Question of Privilege
October 16, 1968
Attendance of Ministers
Hon. Lucien Lamoureux
Speaker of the House
Ruling Text
Questions must be addressed to a Minister in relation to his or her administrative responsibility. This applies, as well, to Ministers who have acting ministerial responsibility, and this has been a common occurrence for many years. However, a Minister cannot be asked questions with respect to any other capacity, either as representative of a province or of a racial or religious group. The attendance system to which objection is taken has been in place for a few weeks and has been the subject of several points of order, but this is the first time it has been raised as a question of privilege. It can hardly be claimed, therefore, that the matter is being raised at the first opportunity. In addition, while Members have a right to ask a question, they cannot insist on an answer. Finally, the motion being proposed is really seeking to have the system of ministerial attendance during Oral Questions considered by the Special Committee on Procedure as well as other procedural changes. As such, this is a substantive motion which can only be moved after notice.
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Holding
"A complaint about ministerial attendance during Oral Questions does not constitute a prima facie question of privilege as it was not raised at the first opportunity and the proposed motion is substantive, requiring notice."
AI Summary
The Speaker denied a question of privilege regarding ministerial attendance, ruling it was not raised in a timely manner and was a substantive matter requiring notice.
AI Analysis
- Outcome
- Denied
- Tone
- Educational
- Procedural Stage
- Oral Questions
- Significance
Low
High