On Thu, Jun 19, 2014 at 10:31 PM, Kerim Aydin <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hono[u]rable is used to refer to any member of a legislature. When > I joined, it was used to address any player formally, on the basis > that we were all voting members of a legislative body. I've always > hoped it could develop to something like this Australian story that > Lindrum told once: > > Canberra: Madame Speaker, with respect, the Honourable Member from > Woolongong has the brains of a sheep! (boos, jeers). > > Woolongong: Madame Speaker, I demand an apology from my Honourable > Colleague from Canberra! > > Speaker: How does Canberra respond? > > Canberra: Madame Speaker, I sincerely apologise. The right > Honourable Member from Woolongong does NOT have the brains of a > sheep! (more boos, jeers). >
Ah, I apologize for misspeaking on the history. That was what I had been told, and evidently it was incorrect. However, that usage of Honourable is not always correct. In Canada, the title of Honourable is not given to Members of Parliament by default. It is, however, given to Privy Councillors and Senators for life and to some other officeholders (including the Speaker of the House) while in office. Right Honourable is reserved for former Governors-General (being His/Her Excellency in office) and for present and former Prime Ministers and Chief Justices. In the United Kingdom, by contrast, the use of [Right] Honourable is much more widespread.
