Justin Trudeau apologises 'unreservedly' for elbowing opposition MP in parliament

Tensions erupted ahead of a vote on controversial assisted dying legislation

Justin Trudeau has apologised after a physical altercation in parliament on Wednesday saw him accused of “manhandling” a Conservative MP and elbowing another.

The Canadian Prime Minister was filmed marching across the room to a crowd and pulling Opposition Whip Gord Brown by his arm in an apparent attempt to direct him towards his seat so that parliament could start their procedural vote on assisted dying.

Tensions have been building in the Commons all week as Mr Trudeau’s Liberal Party attempts to use its majority to restrict debate on the controversial legislation.

New Democratic Party MP Ruth-Ellen Brousseau said she was “elbowed in the chest” in the resulting scuffle. Parliament then descended into a heated uproar of heckling, while opposition NDP leader Tom Muclair shouted, “What kind of man elbows a woman? It’s pathetic! You’re pathetic!” at Mr Trudeau.

Canadian media have reported opposition MP Niki Ashton as saying, "This is the furthest thing from a feminist act".

Once order had been restored, Mr Trudeau returned to his desk and apologised “unreservedly” to the House of Commons.

“I admit I came in physical contact with a number of members as I extended my arm to, including someone behind me who I did not see.

“If anyone feels that they were impacted by my actions, I completely apologise. It was not my intention to hurt anyone."

The Liberal leader then apologised directly to Brousseau.

“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.

Ashton condemned Mr Trudeau’s actions. “I have never seen anything like it. I witnessed the PM push one of my colleagues into my desk in the House of Commons,” she wrote on Twitter.

The incident was an atypical eruption in Canada’s parliament.