Rules of Debate / Unparliamentary Language

Accusation of "deliberately misleading"

Journals pp. 5020-1

Debates pp. 18523-5

Background

On June 15, during Question Period, Mr. Robinson (Burnaby) accused Mr. Chretien (Minister of Justice) of "deliberately misleading the Canadian public" with respect to a report of the Canadian Judicial Council. The matter having been brought to the Speaker's attention before passing on to Routine Proceedings, the Speaker said that, since she had not heard the Member use this language, she would need to check the blues; and she ruled the next day.

Issue

Can a Member accuse a Minister of deliberately misleading the House or the Canadian public?

Decision

No. This expression has always been unparliamentary and it must be withdrawn. [The Member refused to comply with the Chair's order to withdraw the words, therefore the Chair named him and the House suspended him for the rest of the sitting.)

Reasons given by the Speaker

It is unacceptable to the House of Commons that a Member accuse someone of having deliberately misled the House or the Canadian public. The expression does damage to the decorum of the House and it is not helpful in the pursuit of normal debate in the House. Therefore, since there is no excuse for it, whatever the context, the Member has no other choice but to unconditionally withdraw the expression.

References

Debates, June 15, 1982, p. 18471.