After harsh Twitter exchanges, Senate will look at new social media policy – National Post

OTTAWA — An independent senator is on a mission to get members of Canada’s upper house to stop being so nasty to each other on social media.

Tony Dean says recent exchanges on Twitter involving senators and their staff have included “aggressive, harassing and, in some cases, bullying” behaviour.

Dean, a former head of the Ontario civil service, raised the issue during a Senate committee meeting last week. And in a subsequent interview, he said the intensity of harshly partisan comments increased markedly over the past few months.

While free speech, the ability to communicate political messages, and the protections of parliamentary privilege are important to maintain, he said there should be reasonable limits on hurtful speech and conduct unbecoming a senator or the Senate as an institution.

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