The privilege of arbitrarily applied parliamentary principles

When MPs handpick witnesses, not for enlightenment, but to feel the embrace of reinforcing messages, it is only fair that they shoulder part of the blame when things go wrong.

The House Ethics Committee pointedly silenced WE’s lawyer William McDowell, left, when he accompanied Craig and Marc Kielburger to their testimony. Soon afterward, the same committee allowed the Government House Leader to represent and give evidence, for more than two hours, on behalf of a recalcitrant Prime Minister’s Office witness, writes Guy Giorno.Screenshot via ParlVu

Opinion

BY GUY GIORNO

April 16, 2021

Spider-Man creator Stan Lee popularized the saying, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Almost certainly he never visited Canada’s House of Commons. Many readers are aware that MPs may freely say whatever they want, in the House and committees, without liability for false ...

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