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June 8, 1987
Mr. Speaker: In the interests of not holding up debate, the Chair has decided that, rather than reserve in this matter, the Chair will rule immediately. In the interests of honourable Members and...
The Speaker denied a point of order, ruling that the sub judice convention does not prevent debate on a civil matter not yet at trial during an Opposition Supply day.
January 26, 1987
The Speaker: Before I call Orders of the Day, I have a ruling to make arising out of the debate which occurred on Friday, January 23, 1987. The honourable Member for Windsor West rose on a point...
The Speaker ruled that a blank space and incorrect date in a bill were correctable clerical errors, not fatal flaws, and ordered the Clerk to alter the bill.
May 9, 1986
Precedence and Sequence of Business / Private Members’ Business April 25 and May 9, 1986 Debates pp. 12673, 13146-7 Background On April 24, 1986, the House took up consideration of Private...
A ruling concerning Private Members' Business from April 25 and May 9, 1986, for which the text was not provided.
January 27, 1986
The Speaker reminded the House of the guidelines established in 1977 by a committee of the House. The committee stated that a Member calling for the suppression of a matter because it is sub...
The Speaker clarifies that invoking the sub judice convention requires a Member to demonstrate a real risk of prejudice before the Chair will intervene.
April 30, 1984
The matter is sub judice. Therefore the Chair has no option but to rule that there is no prima facie question of privilege.
The Speaker denied a question of privilege concerning collective bargaining for House employees because the matter was sub judice.
March 5, 1984
Under Standing Order 30, the Speaker must consider the "probability of the matter being brought before the House within reasonable time by other means." There have been and will be various...
A request for an emergency debate on cruise missile testing was denied as the matter was not a sudden emergency and was considered sub judice.
March 22, 1983
Not only do defamatory allegations about Members place the entire institution of Parliament under a cloud, they also prevent Members from performing their duties as long as the matter remains...
A Speaker's ruling confirms that defamatory allegations against a Member can be referred to a committee despite the sub judice convention to protect the Member's ability to function.
March 31, 1981
Only the House can decide whether to discontinue or not to initiate a debate. Whatever the practice followed, the sub judice convention does not apply when studying bills, that is while the House...
The Speaker ruled that the sub judice convention does not prevent the House from debating legislative matters, including constitutional resolutions, even if the subject is before the courts.
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.
November 9, 1978
The complaint was raised at the earliest opportunity. The letter from the Solicitor General to Mr. Lawrence can be considered a proceeding in Parliament for the purpose of privilege. A contempt...
The Speaker found a prima facie case of contempt, ruling that a minister's letter is a proceeding in Parliament and the sub judice convention does not apply to a Royal Commission.