About Parliamentary Immunity

Parliament, which sets the legal framework and oversees the administrative branch of government, plays the central role in preventing public corruption. Parliamentary immunity, where practiced appropriately, allows legislators to perform these parliamentary roles without fear of criminal or civil sanctions, but does not protect them from investigation or prosecution of offenses, other than those strictly related to performing their parliamentary roles.

In some jurisdictions, however, parliamentary immunity has been abused, putting parliamentarians above the law. Perhaps worse, abuse of immunity privileges in this manner calls into the question the integrity and interests of all parliamentarians. As well, the lack of public trust in parliamentarians undermines their effectiveness in preventing corruption. Therefore, GOPAC has developed a policy on parliamentary immunity and is promoting its implementation where needed.

For further information please contact:

Nola Juraitis, GTF-PEC Secretary     nolajur@sympatico.ca