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No. 91 |
No 91 |
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Votes and Proceedings |
Procès-verbaux |
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Legislative Assembly |
Assemblée législative |
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Wednesday |
Mercredi |
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1st Session, |
1re session |
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Prayers |
Prières |
The Speaker delivered the following ruling:-
On Thursday, October 5, 2000, the Member for Windsor-St. Clair (Mr. Duncan) rose on a point of privilege to indicate that his staff were experiencing difficulties in communicating with the Family Responsibility Office of the Ministry of the Attorney General about matters pertaining to how that office was dealing with his constituents' concerns. In particular, the Member indicated that when staff from that office informed his staff that it would not be assisting them because of their high caseload, he was precluded from discharging his functions as an M.P.P. The Government House Leader (Mr. Sterling) also made submissions on the point.
When I reserved ruling on this matter on October 5, I indicated that I would be explaining what parliamentary privilege means, and so let me begin this ruling by doing just that. Standing Order 21(a) states that "[p]rivileges are the rights enjoyed by the House collectively and by the Members of the House individually conferred by the Legislative Assembly Act and other statutes, or by practice, precedent, usage and custom."
As this Standing Order suggests, there are two overriding categories of privilege. The first category consists of privileges that are enjoyed by the House collectively - the power to discipline, the regulation of its own internal affairs, the authority to maintain the attendance and service of its Members, the right to institute inquiries and to call witnesses and demand papers, the right to administer oaths to witnesses, and the right to publish papers containing defamatory materials. The second category consists of privileges that are enjoyed by individual Members - freedom of speech, freedom from arrest in civil actions, exemption from jury duty, and exemption from attendance as a witness. These collective and individual privileges are examined in considerable detail at pages 71 to 107 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice.
This authoritative Canadian text on parliamentary practice and procedure also makes clear that Members are protected in respect of their parliamentary duties as opposed to their constituency duties. At pages 90 and 91, it states the following with respect to rulings by various Speakers of the Canadian House of Commons:-
On July 15, 1980, in finding that there was no prima facie case of privilege in relation to a Member's constituency work, Speaker Sauvé stated: "While I am only too aware of the multiple responsibilities, duties, and also the work the member has to do relating to his constituency, as Speaker I am required to consider only those matters which affect the member's parliamentary work. That is to say, whatever duty a Member has to his constituents, before a valid question of privilege arises in respect of any alleged interference, such interference must relate to the member's parliamentary duties. In other words, just as a member is protected from anything he does while taking part in a proceeding in Parliament, so too must an interference relate to the member's role in the context of parliamentary work."
At pages 92 and 93, the same text states as follows in reference to a 1978 ruling by Speaker Jerome:-
Speaker Jerome stated: "Since the member was not in the circumstances acting in the official capacities which are surrounded by privilege - that very narrow category - it would, I think, be [an] unwarranted extension of the precedents to extend privilege with respect to an act which was directed to her person in the circumstances". In ruling, the Speaker noted that society demands much of Members but not all demands strictly impose a parliamentary duty. Every Member has duties as a representative of the electorate. A Member may only claim the protection of privilege relating to his or her parliamentary duties, "particularly in his primary duty or service to this House of Commons here", though the line distinguishing these duties might blur.
Turning to our own House, a Speaker's ruling (at page 74 of the Journals for May 4, 1982) dealt with concerns generally similar to those raised by the Member for Windsor-St. Clair. That ruling indicates as follows:-
The only Standing Orders that deal with Members obtaining information from the Ministry are those dealing with oral and written questions and notices of motion for returns. I know that Members do very often telephone directly to a Ministry asking for certain information, but unless it can be established that the Members have a special right or privilege to use this procedure, which the general public does not have, then it does not concern the House and is not privilege.... It is rather ... a matter between the Member and the Ministry.
I realize that the Member for Windsor-St. Clair, like other Members, takes his constituency responsibilities seriously. However, the authorities are quite clear that parliamentary privilege does not protect everything that a Member does. It protects Members in the exercise of their parliamentary duties proper - that is to say, with respect to this House and its committees. It does not protect Members - like the Member in the case at hand - who are engaged in constituency business or other activities that are collateral to their strictly parliamentary responsibilities.
For these reasons, I find that a prima facie case of privilege has not been established.
I thank the Member for Windsor-St. Clair for raising his point because it has afforded me an opportunity to explain important features about parliamentary privilege to all Members.
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Reports by Committees |
Rapports des Comités |
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Mr. Dunlop from the Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills presented the Committee's Report which was read as follows and adopted:- |
M. Dunlop du Comité permanent des règlements et des projets de loi d'intérêt privé présente le rapport du comité qui est lu comme suit et adopté:- |
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Your Committee begs to report the following Bill without amendment:- |
Votre comité propose qu'il soit permis de faire rapport sur le projet de loi suivant sans amendement:- |
Bill Pr17, An Act to change the name of The Corporation of the Township of West Perth to The Corporation of the Municipality of West Perth.
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Your Committee begs to report the following Bill as amended:- |
Votre comité propose qu'il soit permis de faire rapport sur le projet de loi suivant avec des amendements:- |
Bill Pr2, An Act respecting the City of Toronto.
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Your Committee recommends that the following Bills be not reported:- |
Votre comité recommande que les projets de loi suivants ne soient pas reportés:- |
Bill Pr9, An Act respecting the City of Toronto.
Bill Pr11, An Act respecting the City of Toronto.
Bill Pr12, An Act respecting the City of Toronto.
