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October 29, 1980
Certain interventions touching upon Members' privileges of freedom of speech and liable to influence Members in the exercise of their duties, such as editorials and other public comment, do not...
The Speaker ruled that a government advertising campaign did not constitute a breach of privilege as pressure from an outside body is not, in itself, interference with parliamentary proceedings.
May 15, 1978
While the civil suit has caused the Member certain difficulties, it cannot be said to constitute obstruction or harassment in the narrow sense in which one must construe the privilege of freedom...
The Speaker ruled that a civil suit and radio show appearance do not breach parliamentary privilege as they are not extensions of proceedings in Parliament.
June 18, 1975
Nothing that anyone says about the conduct or performance, the speech or contribution of any Member could in general terms be taken as interference with his right to speak or to operate as a...
The Speaker ruled that external criticism and commentary on a Member's performance do not constitute a breach of privilege or interference with their parliamentary duties.
September 4, 1973
There is no doubt that Members should not be placed in a position where, in their absence from their offices, representatives of the police without any authority could enter the offices and...
In a landmark 1973 ruling, the Speaker established that unauthorized police entry into an MP's office constitutes a prima facie breach of parliamentary privilege.
March 16, 1972
A matter of this kind cannot be brought before the House byway of a breach of parliamentary privilege. It is doubtful that the Member can successfully claim that his parliamentary privileges have...
The Speaker denied a Member's question of privilege, ruling it was a substantive motion improperly framed as a breach of privilege.
March 10, 1972
Any accusation made against a senior public official is a breach of order. [In this case, the official is the Auditor General who, in failing to submit his annual report to the House as stipulated...
The Speaker denied a question of privilege, ruling that accusations against the Auditor General are matters of order or administration to be addressed by a substantive motion.
December 30, 1971
There is nothing to suggest in the Member's charge that 'there has been a prima facie breach of the rights and immunities of Members of the House of Commons". The Chair, in effect, has been asked...
The Speaker denied a question of privilege, ruling that the complaint about government administrative actions was a legal issue, not a breach of members' rights.
September 27, 1971
An important aspect of privilege is that it should be raised at the first opportunity. The Member's claim that he was outside the House when the words to which he took exception were spoken is not...
The Speaker ruled that allegedly unparliamentary language directed at a group rather than an individual does not constitute a breach of privilege.
May 25, 1970
The right of Members to an unhindered access to the Parliament buildings is a time-honoured privilege. "This principle should be recognized even if there is some question as to the extension of...
The Speaker ruled that a momentary delay for security did not breach a Member's privilege of unhindered access to Parliament as no one was ultimately denied entry.
June 9, 1969
In matters of privilege involving newspaper comments two conflicting interests must be taken into account: the privilege of Members to exercise their duties and the freedom of the press to report...
A question of privilege concerning a newspaper article was denied due to not being raised at the earliest opportunity and an improperly worded motion.