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April 17, 1978
The Minister of Finance denied the possibility of a leak of budget information respecting the sales tax and, of course, the House must accept his word. The Chair has serious doubts as to whether...
The Speaker denied a question of privilege concerning an alleged budget leak, ruling that the matter did not meet the criteria for privilege and the motion was too general.
March 21, 1978
A Minister is not obliged to answer a question. It is futile for the Chair to attempt to determine the validity of the reasons why a Minister in any individual case might refuse to answer a question.
The Speaker rules that ministers are not obligated to answer questions and the Chair cannot compel them to do so.
June 23, 1977
Under the umbrella of privilege, a Member has raised a matter of grievance and expressed a personal statement. This is a practice which is allowed under certain circumstances even though it does...
The Speaker ruled that a Minister acting through a solicitor to address critical material does not constitute a breach of privilege but is a matter for debate.
June 20, 1977
"An amendment to a particular clause must have relevance to the clause it seeks to amend as well as to the bill in general." "The amendment would seek to introduce into that clause, not the powers...
The Speaker ruled an amendment out of order because it was irrelevant to the specific clause it sought to amend and went beyond its scope.
November 23, 1976
It is clear that parliamentary privilege does not extend, and never has extended, to compelling a Minister or a Prime Minister to make a statement in the House under any circumstances, regardless...
The Speaker ruled that parliamentary privilege does not grant the House the power to compel a Minister or Prime Minister to make a statement.
April 6, 1976
"Standing committees are and must remain the masters of their own procedure". For many years in this House the Chair has refrained from sitting in appeal on procedural decisions taken in standing...
The Speaker affirms the principle that standing committees control their own procedures and the Chair will not hear appeals from their decisions.
April 25, 1975
Content of Bills / Infringing on Financial Initiative of the Crown April 25, 1975 Journals p. 488 Debates pp. 5231-2 Background On a motion for second reading of Bill C-235, an Act to amend the...
The Speaker ruled a private Member's bill out of order for infringing on the financial initiative of the Crown by proposing a new public expenditure without a Royal Recommendation.
April 14, 1975
Questions / Oral Questions April 14, 1975 Journals pp. 439-41 Debates pp. 4762-4 Background On April 7, 1975, an experiment in procedure, designating a fixed time for the Question Period, began....
Analysis failed as the provided text was not a Speaker's Ruling.
February 20, 1975
Since there is a clear line of ministerial responsibility, grievances of this type should be laid directly before the Minister. If they prove valid, they concern all Members and the public has the...
The Speaker advises that grievances concerning ministerial responsibility should be directed to the relevant Minister.
February 11, 1975
Amendments and Subamendments to Motions / Subamendment Relevant to Amendment February 11, 1975 Journals p. 286 Debates pp. 3121-2 Background During debate on an amendment proposed to the second...
The Speaker ruled a subamendment out of order because it was not strictly relevant to the main amendment.