Privilege / Impeding the House

Government advertising campaigns

Debates pp. 4213-4

Background

On October 21, Mr. Beatty (Wellington—Dufferin—Simcoe) rose on a question of privilege to allege that a document written by a public servant exposed a major advertising campaign organized by the Government at taxpayers' expense in order to, in his view, "seize control of the energy debate" and prevent Members from discharging their responsibility to participate in such a debate. Mr. Beatty said that he was prepared to move a motion referring the matter to the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections. After hearing Members' comments, the Speaker took the matter under consideration and ruled a few days later.

Issue

Does the fact that the Government would use public funds to advertise its campaign on energy, prevent Members from discharging their responsibilities and therefore constitute a question of privilege?

Decision

No. There is no question of privilege.

Reasons given by the Speaker

Certain interventions touching upon Members' privileges of freedom of speech and liable to influence Members in the exercise of their duties, such as editorials and other public comment, do not all constitute breaches of privilege; moreover, the interventions of an outside body could not now be "regarded as a breach of privilege, even if it were calculated and intended to bring pressure on the Member". In the case of the documents and publicity campaign at issue here, there is "little, if any" evidence which would permit the Chair to conclude that there has been interference with parliamentary proceedings.

Sources cited

Debates, October 17, 1980, pp. 3780-1.

References

Debates, October 21, 1980, pp. 3878-83; October 24, 1980, pp. 4065-6.