Question of Privilege
May 19, 1970
Reflections on the House
Hon. Lucien Lamoureux
Speaker of the House
Ruling Text
The Member is seeking an inquiry by the committee into an alleged threat to the freedom of the press. If such a far-reaching question were to be investigated by the House, it should be done by way of a substantive motion rather than a question of privilege. A newspaper article cannot be considered to breach privilege unless its contents are tantamount to libel and constitute an interference with the official duties of Members.
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Holding
"An inquiry into an alleged threat to the freedom of the press is not a matter of privilege and must be pursued through a substantive motion, as a newspaper article only breaches privilege if it is libellous and interferes with a Member's official duties."
AI Summary
The Speaker denied a question of privilege regarding a newspaper article, clarifying that it did not meet the high threshold for a breach and that the matter should be raised via a substantive motion.
AI Analysis
- Outcome
- Denied
- Tone
- Educational
- Procedural Stage
- Question of Privilege
- Significance
Low
High