Parliamentary page who interrupted Throne Speech to protest Harper gov’t has been fired
Posted Jun 4, 2011 05:39:07 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A 21-year-old Senate page has been fired after protesting against the policies of Stephen Harper’s majority Conservative government.
Brigette DePape staged an unprecedented protest on the floor of the Senate chamber as Governor General David Johnston read the new government’s Speech from the Throne.
DePape says she decided to take action after watching the Harper government agenda unfold over the last year while the Tories held minority control of Parliament.
“We really need to stop Harper’s agenda,” said DePape. “And people need to take to the streets and Canada needs an Arab spring.”
The University of Ottawa graduate stood silently holding her hand-painted sign for at least 20 seconds while a stunned room full of dignitaries and invited guests stared in astonishment.
DePape was subsequently fired from her job, which would have ended in three weeks anyway.
