A note for all members of Parliament from Speaker Andrew Scheer: don’t use the word “cheat” in the House of Commons.

MPs were back at things Monday after a week home in their constituencies and it didn’t take long, in question period that afternoon, for these things to get out of hand.

It started off with a civil question and answer between Thomas Mulcair and Citizenship Minister Chris Alexander about the situation in Ukraine and how the Canadian government plans to help with the upcoming presidential election in the fraught country. The NDP leader then turned attention back home.

“Let’s talk about the democratic path here in Canada,” Mulcair said.

He went through a few questions, posed to the minister of democratic reform on the very contentious Fair Elections Act.

After Poilievre wondered aloud about exempted fundraising limits in the last NDP leadership race, Mulcair suggested the member opposite might be a bit “dim” for not seeing a difference between a general election and party leadership campaigns.

A direct address to another member? Calling an MP dim in the House? Not cool, Scheer suggested, and asked the NDP leader to be judicious with his language.

But Mulcair wanted to make a point. “Mr. Speaker,” he said. “We are talking about the rules for a federal general election. That is the foundation of our democracy. That is what they are trying to cheat on.”

Shouting, yelling and a lot more shouting. Scheer tried to call for some order.

“We have been hearing that word an increased amount in the last few weeks, which certainly does imply motives and impugn motives,” the Speaker told the House. “So I am now going to ask members to refrain from using the word ‘cheating’ when discussing tactics from other honourable members.”

This injunction was a bit of a head scratcher, as the Speaker has let worse slip by, as well as let that word slip by on other occasions.

Mulcair continued. “Mr. Speaker, last week the word ‘hypocrite’ from the Prime Minister was fine. I cannot affirm that we all know they are trying to cheat in advance,” he said with emphasis and emotion.

One question taken away from the NDP leader for that.

Although it’s unlikely Poilievre didn’t hear Scheer in all of that, the minister for democratic reform took the opportunity to do his own chastisement and said, in very clear terms, that the NDP leader had himself cheated in his own party leadership campaign. Mulcair shook his head, dismissive.

One question taken away from the government side for that.

Later, outside in the House of Commons foyer, Liberal Marc Garneau raised some concerns about the Speaker’s independence. He said, given what he’s seen in the House, that Scheer is more lenient with the government side.

Mulcair didn’t see it that way – no hard feelings, apparently. He told he told reporters in the foyer after QP that the Speaker is doing his job “admirably” in a tough situation.

“And if I can’t say ‘cheaters’ in there, I’ll sure as hell say it in here,” Mulcair said.