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March 8, 1990
Mr. Speaker: On Monday, March 5, 1990, the honourable Member for Kamloops rose on a point of order to suggest that the debate on the budget be suspended and that the Chair review the Government...
The Speaker rules that the sub judice convention does not apply to bills, thereby allowing debate on government legislation to proceed despite a related matter being before the courts.
November 7, 1989
Mr. Speaker: The Chair would ask the indulgence of the House to render a decision on the matter raised yesterday by the honourable Member for York Centre relating to the Sub Judice convention. I...
The Speaker denied a request to ask questions about a matter before the courts, ruling that the sub judice convention applied because the issue was part of an active defense motion in a criminal trial.
May 19, 1989
The Speaker: On Tuesday, April 4, 1989, the honourable Member for Edmonton Southeast raised a question of privilege and, in addition, provided the Chair with certain related material. The facts...
The Speaker rules that parliamentary privilege does not protect MP-constituent communications and warns against waiving immunity or accepting subpoenas within parliamentary precincts.
May 26, 1987
The Speaker: I am now ready to rule on the question of privilege raised by the honourable Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs on Thursday, May 21. I have studied quite carefully the...
The Speaker ruled that a question implying a conflict of interest did not constitute a prima facie breach of privilege but cautioned Members against naming private citizens.
February 18, 1987
Mr. Speaker: On February 11, 1987, the honourable Member for La Prairie raised a question of privilege with respect to the dismissal of an official at the Department of Employment and Immigration....
The Speaker ruled that the dismissal of a public servant for speaking with MPs did not constitute a breach of privilege as parliamentary privilege does not extend to public servants.
January 27, 1986
The Speaker reminded the House of the guidelines established in 1977 by a committee of the House. The committee stated that a Member calling for the suppression of a matter because it is sub...
The Speaker clarifies that invoking the sub judice convention requires a Member to demonstrate a real risk of prejudice before the Chair will intervene.
June 23, 1977
The premature publication of this document interferes with the work of the Members in their committee because it "prejudices the secure identity of witnesses and people who co-operated with the...
The Speaker rules that the systemic issue of premature publication of committee documents should be studied by a special committee rather than being treated as an absolute question of privilege in every instance.
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.