Apparently there are 106
things that MP’s cannot say in our Canadian Parliament … that information
from iPolitics, by way of my nephew Steve.
According to the Speaker’s office,
Beauchesne’s Rules & Forms of the House of Commons of Canada, 6th edition
(1989) contains the most recent summary of insults, insinuations, epithets and
allegations that have been made in Parliament over the years and ruled to be “unparliamentarily
language” – a list that runs more than four pages.
Many of them, such as “deliberately misstated the truth” or “intentional deceit” are among the creative ways MPs have found to accuse their opponents of lying. Others, such as “inspired by forty-rod whiskey” or “dim-witted saboteur” are rather biting observations on the character of other MPs.
Many of them, such as “deliberately misstated the truth” or “intentional deceit” are among the creative ways MPs have found to accuse their opponents of lying. Others, such as “inspired by forty-rod whiskey” or “dim-witted saboteur” are rather biting observations on the character of other MPs.
In the end, though, it is up to the Speaker
to decide whether language used in the House is “temperate and worthy of the
place in which it is spoken” so a word that is acceptable in one context may
not be in another.
Well by now you are probably wondering
what those words are. Wonder no more as they follow
below. As you read them, note the ones I
have highlighted with italics --- those are one that I believe may be applicable to ‘some’
who hold elected office here in British Columbia.
