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April 10, 1981
"It has been ruled consistently that the Chair does not decide questions of law." Equally, the Chair is not responsible for deciding whether or not a departmental guideline has been breached, nor,...
The Speaker ruled that a Minister opening an office in another Member's riding is not a breach of privilege as the Chair does not rule on the use of funds and all MPs represent the whole country.
March 4, 1981
If it is true to say that a Member elected to a constituency also represents the whole country, then one cannot deny that each member of the Cabinet represents all of Canada. Moreover, the...
The Speaker rules that the assignment of ministerial responsibilities for a region is a potential political grievance, not a breach of privilege.
March 4, 1981
The Chair does not have the duty to uphold the principle of cabinet secrecy, nor does it sit in judgment upon the manner in which Ministers fulfil their responsibilities, including the prevention...
The Speaker ruled that a leak of government estimates is a matter of ministerial responsibility, not a breach of parliamentary privilege for the Chair to adjudicate.
February 25, 1981
There is no question of privilege because Members' duties do not expressly require them to attend press lock-ups. Furthermore, if the denial of entry put the Member at a disadvantage, it is a...
The Speaker ruled that being denied entry to a press lock-up is not a breach of privilege as it is not an express duty of a Member.
February 2, 1981
According to one authority, references to debates in the other House are out of order for the simple reason that the debates of one of the two Houses remain hypothetically unknown to the other....
The Speaker affirms the rule that members cannot refer to debates in the Senate, as each legislative body manages its own proceedings independently.
January 30, 1981
Parliamentary privilege is very limited, and is essentially restricted to freedom of speech, access to the Parliamentary Buildings, immunity against arrest or molestation, and exemption from...
The Speaker ruled that a Minister changing a commitment is a political grievance, not a breach of parliamentary privilege.
October 29, 1980
Certain interventions touching upon Members' privileges of freedom of speech and liable to influence Members in the exercise of their duties, such as editorials and other public comment, do not...
The Speaker ruled that a government advertising campaign did not constitute a breach of privilege as pressure from an outside body is not, in itself, interference with parliamentary proceedings.
October 17, 1980
The Member has the right to express his disagreement following the Minister's decision, and this very important question of principle certainly deserves to be debated. However, there is no...
The Speaker ruled that a Minister's non-disclosure of public opinion polls did not constitute a prima facie breach of privilege.
October 17, 1980
It cannot be said that the Government's spending impedes the House or the Members in the fulfillment of their duties. The fact that certain Members feel that they are disadvantaged by not having...
The Speaker denied a question of privilege, ruling that government advertising spending does not impede the work of Members or the House.
July 15, 1980
The documents submitted by the Member do not clearly indicate inaccuracies. Furthermore, even if they were shown to be incorrect, falsified or altered, which they have not, there is no indication...
The Speaker denied a question of privilege, finding no evidence of intent to deceive the House and ruling the matter did not pertain to parliamentary duties.