Routine Proceedings / Petitions

Reference to committee

Debates pp. 871-2

Background

Rising on a question of privilege, Mr. Nielsen (Yukon) sought to have the petition of the Old Crow Indian people, which he had recently presented to the House, referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs. He proposed to move a motion to that effect. The Speaker ruled immediately.

Issue

Is a motion to refer a petition to a committee a matter of privilege?

Decision

There is not a question of privilege.

Reasons given by the Speaker

A matter of this kind cannot be brought before the House byway of a breach of parliamentary privilege. It is doubtful that the Member can successfully claim that his parliamentary privileges have been affected to such an extent that the Chair should rule that there is a prima facie case of privilege. "What is referred to a committee is the breach of privilege, not the substantive matter." In this case, the motion of the Member is really a substantive one.