Another angle of the heated exchange between Global News reporter David Akin and Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has surfaced. The footage, which is focused primarily on Akin, sheds more light on the reporter's motivations for his heckling..On Tuesday, the moment Poilievre reached his podium and began his remarks, Akin interrupted by saying "congratulations on becoming the new leader. Before you begin, do you plan to take any questions today?".Poilievre refused to take any questions from reporters Monday after addressing the Conservative caucus. Then on Tuesday, Poilievre's office said he would deliver an on-camera statement about inflation, but would not take any questions.."Are you still going to fire the Bank of Canada governor? How will that help inflation," Akin asked, referencing Poilievre's repeated promise to fire Tiff Macklem for failing to keep inflation under 2%..When Poilievre remarked he was being heckled, Akin responded, "You are, sir." ."Congratulations. By your constituent, and by one of the members of the press gallery," Akin said. "Will you take some questions afterwards? That's usually the way things work here." .Poilievre ignored Akin and began talking about the half-trillion dollars of inflationary deficits driving up the costs for average Canadians, Akin again asked how firing Macklem will fix that. .When Poilievre said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is proposing more spending, Akin yelled, "Trudeau took questions from reporters today, are you going to take questions from reporters today?". "I'll put my hand up," Akin said before pointing towards Poilievre's Press Secretary Anthony Koch. "Can I get on the list, Anthony, to ask a question? Is that the way it works?". When Poilievre declared that there is "basically, a Liberal heckler" in the room, Akin introduced himself as the "guy who reported first on the prime minister breaking the law.". Akin was the first to report on the Prime Minister Trudeau's 2017 Christmas holiday at the Aga Khan's island in the Bahamas, where Trudeau became the first prime minister to have broken a federal statute. Akin received the 2017 National Newspaper Award for the story.. Poilievre said he had never seen Akin heckling a politician, to which Akin replied, "I've done it before.". "As Minister Baird back in the day," Akin said, referring to former Minister of Foreign Affairs John Baird under Prime Minister Stephen Harper. "Are you going to take some questions at the end of this statement?". When Poilievre said he would allow two questions, Akin exclaimed "Excellent, then I'll be quiet. Thank you very much.". "So I'm going to start my statement again," Poilievre said. "And hopefully without interruption from the Liberal heckling gathering here.". Monday's incident led to widespread condemnation of Akin on social media, while some defended the reporter for encouraging Poilievre to take questions from journalists. Akin apologized for his behaviour later that night, calling it "rude and disrespectful."
