Destroying “Foul and Filthy” Committee Evidence: Revisiting a Peculiar Private Bill and a Senate Scandal

A unique and dramatic set of events unfolded in the Senate of Canada when Mary Matilda White petitioned Parliament for a divorce bill in 1888. She was the first petitioner since Confederation to allege her husband’s impotence and the ensuing committee procedures involved a medical examination. What happens next is a scandal that resulted in the Senate ordering the destruction of a committee’s evidence. This article recounts this peculiar tale from the annals of Canadian parliamentary history. NB: Quoted source material in this article contains language that is anachronistic and offensive. As such, reader discretion is advised.

Continue reading “Destroying “Foul and Filthy” Committee Evidence: Revisiting a Peculiar Private Bill and a Senate Scandal”

Pinpointing Parliament: Supreme Court Citation of Parliamentary Evidence, 2010-2020

An Update from the Canadian Study of Parliament Group

Finding a silver-lining in the COVID-19 pandemic is difficult, but not impossible. The necessity of moving conferences and seminars to digital platforms has opened up new possibilities for participation. In this article, the author explains how the CSPG’s recent virtual offerings have expanded the range of presenters able to participate and created some exciting and informative events.

The Canadian Study of Parliament Group (CSPG) has begun hosting virtual events in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In October, our annual conference entitled “Perspectives on Legislatures and Legislative Power: Past, Present, Future” brought together presenters from five continents to share their experiences and insights on various aspects of parliamentary institutions. It was the largest and most ambitious CSPG program yet – and the CSPG hopes to build on this with its upcoming seminar programs.

Continue reading “An Update from the Canadian Study of Parliament Group”

All Together Now: Government Bill Bundling in the 42nd Parliament

Bill bundling – the reintroduction of all the substantive provisions of a bill without any modification in another bill – has been used on several occasions by the government during the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. In this article, the author notes that this method of packaging a legislative agenda is somewhat unusual and warrants further consideration from a legislative planning perspective. He explains that while combining or consolidating related matters into one bill maximizes efficiency, the introduction of government legislation carries with it a myriad of legal and practical consequences beyond the Senate and House of Commons, some of which are heightened when bills are bundled. The author suggests that the recent trend of bill bundling is linked to recognition of the limited time in the legislative calendar before the next scheduled election. However, if bill bundling becomes a more common practice in future parliaments, some questions about predictability and consistency of a legislative agenda should be considered.

Introduction

Continue reading “All Together Now: Government Bill Bundling in the 42nd Parliament”