Privilege / Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous

Debates pp. 2180-1

Background

On November 5, Mr. Ethier (Glengarry—Prescott—Russell) raised a question of privilege claiming that a caucus committee of the government party which had recently reported to the Department of Agriculture on beef import policy should not have benefitted from public funding. On December 7, Mr. Nystrom (Yorkton—Melville) raised a similar question of privilege; directed this time against another government caucus committee which had reported to the Department of Transport on the shipping of grain.

Issue

Is the funding of one-party (caucus) committees with public funds a breach of the privilege of the House?

Decision

There is no ruling on the question of privilege, but it is acknowledged that this practice is dangerous since public funds when applied to parliamentary activities should be extended to all parties.

Reasons given by the Speaker

In the opinion of the Chair the greater wisdom would be to ensure that in every case where public funds are used to support a committee of the House, even if it is an informal committee, it should consist of Members from more than one party in the House.

References

Debates, November 5, 1979, pp. 940-3; December 7, 1979, pp. 2135-43.