Privilege / Impeding a Member

Entry to a press lock-up denied

Debates p. 7670

Background

Mr. Huntington (Capilano) rose on a question of privilege to complain that he had been refused entry to a press lock-up on the estimates. In his view, this constituted a contempt of Parliament because it prevented Members from performing the duty, entrusted to them by the people of Canada, of overseeing the wise use of public funds and it denied them an access to the documents and proper time for deliberation and study. Mr. Huntington therefore moved referral of the matter to the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections. The Speaker heard Members' comments before rendering a decision.

Issue

Does being denied entry to a lock-up on the estimates constitute a question of privilege?

Decision

No. There is no prima facie question of privilege.

Reasons given by the Speaker

There is no question of privilege because Members' duties do not expressly require them to attend press lock-ups. Furthermore, if the denial of entry put the Member at a disadvantage, it is a disadvantage shared by all other Members. The issue of whether the procedure in such cases should be changed would have to be dealt with by Members themselves making a collective decision, which would assist the Chair in ruling on such matters.

References

Debates, February 25, 1981, pp. 7664-71.