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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.
September 1, 1988
Mr. Speaker: The rule is that an application for an emergency debate is to be a succinct statement by the honourable Member applying. It is not to be a debate on the issue, it has to be the...
Speaker denies an application for an emergency debate concerning a senior official's comments, ruling the matter did not meet the urgency threshold.
August 16, 1988
The Speaker: Yesterday the honourable Minister of State (Treasury Board) gave oral notice of a motion for time allocation for the report stage and third reading stage of Bill C-130 the...
The Speaker ruled that a government notice for time allocation is valid even without specifying the time, and an agreement between opposition parties alone cannot block it.
July 18, 1988
The Speaker: I want to bring to honourable Members' attention a matter of some importance which was raised on Wednesday, May 4, 1988, by the honourable Member for Athabasca, and commented upon by...
A Speaker's ruling denies a question of privilege, clarifying that absolute parliamentary privilege for freedom of speech does not extend to a Member's statements published outside the House.
July 13, 1988
The Speaker: Honourable Members will know that I heard an important argument two days ago with respect to the use of motions of instruction relating to bills. I undertook to honourable Members to...
The Speaker ruled that a private member's permissive motion of instruction to a committee studying a bill is admissible under 'Motions' during Routine Proceedings.
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.
May 24, 1988
The Speaker: First, I want to make it clear to honourable Members exactly what has occurred here. The Honourable Minister of State (Mr. Doug Lewis) has pointed out that there was a vote on...
The Speaker ruled against reviving an archaic practice from Bourinot that would allow debate on the formal motion to set a date for a bill's second reading, upholding the modern practice described in Beauchesne.
January 28, 1988
The Speaker: On Monday, January 25, the honourable Member for Kamloops—Shuswap raised a matter relating to the actions of the former Commissioner of Canada Elections, Mr. Joseph Gorman, in...
The Speaker denied a question of privilege, ruling that an official acting within powers granted by Parliament does not constitute a contempt of the House.
December 9, 1987
Mr. Speaker: On Wednesday, November 25, 1987, the honourable Member for Broadview-Greenwood raised in the House the manner in which her Private Members' Bill C-204 is being dealt with in the...
The Speaker ruled that allegations of obstruction within a committee are not a question of privilege and must be addressed by the committee itself before being brought to the House.
October 6, 1987
The Speaker: It might be helpful, especially to the public which is listening and watching, if I commented on the intervention of the honourable Member for Ottawa—Vanier, which I think was quite...
The Speaker explains that while the government can change the daily schedule, this is difficult for Members who have significant work obligations in committees and for constituents outside the Chamber.