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Introduction of Bills |
Dépôt des Projets de Loi |
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The following Bill was introduced and read the first time:- |
Le projet de loi suivant est présenté et lu une première fois:- |
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Bill 131, An Act to amend the Highway Traffic Act to establish an ignition interlock device program. Mr. Dunlop. |
Projet de loi 131, Loi modifiant le Code de la route afin d'établir un programme d'utilisation de dispositifs de verrouillage du système de démarrage. M. Dunlop. |
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During "Oral Questions", the Speaker requested the Member for Timmins-James Bay (Mr. Bisson) to come to order. |
Pendant la période des «Questions orales», le Président demande au député de Timmins-Baie James, M. Bisson de se comporter. |
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The Member having refused was named by the Speaker and directed to withdraw from the service of the House for the balance of the sessional day. |
Comme le député refuse d'obéir, le Président le désigne par son nom et l'ordonne de se retirer du service de l'Assemblée pour le reste du jour de session. |
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During "Oral Questions", the Speaker requested the Member for Beaches-East York (Ms. Lankin) to come to order. |
Pendant la période des «Questions orales», le Président demande à la députée de Beaches-East York, Mme Lankin de se comporter. |
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The Member having refused was named by the Speaker and directed to withdraw from the service of the House for the balance of the sessional day. |
Comme la députée refuse d'obéir, le Président la désigne par son nom et l'ordonne de se retirer du service de l'Assemblée pour le reste du jour de session. |
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During "Oral Questions", the Speaker requested the Member for Niagara Centre (Mr. Kormos) to come to order. |
Pendant la période des «Questions orales», le Président demande au député de Niagara-Centre, M. Kormos de se comporter. |
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The Member having refused was named by the Speaker and directed to withdraw from the service of the House for the balance of the sessional day. |
Comme le député refuse d'obéir, le Président le désigne par son nom et l'ordonne de se retirer du service de l'Assemblée pour le reste du jour de session. |
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During "Oral Questions", the Speaker requested the Member for Nickle Belt (Ms. Martel) to come to order. |
Pendant la période des «Questions orales», le Président demande à la députée de Nickle Belt, Mme Martel de se comporter. |
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The Member having refused was named by the Speaker and directed to withdraw from the service of the House for the balance of the sessional day. |
Comme la députée refuse d'obéir, le Président la désigne par son nom et l'ordonne de se retirer du service de l'Assemblée pour le reste du jour de session. |
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During "Oral Questions", the Speaker requested the Member for Sault Ste. Marie (Mr. Martin) to come to order. |
Pendant la période des «Questions orales», le Président demande au député de Sault Ste. Marie, M. Martin de se comporter. |
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The Member having refused was named by the Speaker and directed to withdraw from the service of the House for the balance of the sessional day. |
Comme le député refuse d'obéir, le Président le désigne par son nom et l'ordonne de se retirer du service de l'Assemblée pour le reste du jour de session. |
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Petitions |
Pétitions |
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Petitions relating to the Northern Health Travel Grant program / Programme de subventions accordées aux résidents du nord de l'Ontario (Sessional Paper No. P-1) Mr. Bartolucci, Mr. Curling, Mr. Gravelle, Mr. Hampton and Mr. Ramsay. Petitions relating to Maintaining the Lord's Prayer in the
Parliament of Ontario (Sessional Paper No. Petition relating to Permits to take water (Sessional Paper No. P-126) Mrs. Dombrowsky. Petition relating to Bill 112, McMichael Canadian Art Collection Act
(Sessional Paper No. P-139) Petition relating to Partisan highway signs(Sessional Paper No. 156) Mr. Gerretsen. Petition relating to Cable television in cell / rooms (Sessional Paper No. 157) Mr. Dunlop. |
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Orders of the Day |
Ordre du Jour |
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A debate arose on the motion for Second Reading of Bill 124, An Act to amend the Environmental Protection Act, the Ontario Water Resources Act and the Pesticides Act in respect of penalties. |
Il s'élève un débat sur la motion portant deuxième lecture du projet de loi 124, Loi modifiant la Loi sur la protection de l'environnement, la Loi sur les ressources en eau de l'Ontario et la Loi sur les pesticides en ce qui concerne des peines ayant trait à l'environnement. |
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After some time, pursuant to Standing Order 9(a), the motion for the adjournment of the debate was deemed to have been made and carried. |
Après quelque temps, conformément à l'article 9(a) du Règlement, la motion d'ajournement du débat est réputée avoir été proposée et adoptée. |
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The House then adjourned at 6:00 p.m. |
À 18 h, la chambre a ensuite ajourné ses travaux. |
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6:45 P.M. |
18 H 45 |
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Orders of the Day |
Ordre du Jour |
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Debate was resumed on the motion for Second Reading of Bill 128, An Act respecting social housing. |
Le débat reprend sur la motion portant deuxième lecture du projet de loi 128, Loi concernant le logement social. |
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After some time, pursuant to Standing Order 9(a), the motion for the adjournment of the debate was deemed to have been made and carried. |
Après quelque temps, conformément à l'article 9(a) du Règlement, la motion d'ajournement du débat est réputée avoir été proposée et adoptée. |
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The House then adjourned at 9:30 p.m. |
À 21 h 30, la chambre a ensuite ajourné ses travaux. |
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le président GARY CARR Speaker |
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Sessional Papers Presented Pursuant to Standing Order 39(A):- |
Documents Parlementaires Déposés Conformément à l'Article 39(A) du Règlement |
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Public Opinion Surveys: Drive Clean Vehicle Emissions Program (No. 192). |
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