The first day back for MLAs in the legislature was somewhat frustrating as Steven Fletcher, now sitting as an independent after being kicked out of the PC Caucus in June, used points of privilege to effectively hijack the proceedings.

Between the start of the session just after 1:30 pm and the close of the house for the day just after 5:00 pm Fletcher, the MLA from Assiniboia, brought up eight points of privilege.  Points of privilege can be brought up in the legislature when MLAs feel their rights as parliamentarians have been violated. Under the rules points of privilege have to be brought up at the earliest opportunity.

Fletcher brought up points on issues like how videos of statements he had made in the house had been removed from YouTube shortly after he was ousted by the Tories, how the current security at the Legislature is vulnerable to possible security breaches and how members of the legislature talked to reporters outside the house after he was kicked out of caucus which tarnished his reputation.

As Speaker of the House Myrna Driedger ruled against the point of privilege Fletcher would challenge her ruling causing the speaker to ask the house to vote on her position. Fletcher would then ask for a recorded vote. Each time the PCs and the NDP would side with the speaker while the Liberal members and Independent MLA Mohinder Saran sided with Fletcher.

You can watch proceedings from the Manitoba Legislature LIVE on News 4 throughout the session

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