A pair of Yellowknife MPs are engaged in a political row over decorum in the legislative assembly.

Yellowknife Center MP Robert Hawkins and Yellowknife North MP Shauna Morgan went back and forth on Nov. 1 after Morgan spoke about Indigenous-led conservation initiatives.

She exceeded her time limit and required the unanimous consent of all other members to continue. A statement takes two minutes. The added time lasts only 30 seconds.

It was 30 seconds too long for Hawkins, who was the only one to vote no. He gave his statement after Morgan.

Returning from a later break in the meeting, Hawkins made an announcement that did not reflect well on Morgan.

“As I was walking to my desk during the break, I was confronted by the member for Yellowknife North,” he said. “She said, ‘I know you’re mad at me.’ I stepped in and said, “I’m not mad.” She went on to say, “I would never be so petty as to refuse your consent.”

Hawkins maintained that he follows the rules when it comes to his negative speech. Implying that he is petty is a form of intimidation, he said.

“Defamation against members could be construed as an attempt to intimidate colleagues and unduly coerce them into extracting or retaliating against them in the performance of their parliamentary duties,” Hawkins told his colleagues in the House.

Chairman Shane Thompson gave Morgan a chance to respond to Hawkins’ comments.

“What I was trying to point out was that I felt the action was petty, but I wasn’t accusing him or calling him any names about it,” Morgan said.

That wasn’t enough for Hawkins.

“Saying, ‘I would never be mean’ means that I am mean,” he replied, adding that he felt the most honorable thing was an acknowledgment that the expression directed at him was not appropriate. He added that he would accept an apology.

Thompson said he would file a ruling at a later date, which may not come until February, when the Legislature resumes.

NNSL Media contacted Hawkins, asking why he voted no.

“It really doesn’t matter, does it?” he said. “I’m just following the rules.”

He noted that Premier RJ Simpson was also refusing and stressed that this was not personal against Morgan.

Morgan, in response to what Hawkins told NNSL Media, said it is not uncommon in the assembly, although each member has the ability to do so.

“There’s no rule that says somebody has to deny somebody’s request,” Morgan added.

She would not comment on whether other deputies approached her after the incident with Hawkins. She referred to an earlier statement she had given to NNSL Media, as to whether she found the incident strange. In that statement, Morgan said he had no interest in a feud with any of his colleagues and said MPs needed to focus on what was most important to their constituents.

“My intention in speaking privately with Mr Hawkins was to reassure him that I did not wish to participate in a pattern of using small actions (‘messenes’) to mutually prevent him from speaking in Parliament or to block me. mutual advocacy work,” Morgan wrote. “I’m quite baffled as to how he would have found me intimidating.”