A while ago, I promised as Speaker to render a decision on the issue of the word "separatist" raised by the hon. member for Gaspé. The word "separatist" is found on page 148 of the 6th edition of Beauchesne's Parliamentary Rules & Forms . It is considered parliamentary. I quote: Since 1958, it has been ruled parliamentary to use the following expressions-'' and the word
separatist'' is among them, as I said.
Nearly 30 years ago, in 1964, Speaker McNaughton said: "These questions are, of course, not easy to answer. I would say that the word used was rude; but in my opinion it was not unparliamentary". He was talking about the word "separatist". Later, Speaker Sauvé said this about "separatist" and "McCarthyism" on December 9, 1980: "Whether one approves of the connotations or not, the words "McCarthyism" and "separatism" have become part of the political vocabulary and therefore their applicability is a matter of interpretation and debate in which the Chair has no role".
I fully realize that hon. members will say that the usages of international law were not the same as those in Parliament. For now, it seems that such is the rule in our legislature.