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January 28, 1988
The Speaker: I am now ready to rule on the question of privilege raised by the honourable member for Okanagan—Coquihalla on October 21, 1999, concerning delays in the release of information under...
The Speaker ruled that delays in responding to an Access to Information request do not constitute a breach of privilege as this activity is not considered a 'proceeding in Parliament'.
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.
January 19, 1984
There are many cases where drafts of bills have been circulated and no further action has been taken with regard to them. The Chair cannot be placed in a position of determining whether a draft of...
A ruling finding no breach of privilege when a Member is denied access to a private party briefing on a draft bill, as the Speaker cannot police such events.
December 15, 1980
The Standing Orders clearly stipulate that no bill may be introduced in either blank or an imperfect shape. Since the bill in question had not been drafted, it was therefore not ready for...
A bill cannot be introduced until it is fully drafted, as the Standing Orders prohibit the introduction of bills in an "imperfect shape".
January 21, 1971
Amendments to Motions on Progress of Bills / Second Reading January 21, 1971 Journals pp. 273-4 Debates pp. 2622-3 Background On January 20, during debate on the motion for second reading of Bill...
The Speaker ruled a government motion out of order because it sought to refer a matter to a standing committee that had not yet been established.
January 20, 1971
Amendments to Motions on Progress of Bills / Second Reading January 20, 1971 Journals p. 270 Debates p. 2609 Background During debate on the motion for second reading of Bill C-193, an Act to...
A procedural note indicating the subject matter of a Royal Recommendation was referred to a Committee of the Whole.
January 19, 1970
It would appear that there is a difference between the two texts of the proposed bill. However, in this particular case it seems that the difference is more of form than of substance. Nonetheless,...
The Speaker rules that a textual discrepancy in a bill is a matter for the committee stage, not for the Chair to resolve at second reading.
November 10, 1969
Although the Standing Orders provide for the introduction of bills during Routine Proceedings, they do not allow for a motion to empower a committee to draw up a bill, nor is there any precedent...
The Speaker ruled a private member's motion to have a committee draft a bill out of order as it was procedurally unprecedented and exceeded the member's notice limit.
Date Unknown
The Speaker: I am quite familiar with the argument the hon. Member is making. I recall making a similar one myself at one time or another. I am very sympathetic to the plight he describes, but...
The Speaker ruled that the government's failure to answer written questions in a timely manner is not a valid question of privilege because the Chair lacks the power to compel an answer.