October 12, 1983
Members who participate in a public debate outside the House enjoy no special protection. Privilege can only be claimed in relation to a parliamentary proceeding. Privilege is not designed to...
A Speaker's ruling clarifies that parliamentary privilege does not protect Members from criticism arising from activities outside of official parliamentary proceedings.
April 26, 1983
Various precedents indicate that charges of this kind cannot be made by way of a question of privilege, but only on a substantive motion making clear and specific accusations. While there may have...
Speaker rules that serious accusations must be made via a substantive motion, not a question of privilege, and finds no procedural error in the tabling of budget documents.
March 22, 1983
Not only do defamatory allegations about Members place the entire institution of Parliament under a cloud, they also prevent Members from performing their duties as long as the matter remains...
A Speaker's ruling confirms that defamatory allegations against a Member can be referred to a committee despite the sub judice convention to protect the Member's ability to function.
February 28, 1983
For there to be a prima facie case of privilege, sufficient evidence must be presented to warrant the matter proceeding to investigation. Furthermore, it is not for the Chair to determine whether...
The Speaker clarifies that the Chair does not rule on the accuracy of tabled documents and that reflections on Members require a substantive motion.
May 27, 1982
The question was raised at the earliest opportunity, but the Minister denies having deliberately misled the House. As it is customary to accept a Member's statement, the matter cannot be dealt...
The Speaker denied a question of privilege concerning a Minister allegedly misleading the House, as the Minister's denial of intent must be accepted.
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.
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 2, 1981
The advertisement reflects on the honour of Members and thus could be said to involve contempt of Parliament.
The Speaker rules that an advertisement portraying influence peddling could be a contempt of Parliament as it reflects on the honour of Members.
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.
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.