N.L. Speaker apologizes for campaign appearance
Last Updated: Wednesday, December 7, 2005 | 12:54 PM ET
CBC News
Harvey Hodder says he made a quick decision – and a big mistake – when he agreed to pose for a photograph of government members of the legislature supporting Loyola Hearn's re-election campaign in St. John's South-Mount Pearl.
"The decision to appear in a partisan political advertisement was, upon reflection, was inconsistent with my own standards," Hodder told the house of assembly.
"The decision to participate was made rather quickly and has happened to all of us on occasion. We can and we do make errors in judgment."
Liberal Kelvin Parsons raised the issue in the legislature, saying Hodder had compromised the role of the Speaker.
"Any actions by the Speaker which bring his or her personal opinion or political affiliation or biases into play would constitute a breach of privilege," Parsons said.
"There's a saying in the legal system, that justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done."
Parsons tied up the legislature for more than an hour on the issue, and questioned who could best determine whether there had been a breach of privilege.
At one point, Parsons suggested the only outside body capable of making a ruling is the British House of Lords, as Hodder also chairs the Canadian Parliamentary Association.
Hodder appeared to resolve the issue with his apology, which the Liberals accepted.
