Privilege / Reflections upon a Member

Reflections upon a Member

Journals p. 1275

Debates pp. 13270-1, 13280-1

Background

After advising the Chair that there was a disposition in the House to take up the issue, Mr. Baker (Grenville—Carleton) raised a question of privilege charging that certain remarks made by a former Member, Mr. Auguste Choquette, constituted a slanderous accusation against the House. While giving testimony in open court, Mr. Choquette was quoted as having said that "if everyone who had ever taken or given $600 or $700 bribes in their life were arrested, 50 per cent of the MPs would no longer be sitting". After citing various authorities in support of his position, Mr. Baker moved "That the accusation that a substantial proportion of the Members of the House of Commons have been in receipt of bribes be referred to the Committee on Privileges and Elections". While the Speaker stated that he had no difficulty in agreeing that there was indeed a question of privilege, he expressed some doubt as to the form of the motion.

Issue

Does an accusation that Members have been in receipt of bribes constitute a question of privilege?

Decision

In this case, yes. The motion, amended to include the name of Mr. Auguste Choquette, was adopted by the House.

Reasons given by the Speaker

The issue is clearly a question of privilege.

Authorities cited

Standing Order 76.

Beauchesne, 4th ed., p. 98. c. 108(5); pp. 99-100, c. 110; p. 101, c. 111 (h); pp. 294-5, cc. 434-5.

May, 18th ed., p. 138.

References

Journals (Eleventh Report of the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections), May 21, 1976, pp. 1305-7.

Debates, May 7, 1976, pp. 13269-70.