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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.
April 29, 1971
"... parliamentary privilege does not go much beyond the right of free speech in the House of Commons and the right of a Member to discharge his duties in the House as a Member of the House of...
A Speaker's ruling clarifies that access to penitentiaries is a statutory right, not a matter of parliamentary privilege.
April 20, 1971
"... it would be imprudent of the Chair to project the question of police files beyond the circumstances or conditions raised by the... Member and beyond the particular circumstances alluded to by...
The Speaker ruled that while police files on MPs are a serious matter, a breach of privilege requires specific evidence of intimidation or hindrance of duties.
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.
October 7, 1970
The question of privilege seems to "have been raised prematurely in that the Standing Committee on Regional Development has not met for several months and will not meet again in this session. The...
The Speaker denied a question of privilege concerning a member's conduct, ruling it was premature and improperly framed as a general reflection rather than a specific charge.
June 15, 1970
The investigation that the motion proposes may not be initiated by way of a question of privilege. A number of recent precedents indicates that motions proposing a study of the circumstances...
The Speaker ruled that motions to investigate information leaks must be introduced as substantive motions, not as questions of privilege.
June 8, 1970
The intent of the proposed question is to confirm a deliberate deception by a Member or Members. In accordance with previous rulings, however, no Member should have to submit to an investigation...
The Speaker denied a question of privilege concerning deliberate deception because a specific charge is required for an investigation, and a mere dispute over facts is insufficient.
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.
May 19, 1970
The Member is seeking an inquiry by the committee into an alleged threat to the freedom of the press. If such a far-reaching question were to be investigated by the House, it should be done by way...
The Speaker denied a question of privilege regarding a newspaper article, clarifying that it did not meet the high threshold for a breach and that the matter should be raised via a substantive motion.
April 14, 1970
The Chair doubts that the privileges of any individual Member are affected by the circumstances outlined by the Member's complaint. The complaint also suggests that this contravenes the Senate and...
The Chair denied a question of privilege, ruling the matter was a point of law that should be raised via a substantive motion.