Search thousands of Speaker's rulings with AI-powered precision.
October 9, 1991
Mr. Speaker: The difficulty that I am in—and I am sure that the honourable Member would want to co-operate with the Chair—is that our tradition and our practices are that if somebody has offended...
The Speaker denied the continuation of debate regarding withdrawn offensive remarks, emphasizing that parliamentary tradition closes the matter upon apology and withdrawal.
October 1, 1991
The Speaker: I want to respond immediately to the honourable Member for Winnipeg Transcona. He raises a point and he is correct that twice within the last couple of weeks a Parliamentary Secretary...
The Speaker sustained a Point of Order confirming that Parliamentary Secretaries are prohibited from asking questions during Question Period, citing Beauchesne and apologizing for recent inadvertent breaches of the practice.
May 28, 1991
May 28, 1991 The Speaker: As honourable Members are aware, we have had a series of comments concerning a problem in the House. Unfortunately, it was impossible to produce a judgment with all the...
The Speaker allowed an unprecedented motion to reinstate multiple bills after prorogation but required separate votes on each bill to protect the rights of Members.
April 9, 1991
Mr. 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 amendments to Standing Orders regarding Supply days, ruling that the Chair lacks jurisdiction to interpret constitutional or statutory limits and affirming the House's fundamental privilege to regulate its own procedure.
March 20, 1991
Mr. Speaker: On Friday, March 8,1991, the honourable Member for Ontario rose on a point of order to object to the inclusion of items in the Supplementary and Main Estimates which would authorize...
The Speaker sustained a point of order, ruling that items in the Estimates cannot be used to create new legislative authority for senators' allowances or authorize multi-year spending.
December 4, 1990
The Acting Speaker (Mr. DeBlois): You have to understand that, in such cases, parliamentary procedure and tradition are of the utmost importance, and usually honourable Members are allowed...
The Speaker denied a Member's use of a lectern, citing the parliamentary tradition that reserves its use exclusively for the Minister of Finance.
November 28, 1990
Mr. Speaker: I am now ready to rule on the question of privilege raised on Thursday, October 18 by the honourable Member for Thunder Bay—Atikokan regarding events which transpired in connection...
The Speaker ruled that an alleged boycott causing a committee to lack quorum is not a sufficient breach of privilege to warrant intervention in the committee's internal affairs.
November 6, 1990
The Speaker: During Question Period on Wednesday, October 17, there was a demonstration in the gallery which occasioned a number of heated exchanges. The Chair undertook to consider carefully what...
The Speaker denies a question of privilege against a Member based on the principle of accepting a Member's word, but finds the gallery demonstration itself to be a prima facie contempt.
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.
May 3, 1990
Mr. Speaker: On Monday, February 19, the honourable Member for Davenport raised a question of privilege because he had not been recognized in debate the previous Thursday, February 15, when the...
The Speaker denied a question of privilege regarding the parliamentary dress code, upholding the traditional practice requiring male Members to wear a jacket and tie.