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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.
February 3, 1971
While a supposed contempt of Parliament may be an element of a breach of privilege, it is not by itself a question of privilege. The complaint raised by the Member may be classified as (i) wilful...
The Speaker rules that a complaint of being misled or contempt is not a prima facie question of privilege and must be pursued through other procedural avenues.
December 4, 1969
It has been generally understood for many years that the power to call a meeting for the purpose of electing a chairman and a vice-chairman rest customarily with the Government Whip, not...
The Speaker ruled that the custom of the Government Whip calling a committee's organizational meeting does not constitute a prima facie question of privilege.
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.
June 3, 1969
It has been long-established that budgetary information is made available to the press under the terms of the strictest secrecy some hours before the same information is made available to the...
A Speaker's ruling confirms that providing embargoed budget information to the press before the House is an established practice and not a matter of privilege.
December 10, 1968
"... Members have indicated quite clearly... that there is a prima facie case of privilege and that it is the type of question which might be sent to committee." There may be a difficulty in...
The Speaker finds a prima facie question of privilege concerning the accuracy of a committee report, allowing the matter to be referred for committee investigation.
February 22, 1968
The claim that the words "manufactured crisis" or "trickery" are in themselves libellous or slanderous cannot be accepted. "The fact that a statement is untrue does not necessarily form the basis...
The Speaker ruled that the terms 'manufactured crisis' and 'trickery' were not a prima facie breach of privilege as they were used generally and not as a personal attack.
March 15, 1967
While the irregularity in the Estimates may be a matter of dispute, the role of the Chair is limited to determining if the issue should be given priority over other business byway of a question of...
The Speaker ruled that an irregularity in the Estimates is a matter for debate on supply, not a prima facie question of privilege.
October 24, 1966
In such an instance as this, it is not necessary for the Speaker to decide if a breach of privilege has been committed, but to decide if the complaint was raised at the earliest opportunity, and...
The Speaker ruled that a prima facie question of privilege regarding reflections on a Member was established and allowed the corresponding motion to proceed.
October 18, 1966
The Chair must rule on two points in the case. First, the motion goes beyond the scope of the limited question of privilege raised by Mr. Nugent and revives a point concerning the fact of the...
The Chair denied a question of privilege, ruling the motion was improperly substantive and the minister's words did not meet the prima facie threshold for a breach.