Mark Gerretsen, Kingston and the Islands
“I want the Speaker to dismiss this complaint. Members use the word disinformation all the time here, and the member who is complaining has used it herself. Unless the House bans the word, members are allowed to say it.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would very briefly like to respond to the question of privilege that was raised by the member for Edmonton Strathcona prior to question period, in which she said, “The member for Halifax attacked my integrity when she characterized my opposition to Bill C-39 as a ‘wild disinformation campaign’”. I would submit that the term “disinformation” has been used extremely loosely in the chamber. Many members use it, and it certainly is not something new. In fact, on June 14, 2021, perhaps ironically or coincidentally, in a response to a question I raised, the member for Edmonton Strathcona said, “legislation that was so flawed and needed so much work that it opened the door for the Conservative Party to sow disinformation”. In fact, I would draw the Speaker’s attention to the fact that the member actually used that term in that characterization on a number of occasions on that day. My point is only to demonstrate that “disinformation” is a widely used term in the House, and unless PROC, another body or the House is going to decide that the term is no longer allowed to be used, it is a term that we are continuing to use. The member used it in the one example I just provided.”
Mr. Speaker, I would very briefly like to respond to the question of privilege that was raised by the member for Edmonton Strathcona prior to question period, in which she said, “The member for Halifax attacked my integrity when she characterized my opposition to Bill C-39 as a ‘wild disinformation campaign’”. I would submit that the term “disinformation” has been used extremely loosely in the chamber. Many members use it, and it certainly is not something new. In fact, on June 14, 2021, perhaps ironically or coincidentally, in a response to a question I raised, the member for Edmonton Strathcona said, “legislation that was so flawed and needed so much work that it opened the door for the Conservative Party to sow disinformation”. In fact, I would draw the Speaker’s attention to the fact that the member actually used that term in that characterization on a number of occasions on that day. My point is only to demonstrate that “disinformation” is a widely used term in the House, and unless PROC, another body or the House is going to decide that the term is no longer allowed to be used, it is a term that we are continuing to use. The member used it in the one example I just provided.