Discussion · Government Orders
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal
“The rules about what words we can use in the House depend on the context. Saying a statement is misleading is often allowed, but accusing a specific member of it causes problems. The issue is not as simple as the member says.”
“Mr. Speaker, I think it is in Beauchesne’s sixth edition where it talks about the Speaker’s ability to use discretion as there is not any given word that is parliamentary or unparliamentary. Often, it is the context in which someone says something. For example, I can say, “It is absolutely misleading when members stand up in this chamber to say something that is just not true.” I would be very careful in terms of using the word “lie,” but I could say that. However, if I were to attribute it to an individual specifically, there is a chance the member might stand up on a point of order and ask me to apologize. I think it is not quite as simple as the member opposite says. I am sympathetic to what she is saying, but I do not believe that—”
Mr. Speaker, I think it is in Beauchesne’s sixth edition where it talks about the Speaker’s ability to use discretion as there is not any given word that is parliamentary or unparliamentary. Often, it is the context in which someone says something. For example, I can say, “It is absolutely misleading when members stand up in this chamber to say something that is just not true.” I would be very careful in terms of using the word “lie,” but I could say that. However, if I were to attribute it to an individual specifically, there is a chance the member might stand up on a point of order and ask me to apologize. I think it is not quite as simple as the member opposite says. I am sympathetic to what she is saying, but I do not believe that—