Privilege / Reflections on the House

Reflections on the House

Debates p. 7056

Background

When the House met, Mr. Howard (Okanagan Boundary) rose on a question of privilege. He objected to the "distortions and inaccuracies" of an article recounting a debate in the House, which had taken place May 4. The article appeared in a column written by Mr. Patrick Nicholson for Thomson Newspapers Ltd. According to Mr. Howard, the widespread dissemination of such inaccurate information through the agency of a newspaper chain was cause for concern. The continued expansion of the Thomson chain across Canada, he argued, could pose a threat to the freedom of the press, and he proposed that the matter be referred to the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections. The Speaker replied immediately to the proposed motion.

Issue

Does the situation described constitute an interference for Members in the discharge of their duties?

Decision

No. There is no question of privilege.

Reasons given by the Speaker

The Member is seeking an inquiry by the committee into an alleged threat to the freedom of the press. If such a far-reaching question were to be investigated by the House, it should be done by way of a substantive motion rather than a question of privilege. A newspaper article cannot be considered to breach privilege unless its contents are tantamount to libel and constitute an interference with the official duties of Members.

Sources cited

Beauchesne, 4th ed., p. 102, c. 113.

May, 17th ed., p. 42.

References

Debates, May 19, 1970, pp. 7055-6.