Conservatives block probe into RCMP Parliament Hill privilege breach
'This is such a terrible precedent': NDP MP Nathan Cullen
The governing Conservatives have used their majority muscle to shut down an investigation into an alleged breach of privilege that saw two New Democrat MPs barred from the Commons, albeit briefly, by the RCMP.
The move came after House of Commons Speaker Andrew Scheer sided with NDP MPs Nathan Cullen and Craig Scott, who had both lodged formal complaints in recent weeks over their respective run-ins with the Mounties.
In a ruling handed down Tuesday, Scheer concluded there were sufficient grounds to allow Scott to put forward a motion to have the House affairs committee look into the larger issue of access on the Hill.
But after two hours of debate, the Conservatives quashed the motion by a 145-117 vote.
"I wasn't expecting this at all," Cullen told CBC News. "I'm more angry than I am confused — this is such a terrible precedent."
In Cullen's case, which took place on April 30, he and several Commons colleagues were heading back to the House for a vote when the parliamentary shuttle bus that was ferrying them back to Centre Block was stopped by the RCMP just outside the east doors.
While the delay was relatively short — just over 74 seconds, according to the RCMP — it very nearly resulted in the whole busload of MPs missing the vote, a scenario that might have had significant consequences in a minority government setting.
"I've never heard of a government, or any party, overriding the Speaker and saying that MPs being able to vote is not important," Cullen said.
"I just don't know of anything else more important. That's why the place exists."
Read More: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservatives-block-probe-into-rcmp-parliament-hill-privilege-breach-1.3071346
No comments:
Post a Comment