Apr 17 2008
Minister’s ‘mafia’ comment hurtful: Volpe
Health Minister Mike Murphy will not be reprimanded for comments he made on Wednesday that compared the leader of the Opposition to a member of the mafia.
Conservative Leader Jeannot Volpé complained on Thursday he was offended the minister referred to him, both inside and outside the legislature, as a member of the “Madawaska mafia.”
Murphy made the comment after Volpé said the Liberal government was acting like Cuba’s dictatorial regime when a motion was tabled to put an end to a Conservative filibuster.
Volpé has been using his right to unlimited speaking time against a bill that will reduce the province’s health authorities to two. The Conservative leader has already spent more than 30 hours in the debate of the bill that is on its second reading. The legislature will vote on the motion on Tuesday.
Murphy contested the comment, telling the legislature that Volpé was behaving like the Sopranos.
“He has stifled all of his members. It’s the Madawaska mafia running the party now,” Murphy said about the Madawaska-les-Lacs MLA.
Volpé told the legislature Thursday his family’s background is Italian and the comment was hurtful. He said his mother called him upset after hearing about Murphy’s comments.
He added his comments about the Liberal government were different because they were not a personal attack on Murphy.
Volpé asked that Speaker Roy Boudreau make a ruling on Murphy’s comments.
Boudreau ruled on Thursday that because Murphy made the comment during a committee session Volpé’s complaint should have been made during that session.
Boudreau also said Murphy’s comments outside the chamber didn’t fall under his authority.
Murphy told reporters Thursday that he doesn’t regret the mafia remark.
The comment was just a play on words and is just part of the rhetoric of the legislature, Murphy said.
Minister’s ‘mafia’ comment hurtful: Volpe - Last Updated: Thursday, April 17, 2008 | 5:45 PM AT - CBC News - http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2008/04/17/volpe-ruling.html
