The Daily Program / Routine Proceedings

Statements by Ministers: Government policy announced outside the House

October 4, 1989

Debates, p. 4309

On October 4, 1989, Mr. Iain Angus (Thunder Bay—Atikokan) rose on a question of privilege with respect to an important announcement on rail transportation policy that a Minister had made outside the House. In Mr. Angus’s opinion, such an announcement ought to have been made during “Statements by Ministers” and not at a press conference. He asked the Speaker whether this constituted a breach of Parliament’s privileges. Other Members also addressed the issue.^[1] The Speaker ruled immediately. His decision is reproduced in full below.

Decision of the Chair

The Speaker: The Speaker, of course, is not supposed to have any personal memory of events in this place. But I do, and it has been customary from time to time over many years for complaints to be laid before the Speaker with respect to whether or not it was appropriate for the Government to make a statement in the House which, of course, if that is done under the rules enables both opposition critics to have equal time to.

It has been argued by Members that sit on both sides of this House on different occasions that that is the more appropriate way to proceed. I must advise honourable Members and the public who are listening that that is not a practice which is stipulated in any rules of this House. Of course, as the Chair always says, if the House wishes to change the rules then the Chair will certainly abide by them. There are no rules to that effect, as I say, and the honourable Member for Thunder Bay—Atikokan, in raising this point, raises a complaint.

The Government has made a response which may or may not satisfy honourable Members, but it is not a point of privilege and it is not a contempt of the House. I would suggest that honourable Members discuss with each other ways and means by which the practice of making statements in the House can be followed as often as possible.

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1989-10-04