Rules of Debate / Miscellaneous

Reference to Senate proceedings

Debates p. 6777

Background

During Routine Proceedings, Mr. Neil (Moose Jaw) rose on a question of privilege following observations made in the Senate by Senator Argue (Minister of State responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board). The Speaker ruled immediately.

Issue

Can a statement made in the Senate by a Senator who is a Minister be the subject of a question of privilege?

Decision

No. There is no prima facie question of privilege.

Reasons given by the Speaker

According to one authority, references to debates in the other House are out of order for the simple reason that the debates of one of the two Houses remain hypothetically unknown to the other. The Senate has rules to deal with its own questions of privilege and it is in that Chamber that the questions issuing from their discussions must be dealt with.

Sources cited

Beauchesne, 5th ed., p. 102, c. 314.

References

Debates, February 2, 1981, pp. 6776-7.