The House Speaker's ruling

- April 28, 2010

Those interested in Canadian politics had their eyes trained onOttawa as House Speaker Peter Milliken delivered his ruling:Parliament has a right to order the government to produceuncensored documents on the Afghan detainee issue.

The speaker said the federal government breached parliamentaryprivilege with its refusal to produce uncensored documents relatedto the treatment of Afghan detainees and must provide the materialto MPs within two weeks, he said, calling on House leaders,ministers and MPs to find compromise.

“The House and the government have, essentially, anunbroken record of some 140 years of collaboration andaccommodation in cases of this kind,” Mr. Milliken said.“It seems to me that it would be a signal failure for us tosee that record shattered in the third session of the 40thParliament because we lacked the will or the wit to find a solutionto this impasse.”

What do you think about the speaker's ruling? Is it fair andimpartial? Do you believe the House of Commons can come to asolution or do you believe the situation will trigger anelection?


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