Rota told MPs that he would fight ‘tooth and nail’ to protect the principal ‘that the legal system does not have jurisdiction over the operations of the House’

Rota told MPs that he would fight ‘tooth and nail’ to protect the principal ‘that the legal system does not have jurisdiction over the operations of the House’
Christopher Nardi
Speaker of the House of Commons Anthony Rota.Photo by Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press/File
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OTTAWA The Speaker of the House of Commons says he intends to ask the federal court to strike down the Trudeau governments attempt to have a judge block parliamentarians from receiving documents regarding the firing of two scientists at Canadas top laboratory.
As Speaker of the House of Commons and guardian of its parliamentary privileges, I will oppose the Attorney Generals application and take the position that the Federal Court has no jurisdiction to restrict the Houses power to request documents, Anthony Rota wrote in a letter addressed to parliamentarians Friday.
The Attorney General has been advised of our position, and the necessary steps will be taken before the Court, his letter concluded.
Rotas letter was sent on the same day his office formally notified the federal court that it intended to respond to the Liberals lawsuit earlier this week asking the federal court to prohibit the disclosure of documents that a majority of MPs formally demanded from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).
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In a statement provided to National Post, Rotas director of communications clarified he intends to ask the court to strike down the Liberals request for judicial review if the government does not withdraw it.
After the request for judicial review was filed by the Liberal government Wednesday, Rota told MPs that he would fight tooth and nail to protect the principle that the legal system does not have jurisdiction over the operations of the House. We are our own (court).

  1. Agency head on hot seat over lab scientists’ firing has history with China ties and controversies
  2. Documents on firing of scientists at top lab pit Liberals against Parliament

The unusual legal battle between the federal government and the Speaker stems from a series of documents related to the firing of Xiangguo Qiu and her husband, Keding Cheng. Both were scientists at Winnipegs National Microbiology Laboratory when they were suddenly escorted out of it in July 2019 and later fired.
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Earlier this week, the National Post revealed that Qiu collaborated with Chinese government scientists on inventions patented in Beijing that were closely related to her job in Canadas top security lab. Federal civil servants are not allowed to file such patents without permission.
Since the firing came to light, opposition MPs have passed multiple motions first at the parliamentary Canada-China relations committee, and then in the House of Commons demanding that PHAC release the unredacted documents related to the firing.
PHAC President Iain Stewart has consistently refused, and the situation escalated to the point where he was ordered to the House of Commons on Monday to be admonished by Rota and hand over the documents in person a first for a private citizen in over 100 years.
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Though he did appear for his admonishment, he showed up empty-handed and the government has continued to refuse to disclose the documents, arguing that they may contain information that could be injurious to international relations or national defence or national security if published.
Two days later, the government filed a lawsuit in the federal court asking for a ruling to prohibit disclosure of the documents. The application specifically names Rota as one of the respondents.
Xiangguo Qius ouster from the National Microbiology Laboratory remains cloaked in mystery and has been the subject of ongoing debate in Parliament.Photo by MCpl Vincent Carbonneau, Rideau Hall/File
In an analysis posted on his blog Thursday, former long-time House of Commons senior parliamentary counsel Steven Chaplin derided the government for its ill-advised, political and some would suggest cynical move to sue the speaker.
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By attempting to drag the courts into the fray, the government fails to accept the fundamental premise on which it holds constitutional authority and legitimacy in the Westminster system of democracy, Chaplin wrote.
Pursuing the matter through the courts is not only wrong and unnecessary, it is likely to distort the publics already shaky understanding of Parliament, and further erode trust in Parliament, the courts, and the government.
Friday, Conservative MP Michael Chong reiterated his partys support for Rota in this lawsuit all the while accusing the government of going extraordinary lengths to prevent the documents from being released.
The Trudeau governments decision to use Canadas independent judicial system to defy the House of Commons orders undermines the rule of law and our parliamentary democracy. This should concern every Canadian, Chong said in a statement.
Additional reporting by Ryan Tumilty
Email: cnardi@postmedia.com | Twitter: ChrisGNardi
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