Opposition wants Commons speaker given new powers to keep unruly MPs in line

OTTAWA - The Opposition says the Speaker of the House of Commons should have more power to crack down on MPs behaving badly.

New Democratic Party House Leader Nathan Cullen says Speaker Andrew Scheer needs greater clout to keep politicians in line.

Cullen wants the Speaker to be able to bar MPs from asking questions in the Commons if they don't heed warnings to be civil.

It's not the first time the New Democrats have called for greater powers of punishment for the Speaker.

Cullen's predecessor, Joe Comartin, asked for the same thing last fall.

But Cullen says behaviour in Parliament is getting worse and MPs need to be reined in.