An Act to define the privileges, immunities and powers of the Senate and House of Commons, and to give summary protetion to persons employed in the publication of Parliamentary Papers
CAP. XXIII.
An Act to define the privileges, immunities and powers of the Senate and House of Commons, and to give summary protetion to persons employed in the publication of Parliamentary Papers
Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:
Privileges, &c. to be the same as those of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, at the passing of the Union Act.1. The Senate and the Howe of Commons respectively, and the Members thereof respectively, shall hold, enjoy and exercise such and the like privileges, immunities and powers as, at the time of the passing of the British North America Act, 1867, were held, enjoyed and exercised by the Commons House of Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and by the Members thereof, so far as the same are consistent with and not repugnant to the said Act.
Such privileges to be noticed judicially.2. Such privileges, immunities and powers shall be deemed to be and shall be part of the General and Public Law of Canada, and it shall not be necessary to plead the same, but the same shall in all Courts in Canada and by and before all Judges be taken notice of judicially.
Printed copy of journals to be evidence thereof.3. Upon any inquiry touching the privileges, immunities and powers of the Senate and of the House of Commons or of any Member thereof respectively, any copy of the Journals of the Senate, or house of Commons, printed or purporting to be printed by the order of the Senate or House of Commons, shall be admitted as evidence of such Journals by all Courts, Justices, and others, without any proof bring given that such copies were so printed.
In suit, &c., for publishing reports, &c., Court or Judge to stay proeeedings, on proof that the publication was by authority of either House4. Any person who shall be a Defendant in any Civil or Criminal proceedings commenced or prosecuted in any manner soever for or on account of or in respect of the publication of any report, paper, votes or proceedings, by such person or by his servant, by or under the authority of the Senate or House of Commons, may bring before the Court in which such proceedings shall be so commenced or prosecuted or before any Judge of the same, first giving twenty-four hours' notice of his intention so to do to the prosecutor or plaintiff in such proceeding or to his Attorney or Solicitor, a certificate under the hand of the Speaker or Clerk of the Senate or House of Commons, as the case may be, stating that the report, paper, votes or proceedings as the case may be, in respect whereof such Civil or Criminal proceedings shall have been commenced or prosecuted, was or were published by such person or by his servant, by order or under the authority of the Senate or House of Commons, as the case may be, together with an affidavit verifying such certificate; and such Court or Judge shall thereupon immediately stay such Civil or Criminal proceedings, and the same and every Writ or Process issued therein shall be and shall be deemed and taken to be finally put an end to, determined and superseded by virtue of this Act.
The like in cases commenced hereafter5. In case of any Civil or Criminal Proceedings hereafter to be commenced or prosecuted for or on account or in respect of the publication of any copy of such report, paper, votes or proceedings, the defendant at any stage of the proceedings may lay before the Court or Judge, such report, paper, votes or proceedings, and such copy, with an affidavit verifying such report, paper, votes or proceedings, and the correctness of such copy, and the Court or Judge shall immediately stay such Civil or Criminal proceedings, and the same and every Writ or Process issued therein, shall be and shall be deemed to be finally put an end to, determined and superseded by virtue of this Act.
What proof may be made under the plea of general issue, in action for publishing extracts, &c., of such reports, &c6. It shall be lawful in any Civil or Criminal proceeding to be commenced or prosecuted for printing any extract from or abstract of any such report, paper, votes or proceedings, to give in evidence under the general issue or denial, such report, paper, votes or proceedings, and to show that such extract or abstract was published bona fide and without malice, and if such shall be the opinion of the Jury, a Verdict of not guilty shall be entered for the Defendant.