’t be vetting or censoring leaders.
“If they want to put themselves in a bad situation or they want to put their back against the wall, it’s their choice — it’s not ours.”
She has not received any complaints about May’s speech.
