Question of Privilege
June 8, 1970
Deceiving the House
Hon. Lucien Lamoureux
Speaker of the House
Ruling Text
The intent of the proposed question is to confirm a deliberate deception by a Member or Members. In accordance with previous rulings, however, no Member should have to submit to an investigation of his or her conduct by the House or a committee until he or she has been charged with an offence. The proposed motion states no such specific charge. Instead, there seems to be "a dispute or a misunderstanding arising between Members as to allegations of fact". Such a situation does not meet the prima fade conditions of parliamentary privilege. While the issue of obliging Ministers to make statements in the House is a difficult problem that has been raised many times, it is not really a question of privilege which justifies a motion being put to the House for debate to refer the matter to a committee.
Edit Metadata
Holding
"A dispute between Members over allegations of fact does not constitute a prima facie question of privilege; a specific charge of an offence is required before the House will investigate a Member's conduct for deliberately deceiving the House."
AI Summary
The Speaker denied a question of privilege concerning deliberate deception because a specific charge is required for an investigation, and a mere dispute over facts is insufficient.
AI Analysis
- Outcome
- Denied
- Tone
- Educational
- Procedural Stage
- Question of Privilege Proceeding
- Significance
Low
High