Parliamentary Privilege / Rights of Members

Freedom from obstruction: Member denied access to Parliamentary Precinct during the visit of a foreign dignitary; prima facie

September 25, 2014

Debates, p. 7851

On September 25, 2014, Yvon Godin (Acadie—Bathurst) rose on a question of privilege alleging that his access to the Parliamentary Precinct had been obstructed earlier that day, while the bells were ringing for a vote, due to security measures for the visit of a foreign dignitary. After hearing from other Members, the Acting Speaker (Bruce Stanton) took the matter under advisement.^[1]

Resolution

The Speaker delivered his ruling later in the sitting. He declared that the denial of access of Members to the Precinct is a critical issue and found that there were ample grounds on which to find a prima facie case of privilege. He invited Mr. Godin to move the appropriate motion.

Decision of the Chair

The Speaker:  I am now ready to rule on the question of privilege raised earlier today by the hon. Member for Acadie—Bathurst.

I also want to thank the hon. Members for Winnipeg North, Burnaby—New Westminster, Westmount—Ville-Marie, the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, and the hon. Member for Saanich—Gulf Islands for their comments.

The denial of access by Members to the Precinct is a serious matter, particularly on a day when votes are taking place. There are many precedents to be found regarding incidents of this kind, including my own ruling of March 15, 2012.

In view of that strong body of jurisprudence and given the information shared with the House by the numerous Members who have made interventions, I am satisfied that there are sufficient grounds for finding a prima facie matter of privilege in this case. I would like to invite the Member for Acadie—Bathurst to move his motion.

Postscript

Mr. Godin moved that the matter be referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, and, after debate, the motion was adopted.^[2] On March 26, 2015, in relation to the question of privilege, the Committee presented its Thirty-Fourth Report to the House.^[3] The Committee recommended that, to mitigate against similar incidents occurring in the future, there should be improved planning, greater coordination between partners, and increased education and awareness on the part of both security services and Members. The Committee further recommended that the office of the Sergeant-at-Arms provide all Members with a phone number to call when there is an obstruction of their access to the Parliamentary Precinct. The Report was not concurred in.