Brad Butt, a government Member of Parliament, was the focus of House of Commons debate on Tuesday (March 4), after a Monday statement by the Speaker of the House saying that there was a prima facie breach of privilege by the MP.
On two separate occasions last month, during discussion of the government’s election bill, the MP said he had “personally witnessed” campaign staff gathering up discarded voter information cards from apartment mail rooms to be given out for fraudulent use.
Two weeks later, on February 24, he retracted the comments, saying “I made a statement in the House during the debate that is not accurate. I just want to reflect the fact that I have not personally witnessed individuals retrieving voter notification cards from the garbage cans or from the mailbox areas of apartment buildings. I have not personally witnessed that activity and want the record to properly show that.”
On Monday, Speaker Andrew Scheer underlined: “This incident highlights the primordial importance of accuracy and truthfulness in our deliberations. All members bear a responsibility, individually and collectively, to select the words they use very carefully and to be ever mindful of the serious consequences that can result when this responsibility is forgotten.”
The Speaker continued “the fact remains that the House continues to be seized of completely contradictory statements. This is a difficult position in which to leave members, who must be able to depend on the integrity of the information with which they are provided to perform their parliamentary duties.”
But he concluded: “Accordingly, in keeping with the precedent cited earlier in which Speaker Milliken indicated that the matter merited “…further consideration by an appropriate committee, if only to clear the air”, I am prepared in this case for the same reason to allow the matter to be put to the House.
“I therefore invite the hon. House leader of the official opposition to move the traditional motion at this time.”
The next day the opposition parties attempted to force further investigation into the matter, while the government prepared to end debate.
More information:
CBC News/ Kady O’Malley – Brad Butt privilege debate to dominate House on Tuesday – here
Hansard Debates – House of Commons March 3, 2014 – here
Hansard Debates – House of Commons February 24, 2014 – here
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