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March 5, 1981
The Member "is not satisfied with the answers given to him by the Ministers, but the Chair is not in a position to insist on any other answers or to comment on the quality or substance of such...
The Speaker rules that the Chair cannot compel a Minister to change their answer or comment on its quality during Oral Questions.
December 9, 1980
While the term "McCarthyism" is opprobrious, it has become part of the political vocabulary and therefore its use is subject to interpretation and debate. The Chair need not pronounce on its use....
The Speaker ruled that the term 'McCarthyism' is not inherently unparliamentary as it has become part of the political vocabulary and does not automatically create disorder.
October 29, 1980
To amount to contempt, statements relating to proceedings of the House or the participation of Members should not only be erroneous, but rather they should be deliberately incorrect and improper...
A ruling clarifying that for a statement about House proceedings to be considered contempt, it must be deliberately false and deceitful, not just incorrect.
December 10, 1979
The rule requires that the subject matter proposed for debate relate to a genuine emergency. In this case, the issue of emergency is a matter of argument between the government and the opposition....
The Speaker denied an emergency debate request because the issue was a matter of political argument and another debate opportunity was imminent.
October 11, 1979
The Speaker: On June 1, 1994, the honourable member for Winnipeg—Transcona raised a point of order concerning the designation of party status for members of the New Democratic Party. I would like...
The Speaker ruled that the House, not the Chair, must decide on granting official party status, but used his discretion to seat the NDP caucus together on the seating plan.
February 20, 1979
Content of Bills / Infringing on Financial Initiative of the Crown February 20, 1979 Journals pp. 393-5 Debates pp. 3423-5 Background The Chair, having authorized presentation of a number of bills...
The Speaker ruled a private Member's bill out of order for violating the financial initiative of the Crown by proposing a new public expenditure without a royal recommendation.
February 22, 1978
Despite some doubt as to the application of the specific word "emergency", the Chair decided to give the benefit of doubt to the applicants and to allow the House to debate the matter. If one...
The Speaker granted an emergency debate by applying a lenient interpretation of the requirements under Standing Order 26.
October 31, 1977
A key concept in considering a motion moved under Standing Order 26 is that of emergency which can apply to a sudden occurrence or an unexpected event. It can apply also to "the sudden and...
The Speaker rules that the sub judice convention does not apply to an investigatory commission, thus permitting an emergency debate on the matter.
April 9, 1976
It must be understood that questions of privilege are not confined to incidents which take place in the House; they can arise from elsewhere as well, including committees. This specific case,...
The Speaker denied a question of privilege, clarifying that committee disagreements are points of order and press criticism does not breach privilege.
December 9, 1975
Since a supply bill is concurred in without debate and without amendment, the strictest interpretation of the rules has to be applied to all clauses of the bill, that is to say, that all clauses...
The Speaker ruled that borrowing authority clauses are not permitted in supply bills based on supplementary estimates, as all clauses must strictly relate to the estimates being approved.