Privilege / Impeding a Member

Documents provided by public servants

Debates pp. 2914-5

Background

On July 3, Mr. Domm (Peterborough) rose on a question of privilege to protest that not only had the Peterborough citizenship office been ordered not to send him a list of the new Canadian citizens in his constituency, but moreover, he had been deliberately misled by officials of the Department of the Secretary of State and personally supplied with false documents. Mr. Domm said he was prepared to move referral of the matter to the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections. The Speaker heard comments from a number of Members and ruled a few days later.

Issue

Does the nature of the documents provided by public servants constitute a question of privilege?

Decision

No. There is no prima facie question of privilege.

Reasons given by the Speaker

The documents submitted by the Member do not clearly indicate inaccuracies. Furthermore, even if they were shown to be incorrect, falsified or altered, which they have not, there is no indication that the intent was to deceive the House. "Whatever duty a Member has to his constituents, before a valid question of privilege arises in respect of any alleged interference, such interference must relate to the Member's parliamentary duties", which is not the case in this instance.

Sources cited

May, 19th ed., p. 141.

References

Debates, July 3, 1980, pp. 2540-6; July 14, 1980, pp. 2855-7.