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June 8, 1988
The Speaker: I am now ready to rule on the arguments given some days ago with respect to Bill C-130. In my view, they were excellent arguments. I wish to advise honourable Members that the Chair...
The Speaker ruled that the omnibus free trade implementation bill (C-130) was procedurally acceptable because its many amendments were unified by the single purpose of enacting an international treaty.
February 9, 1988
The Speaker: On January 28, 1988, the honourable Member for Thunder Bay—Atikokan claimed that the rights of three Members of Parliament had been breached in relation to the privacy of their...
A Speaker's ruling establishes that Members' electronic data has the same expectation of privacy as physical documents and requires staff to obtain prior authorization before making changes.
January 28, 1988
The Speaker: I am now ready to rule on the question of privilege raised by the honourable member for Okanagan—Coquihalla on October 21, 1999, concerning delays in the release of information under...
The Speaker ruled that delays in responding to an Access to Information request do not constitute a breach of privilege as this activity is not considered a 'proceeding in Parliament'.
December 9, 1987
Mr. Speaker: On Wednesday, November 25, 1987, the honourable Member for Burnaby raised serious matters in the House which he believed were tantamount to contempt of the Standing Committee on...
The Speaker ruled that allegations of witness intimidation at a committee must be addressed by the committee itself before being raised as a question of privilege in the House.
November 18, 1987
Mr. Speaker: I have another ruling with respect to a matter raised on October 13 by the honourable Member for Nickel Belt, who raised a question of privilege alleging improper restrictions on the...
The Speaker ruled that a committee motion restricting members' access to researchers did not constitute a prima facie question of privilege because committees are masters of their own procedure.
November 17, 1987
The Speaker: I bring to the attention of honourable Members that I am now ready to give my ruling on a matter raised by the honourable Member for York South—Weston on Monday, October 26. I wish to...
The Speaker ruled that the punishment of an inmate after contacting a Member's office is not a breach of privilege as this protection does not extend to a Member's staff or their work outside the Chamber.
December 11, 1986
The Speaker: On November 6, 1986, the honourable Deputy Prime Minister rose on a point of order relating to the appropriateness of questions asked during Question Period relating to...
The Speaker ruled that questions about Order-in-Council appointments are generally permissible during Question Period even when the matter is before a committee.
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.
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.
June 23, 1977
In these situations, the practice of resorting to a question of privilege has become customary. It permits a Member to make what is essentially a personal statement under the umbrella of privilege...
The Speaker rules that personal attacks do not meet the threshold for a question of privilege unless they obstruct a Member's parliamentary duties.