Ottawa

Just another debate about evolution and autoerotic asphyxiation

During debate in the House on Tuesday of an NDP motion concerning the value of science, Bruce Hyer asked Gary Goodyear, the minister of state for science, if he believed in evolution (Mr. Goodyear’s views on evolution were sort of a thing a few years ago).

Mr. Goodyear responded that “what I would recommend to the honourable member is that when he tightens that towel around his neck at nighttime that he not do it for more than 20 seconds. It actually ends up causing cerebral anoxia that leaves permanent brain damage.”

Elizabeth May then rose on a point of order after QP yesterday and suggested this was unparliamentary because it seemed to be a reference to “deviant sexual practices” (presumably autoerotic asphyxiation).

Mr. Goodyear then rose on a point of order to explain that he was not referring to autoerotic asphyxiation, he was only implying that Mr. Hyer might suffer from brain damage. Nonetheless, he withdrew the comment.

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