Search thousands of Speaker's rulings with AI-powered precision.
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.
December 1, 1980
Under Standing Order 15(2), any Member who is not a Minister of the Crown may move such a motion. That is the only limitation placed on Standing Order 43, and there are many precedents indicating...
The Speaker confirms that Parliamentary Secretaries are allowed to move motions under Standing Order 43 because they are not Ministers of the Crown.
November 6, 1980
Although it is legitimate for Members in this House to insist that Ministers answer their questions, Ministers are not bound to do so. "Minister may decline to answer a question without stating...
This ruling confirms the established principle that Ministers cannot be compelled to answer questions in the House.
October 24, 1980
All Members have the right to speak and the Standing Orders are specifically designed so as to enable them to express themselves. Moreover, the provisions of the Standing Orders were adopted by...
The Speaker ruled that a closure motion adopted by the House must be enforced, thereby ending the debate and overriding an individual Member's right to speak.
October 23, 1980
The amendment seeks to change the powers of the committee in a way which is not contemplated by the Standing Orders or practices of the House. Besides, the presentation of minority reports is not...
The Speaker ruled an amendment inadmissible as it was beyond the scope of the motion and improperly sought to alter Standing Orders and committee practices.
July 21, 1980
The proposed amendment raises a question completely foreign to the one contained in the main motion. Since it involves an amendment which represents a new proposition of a substantive nature,...
The Speaker ruled an amendment out of order because it introduced a new substantive topic beyond the scope of the main motion, which requires notice.
June 5, 1980
An examination of the transcript reveals nothing which could be considered as strictly unparliamentary even though the Minister went very far in what is allowed. The Chair realizes that one...
The Speaker ruled that the expression 'lacking courage' was not strictly unparliamentary, citing conflicting authorities on similar terms.
May 1, 1980
The words used were not directed to Members, but rather to the Government. Such words directed to the Government collectively are not unparliamentary.
The Speaker ruled that an accusation of dishonesty is permissible when directed at the government collectively, not at individual Members.
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.
December 7, 1977
The first item sought to exceed and extend the sum of money to be paid to a particular Crown corporation according to the provisions of a statute. The second item sought an exception from a...
A Speaker's ruling found that items in the Estimates were out of order because they attempted to amend existing legislation, which requires a separate bill.