Guthrie denied point of privilege, resigns from committee

The Speaker of Alberta’s legislative assembly has denied a point of privilege lodged by former cabinet minister Peter Guthrie against government house leader Joseph Schow.

Last week , Guthrie raised the relatively rare point of privilege, claiming Schow had assigned him to the legislature’s standing committee on private bills without his “consultation, notice or consent” and thereby obstructing his duty as an MLA.

On Monday , deputy government house leader Dan Williams challenged those assertions, calling them “vexatious.” Schow departed on a trade trip to the United Arab Emirates last week and is not expected back until Sunday.

On Tuesday, Speaker Ric McIver issued his ruling, siding with Williams and Schow.

“After listening to the arguments from all sides and in reviewing the parli