Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s description of his Conservative adversaries as “a party of ambulance-chasing politicians” may not have crossed the line into unparliamentary language, but it came close enough to trigger a House-wide warning from Commons Speaker Geoff Regan that all MPs should choose their words carefully.

Trudeau made the comment earlier this month during a heated exchange with Conservative deputy leader Lisa Raitt over his government’s refusal to intervene in the case of Terri-Lynne McClintic, one of two people serving time for the murder of eight-year-old Tori Stafford. McClintic was recently allowed to transfer to an Aboriginal healing lodge.

After Raitt challenged Trudeau over what she called a “moral issue,” the PM shot back that it’s actually about “the contrast between a party and a government that respects the rules and respects the independence of our judicial system … and a party of ambulance-chasing politicians,” who, he added, “are, quite frankly, demonstrating a contempt for the principles of law and debate in the House.”

Although Raitt didn’t seem to react to the term at the time, she rose in the House after question period to demand that the prime minister apologize.

“An ambulance chaser is a term for an unethical lawyer,” she noted. “I am a lawyer in my profession. I take great offence to being called an ambulance chaser.”

Trudeau didn’t just ignore her request — he made a rare post-QP appearance in the Commons foyer, just so he could repeat the phrase in front of reporters.

“The Conservatives are terribly upset that I referred to them as practising ambulance-chasing politics,” he said outside the Chamber.

“But if they’re upset, it’s probably because it stings a bit.”

The Speaker, meanwhile, agreed to take the matter under advisement, and on Monday afternoon, he handed down his decision.

After citing past rulings that have drawn a distinction between language directed at a specific individual versus those applied to a party, he noted that, in this case, the prime minister’s comment “was not aimed directly” at Raitt, “but rather, had a broader scope.”

His verdict: “Technically speaking, the language used fell within our accepted practice.”

In dismissing the complaint, however, Regan made a point of emphasizing — as so many House Speakers have before him — the need for MPs “to be vigilant in their choice of words, given their potential effect.”

He even quoted his predecessor in the chair — who now serves as the leader of the Conservative Party — who, after a particularly raucous question period, implored his colleagues on all sides of the House not to push the boundaries of acceptable language too far.

“My advice to all members on all sides is that, when Speakers attempt to draw those lines, members should try to stay clear of them, and not try to tiptoe up to them and see how far you can lean over,” Scheer told the House.

Regan’s ruling also acknowledged a somewhat convoluted concern raised by Conservative House Leader Candice Bergen, in which she claimed that the prime minister had suggested, via off-mic gesture in response to an opposition heckle, that he was “in charge” of the Speaker.

Not surprisingly, he rejected the assertion allegedly made by the PM.

“Although I was unable to confirm the allegations, I want the House to know with absolute certainty that, as Speaker, I am the guardian of the rights and privileges of all members — that is to say that I am not the servant of any one part of the House, nor of any one member,” he noted.

“Rather, as your Speaker, I remain the servant only of the entire House.” All MPs, he concluded, “can be assured that I am guided by this core principle.”