NAPE is weighing in on the degeneration of debate in the House of Assembly.

In a rare move, Union President Jerry Earle took to social media on the weekend to comment on the behaviour and antics of elected members after some MHAs had to apologize for comments made and others had their speaking privileges revoked last week.

In one instance, Government House Leader Lloyd Parrott and the Opposition’s Elvis Loveless left the floor of the legislature to engage in a shouting match behind the Speaker’s chair.

Earle says what’s happening in the legislature is unacceptable and would not be tolerated in any workplace.

He says the province’s elected officials need to set a positive example. He says it’s especially galling given what his members are facing in the workplace.

“We should not be seeing this from the people that we elect to lead…and deal with such issues, because how to we demand of an employer to deal with (such) issues…when our government is doing exactly the same.”

NDP hopes Premier doesn’t ‘shut the door’ on opportunity for leaders to meet

Meanwhile, NDP Leader Jim Dinn says he hopes the premier has not “shut the door on an opportunity” for the three party leaders to discuss decorum in the House of Assembly.

Dinn wrote all three leaders asking them to meet to discuss the issue, however the Premier indicated in a letter issued last week that the matter should fall under the responsibility of the House Leaders, and not the party leaders.

Dinn says leadership on conduct must come from the leaders themselves.

He says members of the House who have not engaged in “bad behaviour” will continue to do their jobs and “demand a level of decorum befitting the House of Assembly.” He’s hopeful the leaders can meet to discuss a path forward.