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Question of Privilege April 26, 1983

Tabling of revised budget documents

Hon. Jeanne Sauvé

Hon. Jeanne Sauvé

Speaker of the House

Ruling Text

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 been misunderstanding concerning the practice relating to the tabling of documents, there is no evidence of what the Member alleges. Finally, Ministers, and not the Chair, are responsible for the content of documents. The Chair is only competent to determine whether or not the documents were tabled correctly. In the present case, the printed budget documents were tabled on budget night and the supplementary material was properly tabled at a subsequent sitting, pursuant to the Standing Order.
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AI Summary

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.

AI Analysis

Holding
"Serious accusations against a member must be made via a substantive motion, not a question of privilege, and the Chair is only responsible for the procedural correctness of tabling documents, not their content."
Outcome
Denied
Tone
Educational
Procedural Stage
Ruling on a Question of Privilege
Significance
Low High

Cited Authorities