Privilege / Reflections on a Member

Reflections on a Member

Debates pp. 4773-4

Background

When the House met, Mr. Langlois (Mégantic) rose on a question of privilege to claim that the remarks made by Mr. Nicholson (Minister of Labour) about him during an emergency debate on Friday, November 24, were mistaken. Without proposing a motion, he concluded by stating that the Minister had acted "irresponsibly". The Speaker ruled on the merits of the case immediately.

Issue

Is there a question of privilege?

Decision

There are no actual grounds for a question of privilege.

Reasons given by the Speaker

"If there really was a question of privilege it should be followed by a motion", but none was moved. In addition, "a question of privilege must be raised at the first opportunity. That does not mean at the first opportunity which suits the . . . Member but rather as soon as the breach of privilege takes place. The incident now in question dates back to last Friday." Moreover, this matter is no more than a grievance involving a conflict of statements made by two Members, both of which must be accepted according to the Standing Orders.