It's not the behaviour we expect from elected officials, or top-level bureaucrats.
But according to witnesses, an altercation between cabinet minister Shane Thompson and the longtime clerk of the legislative assembly, Tim Mercer got physical in March.
"I stuck my head out of my office and looked down the hallway," one witness wrote in a written complaint obtained by Yellowknifer. "And I saw Tim getting into Shane's face, getting closer and closer and Shane said 'stop that, don't ever talk to me like that!' and stuck his finger out and Tim slapped down his hand.
"And then Tim gave him a little shove."
Click on the thumbnail below to read Blair McBride's exclusive story on the eye-popping exchange in the May 15 issue of Yellowknifer.