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March 26, 1971
The duration of a committee sitting is to be determined by a majority of the members then present. While the Speaker is responsible for the officers and clerks of the House, their hours of...
The Speaker denied a member's complaint about long committee sittings, ruling that committees control their own schedules and the proper remedy is to amend the Standing Orders.
March 25, 1971
"... to a certain extent the form of the statement submitted to the Chair and the presentation of his motion to the House are out of order." By practice, Members should keep to a general statement...
The Speaker denied a request for an emergency debate, ruling that criticism of a Minister's conduct is a substantive matter requiring a separate censure motion.
March 16, 1971
The proposed amendment does more than qualify or amend the main motion; it seeks to provide a basis for an entirely different debate. Furthermore, when the opposition parties agree on the choice...
The Speaker ruled an amendment to an opposition day motion out of order because it introduced a new topic beyond the scope of the original motion.
February 24, 1971
The House should not be put in a position where contrary decisions could be taken in respect of two similar bills in the same session. In this case, as no final decision had been taken on any...
Speaker rules it is procedurally acceptable to have two similar bills before the House simultaneously if no final decision has been made on their clauses.
February 22, 1971
Reviewing the practice of the House since 1952, the Chair has had "little difficulty in establishing that Committees of the Whole and standing committees have in fact sat concurrently throughout...
The Speaker confirms the long-standing practice, supported by the Standing Orders, that standing committees and Committees of the Whole are permitted to sit concurrently.
January 26, 1971
The Government has followed a practice that has been accepted rightly or wrongly, in the past. The bill will be allowed to proceed despite the possible difficulties presented by omnibus...
The Speaker denied a point of order against an omnibus bill, ruling it procedurally acceptable despite legitimate grievances.
January 21, 1971
Amendments to Motions on Progress of Bills / Second Reading January 21, 1971 Journals pp. 273-4 Debates pp. 2622-3 Background On January 20, during debate on the motion for second reading of Bill...
The Speaker ruled a government motion out of order because it sought to refer a matter to a standing committee that had not yet been established.
January 20, 1971
Amendments to Motions on Progress of Bills / Second Reading January 20, 1971 Journals p. 270 Debates p. 2609 Background During debate on the motion for second reading of Bill C-193, an Act to...
A procedural note indicating the subject matter of a Royal Recommendation was referred to a Committee of the Whole.
December 15, 1970
The thrust of the main motion appears to address the steps the Government might take with regard to unemployment among youth. The subamendment is consistent with this motion and with the amendment...
The Speaker ruled a subamendment on youth unemployment to be in order as it was consistent with the main motion's theme.
December 2, 1970
"The word 'emergency' used in relation to Standing Order 26 has always been interpreted to refer to a sudden occurrence, a newly arising situation." In this case, "the situation referred to in the...
A request for an emergency debate was denied because the issue was a long-standing matter, not a sudden occurrence as required by the rules.