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November 22, 1983
Precedence and Sequence of Business / Business of the House November 22, 1983 Debates p. 29061 Background As the House was about to proceed to the consideration of the business of supply under the...
A procedural ruling concerning the selection and priority of motions for debate on an allotted day of Supply.
October 28, 1983
According to Beauchesne, a Minister cannot read or quote from a dispatch or other state paper that is not before the House unless he is prepared to lay it upon the Table. However, if the public...
The Speaker clarifies the rule that Ministers must table any state papers they quote from unless they declare it is not in the public interest.
October 27, 1983
Precedence and Sequence of Business / Business of the House October 27, 1983 Debates pp. 28371-5 Background At the beginning of the sitting, immediately prior to the call for the Order of the Day,...
A ruling on the procedures for setting the priority of government business and filing notices of motion.
October 27, 1983
According to one authority, it is usual to give priority to members of the Government who wish to speak. Moreover, the parliamentary spirit allows that courtesies are afforded to certain Members...
The Speaker affirms their absolute discretion to select which Member speaks, balancing customary priority for Ministers with the equal rights of all Members.
October 26, 1983
According to the Standing Orders, not more than two hours after the commencement of proceedings on a motion to allocate time, the Speaker shall put every question necessary to dispose of the said...
The Speaker rules that the two-hour limit for a time allocation motion includes all proceedings, such as votes on amendments, not just the debate itself.
October 19, 1983
Ministers have never been forbidden to give notice on a point of order. The only restriction imposed on a Minister in such a case is that he or she must speak from his or her place at a previous sitting.
The Speaker clarifies that Ministers can give notice on a point of order if they have previously spoken from their seat.
October 17, 1983
The practice of the House is that if someone else but the one who has given notice of such a motion moves a motion, he must obtain the unanimous consent of the House. Furthermore, the authorities...
A ruling clarifying that a potentially debatable motion for concurrence must be moved by the Member who gave notice, not another, without unanimous consent.
October 13, 1983
To take definitions which are limited in scope to specific parts of a bill and to transfer them to the general interpretation clause which applies to the whole bill, substantially enlarges the...
A ruling stating that amendments are out of order if they move a limited definition to a bill's general interpretation clause, thereby enlarging its scope.
October 13, 1983
The motion seeks to introduce a preamble in disguised form. Even if the motion does not include the usual "whereases", it is aimed at importing a preamble. A Member cannot do indirectly what he is...
The Speaker ruled a motion out of order as it was an improper attempt to indirectly introduce a preamble.
October 12, 1983
Members who participate in a public debate outside the House enjoy no special protection. Privilege can only be claimed in relation to a parliamentary proceeding. Privilege is not designed to...
A Speaker's ruling clarifies that parliamentary privilege does not protect Members from criticism arising from activities outside of official parliamentary proceedings.