Privilege / Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous; reflections on a senior government official

Journals p. 673

Debates pp. 5755-6

Background

When the sitting opened, Mr. Douglas (Nanaimo-Cowichan-The Islands) raised a question of privilege, alleging that, as a result of recent ministerial statements, the Auditor General "is being intimidated and harassed in such a manner as to interfere with the proper pursuance of his responsibilities". The Speaker ruled immediately.

Issue

Can ministerial statements regarding the role of a senior official responsible to Parliament be made the subject of a question of privilege?

Decision

No. Criticisms by Ministers of a senior official do not constitute a breach of parliamentary privilege.

Reasons given by the Speaker

Parliamentary privilege extends to Members of Parliament, not to officers of Parliament or officials of the House of Commons. In addition, "if it is the conduct of a Minister or Ministers of the Crown that is under question, then the matter can be considered by this House only by way of a substantive motion". Finally, since the Auditor General's report is under consideration by the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, that committee might be better placed than the Committee on Privileges and Elections to examine the question raised by the Member.

Sources cited

Journals, June 19, 1959, pp. 582-7.

May, 17th ed., p. 42.