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June 5, 2014
The Acting Speaker: This is the second day that this issue has arisen. Perhaps it is time to review what the Standing Orders actually say and what the expectations of Members are. When the bells...
The Speaker rules that hearing the question is the test for voting eligibility and accepts a Minister's word he was present, while admonishing all MPs to be on time for votes.
April 9, 1991
The Speaker: On Tuesday, March 26, 1991, when Government Motion No. 30 to amend the Standing Orders was first before the House, the honourable Member for Kamloops rose on a point of order to ask...
The Speaker denied a Point of Order challenging a proposed Standing Order that allowed ministerial routine motions to proceed despite denied unanimous consent unless 25 members objected, asserting that the House must retain the privilege to debate and establish its own rules.
January 16, 1991
The Speaker: Last night, during the course of the debate on the motion of the honourable Secretary of State for External Affairs (Rt. Hon Joe Clark), and on the amendment of the honourable Leader...
The Speaker ruled a subamendment out of order because it introduced new concepts beyond the scope of the original amendment.
June 19, 1990
The Speaker: The honourable Member for Kamloops has raised a matter of interest. So that all honourable Members can fully understand what is placed in front of the Chair, I draw their attention to...
The Speaker ruled that a government motion urging provincial legislatures to ratify a constitutional amendment is in order, as it is an expression on a national issue and not a jurisdictional trespass.
February 12, 1990
The Speaker: I wish to bring to the attention of the House a ruling on a question which honourable Members will remember was raised by the honourable Member for Calgary West on Wednesday, January...
A ruling accepting an apology for a voting irregularity as closing a question of privilege, while cautioning against dilatory tactics that undermine the House's dignity.
January 30, 1990
January 30, 1990 The Speaker: I think perhaps it might be helpful to Members and to the public to understand exactly what has taken place here. The honourable Member for Skeena has risen and...
The Speaker ruled that division bells can ring for less than the maximum prescribed time if the Whips agree, and the digital clock on the internal TV feed is for convenience only.
December 15, 1988
The Speaker: Honourable Members will recall that yesterday afternoon I entertained extensive argument with respect to the motion standing under Government Order No. 1 for today. There were two...
The Speaker rules that a government motion to suspend Standing Orders is procedurally in order, as the House has the authority to alter its own rules by a majority vote.
June 13, 1988
The Speaker: On June 7, 1988, the honourable Member for Kamloops—Shuswap rose on a point of order relating to Government Business No. 26 on the Order Paper. The item of business deals with the...
The Speaker rules that the government may use a simple majority vote on a motion under Government Orders to suspend Standing Orders, including the parliamentary calendar for the summer recess.
September 15, 1987
The Speaker: On September 1, 1987, the honourable Member for Kamloops—Shuswap raised a point of order relating to the circumstances surrounding the taking of a deferred division at six o'clock...
The Speaker rules that while the Whips' convention provides flexibility for division bells, a 30-minute ringing for a 15-minute bell is an unacceptable violation of the Standing Orders that will not be permitted to recur.