Privilege / Impeding a Member

Impeding a Member

Debates pp. 2833-4

Background

On February 8, Mr. Lambert (Edmonton West) raised a question of privilege to challenge the use of parliamentary facilities by the Liberal party in conjunction with a political convention to take place in Ottawa. In making his presentation. Mr. Lambert brought up the question of security and the right of access to the building by all Members of the House.

Issue

Is the use of the parliamentary buildings for this sort of event a matter of parliamentary privilege?

Decision

No decision was made by the Chair because the request to use the parliamentary buildings had been withdrawn. Nonetheless, the Speaker laid out some guidelines for a policy on the use of the buildings.

Reasons given by the Speaker

The parliamentary buildings are not commercial premises. “Anything taking place in these buildings certainly ought to have a parliamentary connection and ought to be in keeping with a number of conditions that respect the dignity of the premises."

Precedent cited

Debates, June 27, 1977, pp. 7103-4.

References

Debates, February 8, 1978, pp. 2659-66 .