By Canadian Press

Quebec politician denied access to legislature over hoodie in latest fashion spat

Nov 9, 2019 | 11:34 AM

QUEBEC — The provincial legislature refused access Thursday to Quebec solidaire member Catherine Dorion after she showed up for work wearing a hoodie.

The legislature’s deputy speaker, Chantal Soucy, let it be known that Dorion’s outfit of the day was not business attire.

“There is a decorum to be respected. She has been reminded of it a number of times. It was time to draw the line,” Soucy told reporters. “The clothing was striking. It was not clothing worthy an elected member (in the legislative chamber.)”

It’s almost unheard of for a member to be denied access to the chamber known as the blue room, where only elected members are permitted to sit.

The refusal to admit Dorion is the latest spat over the opposition member’s attire and decorum since her election in 2018.

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Dorion has defended her work attire, which has included tank tops, boots, tuques and running shoes.

The member for the Quebec City riding of Taschereau created controversy last week when she published a photo of herself in the legislature’s red room — a chamber reserved for official ceremonies — “dressed up” as a politician in business attire with the words “Happy Halloween.”

That prompted an ethics complaint and a call for a tightening of the rules from the Opposition Liberals Wednesday.

The letter from party whip Nicole Menard alleges Dorion’s actions were a clear violation of the legislature’s ethics code. It refers to sections of the code calling for “the respect and protection of the national assembly and of its democratic institutions.”

It calls the incidents an insult to other members, in particular women.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2019.

The Canadian Press