Senator Leo Housakos speaks with the media in Ottawa, Tuesday, May 26, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Conservative Sen. Leo Housakos — or whoever was managing his social media Friday — took to Twitter for a testy exchange to make clear he had no time for Elizabeth May’s efforts to get a bill that would ban whale captivity in Canada moving through the Senate.

Tired of the stalling tactics Tory members of the Red Chamber have used to keep Bill S-203 beached since October, May penned an open letter to party Leader Andrew Scheer, calling on him to stand up to his own senators.

Housakos said May has been in Parliament long enough to know better — and missed the memo on the independence of senators.

.@ElizabethMay has been in parliament long enough to know better. Seems she didn’t get the memo about the independence of Senators and of the two houses of Parliament. I’m happy to explain it to her. Coffee next week? I can even invite @DonPlett #cdnpoli #senca pic.twitter.com/YqaU3bw9RU — Senator Leo Housakos (@SenatorHousakos) March 16, 2018

If @ElizabethMay has an issue she’d like discussed with @DonPlett or any other Senator, she should do what any other Canadian does, parliamentarian or otherwise. She should call him and tell him and have a discussion about it. That’s what Senators are there for. What she 1/2 https://t.co/p75EzQNckD — Senator Leo Housakos (@SenatorHousakos) March 16, 2018

2/2 shouldn’t do is call for the type of interference between two independent chambers that she is usually the first to wring her hands over. That’s the height of hypocrisy. #cdnpoli #senca — Senator Leo Housakos (@SenatorHousakos) March 16, 2018

Conservative senators, however, are part of the Conservative caucus. Just ask Sen. Lynn Beyak, who was bounced from the party fold by Scheer in January over posts she’d put on her website.

Before long, former Marineland trainer Phil Demers, who testified at the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans in support of the bill, waded in on Housakos’ comment.

Good news Leo! I’ll be in Ottawa soon (with national documentary team in tow) to ask Plett some tough questions (which I’m sure he’ll be happy to oblige). As a Marineland supporter yourself, can I add you to this list as well? Coffee? Humble pie?? — Phil Demers (@walruswhisperer) March 16, 2018

And from there, things heated up.

Suggestion *Phil*, take a bite out of that humble pie yourself. I hope your baking skills are better than your reading comprehension. — Senator Leo Housakos (@SenatorHousakos) March 16, 2018

Isn’t @donplett the @Senateca whip of your party disciplined national caucus? And isn’t @andrewscheer the leader the party? Seems like you’re humiliated to have transparency brought to @CPC_HQ tactics. Pathetic how Scheer follows Plett. — Phil Demers (@walruswhisperer) March 16, 2018

You’re one to talk about transparency. Let’s talk about THAT on camera when you bring your national documentary team in tow, shall we? — Senator Leo Housakos (@SenatorHousakos) March 16, 2018

Drinking Marineland’s koolaid much? Consider yourself (and your whack-job social media manager) added to my list. Stay tuned! — Phil Demers (@walruswhisperer) March 16, 2018

And what have you been ingesting *Phil*? Consider yourself added to MY list. — Senator Leo Housakos (@SenatorHousakos) March 16, 2018

Demers then brought up an investigation launched by the Senate ethics watchdog into an all-expense paid junket to China last April taken by Housakos, Plett and Sen. Victor Oh, along with their spouses. The investigation is looking to determine whether it should have been declared as a gift or sponsored travel. As the Globe and Mail reported, the two-week trip was at the invitation of a Beijing-based wealth management firm that had recently opened an office in Vancouver.

You and your creepy caucus did Harper’s bidding for years. Aren’t you and Plett under investigation for a dodgy trip to China, Hou$akos?? — Phil Demers (@walruswhisperer) March 16, 2018

Again “Phil”, you’re one to talk about being creepy or being under investigation, for that matter. Care to discuss? — Senator Leo Housakos (@SenatorHousakos) March 16, 2018

At committee, Demers told senators since becoming a vocal critic of Marineland, he’s become “the target of relentless attacks.” The Ontario park is one of two facilities in the country that keep captive cetaceans. The other is the Vancouver Aquarium.

“In an effort to stifle public debate, Marineland has launched nearly a dozen SLAPP lawsuits … I’m the recipient of a most peculiar one, as they allege I plotted to steal Smooshi the walrus,” he said.

You’re a pro in avoiding questions…unlike me – I’m an open book. No investigations here however, only an ineffective SLAPP suit that after 5+ years, serves me better than Marineland. Thanks for the extremely undignified comments though. I love being reminded I’m winning. ✊🐬 — Phil Demers (@walruswhisperer) March 16, 2018

You have the market cornered on undignified comments. Like a walrus, you are prone to snorting and bellowing loudly but you don’t have the skin of a walrus. Yours is much thinner. — Senator Leo Housakos (@SenatorHousakos) March 16, 2018

My skin is too thick for Marineland et al. to kill (and their history demonstrates how good they are at that). Remember: Mess with a walrus, you get the tusks. You phoqued up. — Phil Demers (@walruswhisperer) March 16, 2018

The Senate returns on Monday.