Before we proceed to orders of the day, I would like to take a minute to respond to the question of privilege raised on September 30, 2010 by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons regarding the premature disclosure of a private member's bill sponsored by the hon. member for St. Paul's.
I would like to thank the parliamentary secretary for having raised this matter, since any time that this happens, it is, as he said, a very serious matter, particularly when it involves the privileges of members.
It is indisputable that it is a well-established practice and accepted convention that this House has the right of first access to the text of bills that it will consider.
In response, on the same day, the hon. member for St. Paul's rose in the House and apologized for having inadvertently posted the bill in question on her website in advance of the House having been privy to its contents. In fact, she stated that she would “never do anything purposely to go against the rules of this place”.
As it is also a long-standing practice in this House for the Chair to accept the word of hon. members and indeed their apologies, I now consider this matter to be closed and disposed of.