Question of Privilege
February 22, 1968
Reflections on the House
Hon. Lucien Lamoureux
Speaker of the House
Ruling Text
The claim that the words "manufactured crisis" or "trickery" are in themselves libellous or slanderous cannot be accepted. "The fact that a statement is untrue does not necessarily form the basis of a question of privilege. The only way in which there could be a breach of privilege would be for the word 'trickery' itself to be considered as slanderous... [Having] regard to the manner in which the word was used on this occasion in a general way, in the course of a general statement, it cannot be considered... as a personal offence to [the] integrity [of] Members of Parliament." More time than usual has been allowed for comments because the matter was of such importance that all Members should be given the opportunity to give advice or explain their positions. Normally, however, "the Speaker should rise as early as possible after the motion has been raised to rule whether or not there is a prima facie case of privilege".
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Holding
"The use of the words 'manufactured crisis' or 'trickery' in a general, non-personal manner does not constitute a prima facie case of privilege."
AI Summary
The Speaker ruled that the terms 'manufactured crisis' and 'trickery' were not a prima facie breach of privilege as they were used generally and not as a personal attack.
AI Analysis
- Outcome
- Denied
- Tone
- Educational
- Procedural Stage
- Not specified
- Significance
Low
High