History of the Office: 1900-1969
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1900-1969
QUESTIONS ARE RAISED ABOUT VOTES BY MEMBERS ON MATTERS IN WHICH THEY HAVE A PECUNIARY INTEREST. PRIME MINISTER LESTER B. PEARSON WRITES MINISTERS ABOUT A CODE OF ETHICS. PRIME MINISTER PIERRE TRUDEAU URGES MINISTERS TO GIVE UP DIRECTORSHIPS IN COMMERCIAL ENTITIES. |
4 June
1900
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In the House of Commons, a Member’s vote is questioned for reasons of pecuniary interest. The practice is to accept the Member’s word. (See cols. 6607-6610 of the Debates.)
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| 9 July
1906 | Debate in the House on Standing Order 21. Determined that a vote with respect to a pay increase to Members did not amount to a case of direct monetary interest because the increase would apply to all Members rather than just one, or to certain Members but not to others. (See cols. 7470-7473 of the Debates.)
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22 May
1956 |
Ruling of Speaker Louis-René Beaudoin with respect to the challenge of a Member’s vote due to allegations of pecuniary interest. It was decided that the matter would not be taken up by the House.
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30 November
1964 |
Prime Minister Lester Pearson writes a letter to his ministers and colleagues with the purpose of “setting forth a code of ethics and morality that should be followed by them and their staffs in the performance of the public responsibilities.” He forbids bribery and conflicts of interest, making reference to the growing public concern about corruption in government. The letter is a response to charges of bribery and coercion in the House of Commons in relation to a Montreal extradition case.
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August
1968 | Referred to by PM Pierre Trudeau in a statement in the House on July 18, 1973: “Individuals on becoming Ministers have been urged to give up directorships in commercial intities [sic] and I referred in August 1968, to the basic policy of disposal or of the establishment of trusts in cases when conflict could arise.” This would have been raised after the June 25, 1968 general election and before the 28th Parliament began on September 12, 1968. (See p. 5736 of the Debates.)
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6 December
1968 | House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and Organization created. This is currently known as the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs. (See Journals p. 434.)
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Last Modified: Not yet published.
