Privilege / Impeding a Member

Letter from a bank requesting information on Members of Parliament

Debates pp. 2179-80

Background

On May 13, following Question Period, Mr. Rae (Broadview—Greenwood) rose on a question of privilege to object to a letter sent by the Royal Bank of Canada to the managers of certain of its branches requesting information on two new Members of Parliament. Mr. Rae said he was prepared to move referral of the matter to the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections. The Speaker took the matter under advisement and rendered a decision several days later.

Issue

Does the circulation of a letter by a bank seeking information about Members constitute a prima facie question of privilege?

Decision

No. There is no prima fade question of privilege.

Reasons given by the Speaker

There is nothing to suggest that the letter being circulated among the various branches impeded Members in the normal performance of their duties in the House, or that the information collected has been misused. Moreover, the same day the matter was raised, the Canadian Bankers' Association released a statement which offered an explanation and a spokesperson also gave an explanation before a committee.

Sources cited

Beauchesne, 5th ed., p. 23, c. 71.

May, 19th ed., p. 136.

References

Debates, May 13, 1980, pp. 1015-8.