Rules of Debate / Order and Decorum
Unparliamentary language: imputing motives
Debates, pp. 621–2
Context
On June 21, 2011, Bob Rae (Toronto Centre) rose on a point of order to challenge a statement made by Vic Toews (Minister of Public Safety) during debate on Bill C-4, An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the Balanced Refugee Reform Act and the Marine Transportation Security Act. Mr. Rae alledged that the Minister had suggested that opposition Members were in favour of furthering criminal activity. In response, the Minister clarified that he had not meant to imply that Members were contemplating committing criminal offences. The Deputy Speaker (Denise Savoie) undertook to review the transcript.[1]
Resolution
On June 22, 2011, the Deputy Speaker delivered her ruling. While she found the language used by the Minister to be unparliamentary, she accepted his clarification of his intent. She stated that such statements accusing Members of criminal activity would not be tolerated and urged Members to avoid statements imputing each other’s motives.
Decision of the Chair
The Deputy Speaker: I am now prepared to give a ruling on a point of order raised yesterday by the hon. Member for Toronto Centre regarding a statement made by the Minister of Public Safety in the course of debate on Bill C-4.
When the point of order was raised, I undertook to review the transcript and, if necessary, return to the House with a ruling on that matter. Having done so, the Chair finds that the words used by the Minister were unparliamentary.
However, the Chair notes that the Minister did rise to clarify his remarks, stating that he “certainly did not mean any intention to commit a criminal offence by this Member or any other Member”. Given this clarification by the Minister, the Chair is prepared to take him at his word and consider the matter closed.
However, let me take this opportunity, in these early days of the Forty-First Parliament, to remind the Minister and all Members that this kind of statement will not be tolerated.
I enjoin all Members to avoid all statements that impute unworthy motives to Members.
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