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November 27, 1997
The Speaker: I would like to deliver a ruling on the questions of privilege raised by the honourable member for Yorkton—Melville on October 21, 1997, and by the honourable member for...
The Speaker ruled that concerns about legislative drafting services for private members are administrative matters for the Board of Internal Economy, not questions of privilege.
March 13, 1997
The Speaker: I am now ready to rule on the question of privilege raised on March 4, 1997, by the honourable member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie, concerning a Health Canada advertisement published in...
The Speaker ruled that a government advertisement about proposed anti-tobacco legislation was not a prima facie breach of privilege as it did not presume the bill's passage.
December 14, 1995
The Speaker: Before we proceed to the consideration of the speech of His Excellency the Governor General of Canada, I wish to address the matter of the designation of the official opposition....
The Speaker ruled that in a mid-parliamentary tie for the second-most seats, the incumbent party retains the status of official opposition.
March 16, 1993
Mr. Speaker: On March 11, 1993 the honourable Member for Timmins Chapleau raised a question of privilege concerning an occurrence in the Legislative Committee on Bill C-113 the previous day....
The Speaker denied a Question of Privilege concerning a committee expunging a witness's testimony, affirming the committee's inherent power to control its record and evidence.
April 1, 1992
The Speaker: On Monday, March 30, 1992, the honourable Member for Cape Breton—East Richmond rose on a point of order relating to the omnibus nature of Bill C-63, An Act to dissolve or terminate...
The Speaker denied a Point of Order challenging the procedural admissibility of an omnibus bill (Bill C-63) on the grounds that established Canadian parliamentary practice permits such bills, and the Chair lacks authority to order their division.
November 28, 1991
The Speaker: On Friday, November 22, 1991, as the House was about to begin the third reading debate on Bill C-35, An Act to correct certain anomalies, inconsistencies, archaisms and errors in the...
The Speaker denied a Point of Order challenging the conditional nature of Bill C-35 at Third Reading, ruling that while the practice of amending pending bills was concerning, the House retained sufficient legislative remedies to proceed.
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 26, 1990
Mr. Speaker: On April 3, 1990, the honourable Government House Leader rose to contest the acceptability of certain amendments set out in the Senate message respecting Bill C-21, An Act to amend...
The Speaker ruled that he could not unilaterally declare Senate amendments to a money bill out of order, affirming it is the House of Commons' responsibility to defend its own financial privileges.
April 2, 1990
Mr. Speaker: On March 30, 1990 the honourable Member for Kamloops rose on a point of order to express his concern about the procedural acceptability of the Finance Committee's Report on Bill C-62,...
The Speaker denied a point of order challenging a committee report, affirming the long-standing principle that the Chair will not interfere in the internal proceedings of committees.
March 8, 1990
Mr. Speaker: On Monday, March 5, 1990, the honourable Member for Kamloops rose on a point of order to suggest that the debate on the budget be suspended and that the Chair review the Government...
The Speaker rules that the sub judice convention does not apply to bills, thereby allowing debate on government legislation to proceed despite a related matter being before the courts.