Global News reporter David Akin has apologized for heckling Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre during Tuesday's press conference, characterizing his behavior as "rude and disrespectful."."Many said I was rude and disrespectful to Pierre Poilievre. I agree," Akin said on Twitter late Tuesday night.."I'm sorry for that. We all want politicians to answer questions — but there are better ways of making a point.".Akin, the chief political reporter for Global News, was angry over Poilievre's refusal to take questions from reporters. After Poilievre's address to the Conservative caucus on Monday, the dozen or so reporters attending were told they were "welcome to now exit the room.".Then on Tuesday, the leader's office said Poilievre would deliver an on-camera statement about inflation, but would not take any questions from the press..Akin repeatedly interrupted the Conservative leader's speech on Tuesday by asking questions. Unable to continue his speech about inflation, Poilievre referred to Akin a "Liberal heckler," that had snuck into the press conference..Akin then asked whether Poilievre would be taking any questions, to which the leader responded he would answer two following the press conference. Poilievre did not call on Akin for questions..On Twitter, Akin denied directing profanity towards Poilievre, contradicting Press Secretary Anthony Koch's claim that Akin indirectly told Poilievre to "go f*ck himself.".Akin also claimed his boss at Global News did not reprimand him or demand he apologize on Twitter. "Nope. All me," he said..On Wednesday, Poilievre's campaign sent out an email to supporters claiming Akin was "swearing at, shouting at and heckling," the Conservative leader.."He wasn’t interested in hearing what I had to say, and he certainly wasn’t interested in reporting it in an unbiased way," Poilievre said.."It’s not just the Liberals with all the advantages and resources of the federal government at their disposal. It’s the media, who are no longer interested in even pretending to be unbiased.".Poilievre said Conservatives who want lower inflation, reduced spending and the defunding of CBC, "can't count on the media" to communicate their messages to Canadians. "We have to go around them and their biased coverage.".Akin and Global News did not respond to a request for comment.
