Rules of Debate / Miscellaneous

Hansard; alterations to the transcript

Debates pp. 27299-300

Background

On September 16, following Question Period, Mr. Nielsen (Yukon) rose on a point of order to protest the fact that the Debates had been extensively altered with respect to an exchange between Mr. Mulroney (Leader of the Opposition) and Mrs. Begin (Minister of National Health and Welfare) during the Question Period of September 13. According to Mr. Nielsen, the editors of the French version of the Debates somewhat abused the privilege that Members have to alter their speeches. The Deputy Speaker undertook to look into the matter of the allegations with regard to the Debates. The Speaker ruled a few days later.

Issue

Can alterations be made to the transcript of the words exchanged between Members?

Decision

Yes. Alterations may be made to render a sentence more comprehensible, but without changing either the substance or the meaning.

Reasons given by the Speaker

When there is a need for more precise identification or to eliminate repetitions, the editors are allowed to alter a sentence of the Debates in such a way so that whoever reads the Debates may correctly understand the meaning of what was said. The editors must not go beyond their obligation to make a sentence more readable, since there is some difference between the spoken and the written word.

References

Debates, September 16, 1983, pp. 27189-92.