The Daily Program / Statements by Members

September 17, 1996

Debates, pp. 4309-10

Following Oral Questions on September 17, 1996, Gilles Duceppe (Laurier—Sainte-Marie) rose on a question of privilege to object to a statement made by Don Boudria (Chief Government Whip) during Statements by Members the previous day. The chief government whip had made a statement concerning a benefit concert to mark the anniversary of the national unity rally held the previous year in Montreal. He stated that the goal of the event was to celebrate Canada and to raise funds to defray the legal costs of those charged by Elections Quebec for their participation in the rally. The chief government whip had given the price of the tickets and a telephone number where Canadians could place an order.^[1] The Speaker ruled immediately.

The Speaker declared that members are not to use statements to advertise for commercial gain. He also ruled that this was not a question of privilege.

Decision of the Chair

The Speaker: I thank the honourable member. In my opinion, instead of starting up a little debate here, all that is necessary is to put this to the honourable member.

I give you all kinds of room in your statements in the House and I intend to keep doing that. But where we are sort of advertising for commercial gain, I know all honourable members will keep in mind that these statements are not for commercial gain and I would hope that all honourable members in future would abstain from making remarks where one group or another might be making a few dollars from an announcement made in the House of Commons.

If you would do that, the point is well taken and I would like to leave it there. I do not think we need a response. It is not a point of privilege. I am ruling on that. I hope we do not have any more of that type of commercial in the future.

P0308-e

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1996-09-17