Question of Privilege
March 9, 1998
Contempt of the House: intimidation of the Speaker; comments by members in the media
Hon. Gilbert Parent
Speaker of the House
Ruling Text
The Speaker:
My colleagues, I thank you for your indulgence. I have sought advice and I have considered the matter that is before us today. It is very important that the House be seized with this matter.
I find a prima facie case and I am going to permit the honourable House leader of the Progressive Conservative Party to put his motion. After the motion has been put we will begin debate until we have ceased debating.
Postscript Mr. MacKay then moved that the matter be referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs. Debate arose. Chuck Strahl (Fraser Valley) proposed an amendment to the motion that the Speaker ruled out of. order. Pierre de Savoye (Portneuf) then moved an amendment to the motion, that the Speaker ruled in order. Bob Kilger (Stormont—Dundas) then moved the adjournment of the debate, which was adopted.
[3]
On March 10, 1998, debate resumed on the motion of Mr. MacKay and both the amendment and the main motion, as amended, were adopted on recorded divisions.
[4]
The Speaker never ruled on the point of order of Mr. Gauthier.
On April 27, 1998, the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs presented its 29th Report.
[5]
In the report, the committee indicated that after hearing the testimony of the five members referred to in the article, the committee had determined that the statements attributed to the members were not intended to be contemptuous of the House or the Speaker. It concluded that they did not bring into question the integrity of the House of Commons and the Speaker. On April 29, 1998, the House adopted a special order that a motion for concurrence in the report of the committee be deemed put and that a recorded division be deemed requested and deferred until May 5, 1998.
[6]
On May 5, the report was concurred in on a recorded division.
[7]
P0103-e 36-1 1998-03-09
Edit Metadata
Holding
"A prima facie case of contempt was found concerning members' media comments, and a motion to refer the matter to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs was permitted."
AI Summary
The Speaker found a prima facie case of contempt regarding media comments by members and allowed a motion to refer the issue to committee.
AI Analysis
- Outcome
- Sustained
- Tone
- Neutral
- Procedural Stage
- Question of Privilege
- Significance
Low
High