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February 28, 1983
For there to be a prima facie case of privilege, sufficient evidence must be presented to warrant the matter proceeding to investigation. Furthermore, it is not for the Chair to determine whether...
The Speaker clarifies that the Chair does not rule on the accuracy of tabled documents and that reflections on Members require a substantive motion.
June 16, 1982
Rules of Debate / Unparliamentary Language June 16, 1982 Debates pp. 18527-8 Background During the introduction of an opposition motion dealing with supply, Mr. Chretien (Minister of Justice)...
This entry pertains to the procedural concept of personal attacks and the associated right of reply, but is not a specific ruling.
July 15, 1980
"An Honorable Member should not be required to submit his conduct for investigation by the House or a committee thereof until he has been charged with an offence by another Member." No specific...
The Speaker ruled that a formal charge and evidence are required before the House can investigate a Member's conduct.
March 21, 1978
While there are no previous precedents in any of the earlier practices of this House or of Westminster, and although this case involves an incident which took place beyond the precincts of...
The Speaker rules that electronic surveillance of a Member, even off-precinct, could constitute a contempt of the House by way of intimidation or obstruction.
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.
June 4, 1975
The strict definition of parliamentary privilege should not be expanded to include controversies as to facts, opinions or conclusions. These are matters for debate; they are not questions of...
This ruling establishes that disagreements over facts are matters for debate, not privilege, and that a specific charge is required to raise a question of privilege against a Member.
April 14, 1975
Questions / Oral Questions April 14, 1975 Journals pp. 439-41 Debates pp. 4762-4 Background On April 7, 1975, an experiment in procedure, designating a fixed time for the Question Period, began....
Analysis failed as the provided text was not a Speaker's Ruling.
December 4, 1973
"It is well-established practice that committee proceedings cannot be brought into consideration or debate in the House except by way of a report from the committee." It is also well established...
The Speaker ruled that committee proceedings and member conduct cannot be raised in the House via a question of privilege and must be presented through a formal committee report.
May 29, 1973
It is "difficult to agree with the proposition that so-called unparliamentary language would be irregular when it refers to the conduct or statements of Members inside the House, but that the same...
The Speaker rules that the prohibition on unparliamentary language applies equally to a Member's conduct and statements made both inside and outside the House.
May 16, 1972
There is little reason for the statements or conduct of a Member to be referred to a committee for scrutiny. A charge must be made in specific terms before a prima facie case of privilege is...
The Speaker ruled that a motion regarding another member's statements was a matter for debate, not a question of privilege, because it lacked a specific charge.