Privilege / Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous

Debates pp. 7739-40

Background

When the House met, Mr. Knowles (Winnipeg North Centre) rose on a question of privilege concerning the fact that the Government had not made the required monthly payments to the Wheat Board as stipulated in the Temporary Wheat Reserves Act. Mr. Knowles claimed that the actions of the Government were an affront to the rights and privileges of Parliament. He asserted that the Government's justification for withholding payments on the grounds that a bill to rescind that law was on the Order Paper was insufficient. Mr. Knowles concluded by indicating he had a motion that he was ready to propose should the Speaker agree to his request. The Speaker made his ruling without delay.

Issue

If the Government does not fulfil the provisions of a law, is this sufficient cause for finding a prima facie case of privilege?

Decision

There is no question of privilege; the issue cannot be considered by claiming a breach of privilege.

Reasons given by the Speaker

In determining whether there is a prima facie case of privilege, the Chair is guided by the long-standing definition of privilege. The action of the Government might be subject to a motion of censure or of non-confidence, but neither approach should be considered "within the framework of a debate on a question of privilege".

Sources cited

Standing Order 17(2).

May, 17th ed., p. 42.

References

Debates, September 13, 1971, pp. 7737-9.