Liberals interfering with exclusive jurisdiction of House, Speaker tells court
by The Canadian Press
Last Updated Jul 22, 2021 at 5:41 pm EDT
OTTAWA House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota says a federal attempt to shield documents related to the firing of two scientists is a violation of parliamentary privilege and must be tossed out of court.
In a notice of motion filed today in Federal Court, Rota says pursuant to its parliamentary privileges, the House of Commons has the power to send for the “persons, papers and records” it deems necessary to its functions.
He says this constitutionally entrenched power is fundamental to Canada’s system of parliamentary democracy, and to Parliament’s critical role in acting as the “grand inquest of the nation” and in holding the executive branch of government to account.
This constitutionally entrenched power is fundamental to our system of parliamentary democracy, and to Parliament’s critical role in acting as the grand inquest of the nation and in holding the executive branch of government to account, Rota s notice says.
The executive and the judicial branches do not have the jurisdiction to question, overrule, modify, control or review the exercise of this privilege by the House, the filing adds. Under our system of democratic government, the House has unfettered discretion and authority in exercising this power. A contrary determination would be inconsistent with an essential feature of Canadian parliamentary democracy and the separation of powers.
Speaker of the House of Commons Anthony Rota is seen in the House of Commons Wednesday April 14, 2021 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
OTTAWA – A federal attempt to shield documents related to the firing of two scientists is a violation of parliamentary privilege and must be tossed out of court, House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota says.
In a notice of motion filed Thursday in Federal Court, Rota says the House, by virtue of its parliamentary privileges, has the power to send for the “persons, papers and records” it deems necessary to its functions.
“This constitutionally entrenched power is fundamental to our system of parliamentary democracy, and to Parliament’s critical role in acting as the ‘grand inquest of the nation’ and in holding the executive branch of government to account,” Rota’s notice says.
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