Laurel Collins, the MP for Victoria, was asking the Conservative MP about his position on sex work. The parliamentarians were discussing the recent murder of a sex worker in Quebec City.

Arnold Viersen, the Conservative MP for Peace River-Westlock responded by asking the female member if she had ever considered sex work herself.

His retort was met with audible boos and shouting. “Shame on you,” says another parliamentarian heard in the video.



Viersen later apologized for his comments, however, that has not stopped Canadians from calling out his misogynistic outlook. While MP Collins has not spoken publicly about the exchange, her colleague Leah Gazan has called out the Conservative MP for making a joke out of a sex worker’s death.

Hey @ArnoldViersen the fifties called, they want your Misogyny back! While @Laurel_BC fights for safety of #sexworkers , you make the horrendous murder of Marylène Lévesque into a joke! Take your comments where they belong… the garbage can! #gross #shameful https://t.co/bgncbrR3j2 — Leah ProudLakota (@LeahGazan) February 4, 2020

The Tory MP is also a staunch anti-choice advocate. In 2016, while speaking at an anti-abortion rally, he criticized the Liberals for their pro-choice positions, calling them the “government of death.” During the 2019 election, he was one of the 67 Conservative candidates who was endorsed by Canada’s largest anti-abortion organization.

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