CALLED TO THE BAR OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

Authors

  • NORMAN WARD

Abstract

The summoning of persons to the bar of the Canadian House of Commons has not been seen for nearly half a century. The author reviews the historical origins of the practice to show it is necessary to Parliament’s protection of its privileges. He conducts a survey of the eighteen cases between Confederation and 1913 where someone was heard at the bar, illustrating that not all cases are necessarily concerned with privilege, for people are sometimes summoned merely to give evidence as a witness. He concludes that no one has been ordered before the bar since 1913 mainly because no case has arisen which will justify it in the majority’s view.

Keywords:

Constitutional Law, Parliament

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Published

1957-05-01

Issue

Section

Legal Commentary