On May 15, the hon. Leader of the Opposition raised a question of privilege concerning the circumstances surrounding the inability of the Standing Committee on Official Languages to elect a new chair. I wish to thank the hon. Leader of the Opposition for raising this matter, as well as the numerous other members who made interventions.
I took the matter under advisement and undertook to return to the House.
The Chair needs hardly to remind the House that, as House of Commons Procedure and Practice, page 128, states:
Speakers have consistently ruled that, except in the most extreme situations, they will only hear questions of privilege arising from committee proceedings upon presentation of a report from the committee which directly deals with the matter and not as a question of privilege raised by an individual Member.
That said, I understand the impasse has been resolved. The Standing Committee on Official Languages met yesterday, elected a chair and has taken up its business.
Accordingly, since the situation has been addressed in the best traditions of this place, that is through negotiations among the parties and action taken in the committee itself, I believe there is no need for further comment or intervention from the Chair.
I thank all hon. members who contributed to this felicitous outcome.