COMMONS SPEAKER: LIBERAL CAUCUS OUSTERS STAND

Apr 11, 2019

By Bob Komsic

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Jane Philpott’s parliamentary privileges were not violated recently when the prime minister kicked the former cabinet minister and Jody Wilson-Raybould out of the Liberal caucus.
(Philpott, Wilson-Raybould/Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)
That’s the ruling from Commons Speaker Geoff Regan who says he has no jurisdiction in deciding how caucuses should conduct themselves and that the Parliament of Canada Act expressly bars the courts from stepping in.
Philpott stood in the Commons Tuesday to argue that Justin Trudeau violated parliamentary law by kicking her out without a vote.
The Liberals claimed at the start of this Parliament, the caucus had decided to opt out of adopting the part of the law that would require a vote.
Had they adopted it, Liberal MPs would have been required to vote on whether or not a colleague should be removed from caucus.
In his ruling, the Speaker explained his responsibility is not to ensure such votes are held, that he’s only to be advised of the caucus decision.
”The Speaker’s role stops there,” said Regan.
”It does not, in any way, extend to interpreting the results of the votes, how the votes were taken, or interpreting any other relevant provisions.”
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