Privilege / Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous

Debates pp. 5819-20

Background

When the House met, Mr. Crouse (South Shore) rose on a question of privilege to complain that public funds were used to pay for some Ministers' constituency offices and staff. Mr. Crouse proposed to move a motion to have the matter studied by the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections in order to determine whether members of the Cabinet "have violated the provisions of the Senate and House of Commons Act respecting the independence of Parliament by accepting allowances and profits out of public moneys to purposes not authorized by vote of this House". The Speaker ruled immediately.

Issue

Does the present motion raise a proper question of privilege?

Decision

No. The motion does not involve a breach of privilege and will not be put.

Reasons given by the Speaker

The Chair doubts that the privileges of any individual Member are affected by the circumstances outlined by the Member's complaint. The complaint also suggests that this contravenes the Senate and House of Commons Act. Whether this is correct or not, it is a point of law rather than a question of privilege. If a Member seeks to question the propriety of a Minister's action, it can be done by way of a substantive motion.

Sources cited

Senate and House of Commons Act, R.S.C. 1970, c. S-8.