Rule of Debate / Order and Decorum

Government alleged to have wilfully misled the House

Debates, p. 22148

Context

On October 3, 2018, Guy Caron (Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques) rose during Oral Questions to allege that the government was wilfully misleading the House concerning the elimination of chapter 11 of NAFTA.[1]

Resolution

The Speaker ruled immediately, stating that members could not accuse someone of wilfully or deliberately misleading the House, and contrasting that with stating that someone had misled the House.

Decision of the Chair

The Speaker: I have to remind the hon. member for Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques that we do not accuse someone of wilfully misleading the House or deliberately misleading the House. One can say that someone misleads because that, of course, could be by accident, but he cannot say “wilfully”. I would ask him to withdraw and apologize for that.

Postscript

Following this ruling, Mr. Caron reiterated his initial accusations against the government, prompting the Speaker to offer him the opportunity to withdraw his comments and to apologize. Mr. Caron subsequently apologized.[2]

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[1] Debates, October 3, 2018, p. 22148.

[2] Debates, October 3, 2018, p. 22148.