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November 9, 1978
The complaint was raised at the earliest opportunity. The letter from the Solicitor General to Mr. Lawrence can be considered a proceeding in Parliament for the purpose of privilege. A contempt...
The Speaker found a prima facie case of contempt, ruling that a minister's letter is a proceeding in Parliament and the sub judice convention does not apply to a Royal Commission.
July 25, 1975
The motions asking for a general investigation under the terms of a specialized motion of privilege Jack sufficient merit to be given precedence over other motions; there is nothing to prevent...
The Speaker found a prima facie case of privilege in a specific motion concerning false accusations against a Member, while denying precedence to a more general motion.
December 19, 1974
"[T]he allegations relate to the relationship between the Members of this House and the members of the press gallery here... [and since] to a certain extent the press gallery is an extension of...
The Speaker finds a prima facie case of privilege concerning allegations involving MPs and the press gallery, viewing the gallery as an extension of the House's function.
September 6, 1973
The motion asks the House to censure a Member for a statement made outside the House; the purport of such a motion does not allow the Speaker to find a prima facie case of privilege. "It is a...
A ruling clarifying that the prohibition on commenting on committee work before a report is tabled applies only to statements made inside the House, not outside.
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.
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.
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.
November 18, 1971
The complaint of the Member is "essentially the same as the one proposed the day before yesterday". This may be an attempt to appeal a decision of the Chair, which cannot be done. The Chair...
The Speaker denied a member's complaint, ruling it was an impermissible attempt to appeal a previous decision on the same matter.
September 28, 1971
On numerous occasions, the Chair has indicated to the House the procedure to be followed in order to have the conduct of a Minister or Member considered by a committee. The Member has not met...
The Speaker denied a question of privilege concerning a member's conduct outside the House, affirming that established precedents and procedures must be followed.
September 13, 1971
In determining whether there is a prima facie case of privilege, the Chair is guided by the long-standing definition of privilege. The action of the Government might be subject to a motion of...
The Speaker rules that a government action, while potentially subject to a censure or non-confidence motion, does not meet the criteria for a prima facie question of privilege.