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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.
March 5, 1981
"Matters of this nature, having been referred either to the courts or to an administrative body, are not proper subjects for debate in this House under the terms of Standing Order 26". Moreover,...
The Speaker denied a request for an emergency debate, citing the matter being before an administrative body and the availability of other debate opportunities.
February 2, 1981
According to one authority, references to debates in the other House are out of order for the simple reason that the debates of one of the two Houses remain hypothetically unknown to the other....
The Speaker affirms the rule that members cannot refer to debates in the Senate, as each legislative body manages its own proceedings independently.
December 18, 1980
The rise in interest rates and the rising cost of living can be considered as chronic problems. However, since the House is to adjourn tomorrow and since there will not likely be an opportunity to...
The Speaker granted an emergency debate on the economy, giving members the benefit of the doubt due to the House's imminent adjournment.
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.
July 15, 1980
"An Honorable Member should not be required to submit his conduct for investigation by the House or a committee thereof until he has been charged with an offence by another Member." No specific...
The Speaker ruled that a formal charge and evidence are required before the House can investigate a Member's conduct.
July 9, 1980
"Under almost no circumstances can a review of the law be regarded as an emergency provision rather than a continuing... concern of this House." In addition, since the matter was first raised...
A request for an emergency debate was denied as the issue was deemed an ongoing concern with other available avenues for debate, not a sudden crisis.
December 10, 1979
The rule requires that the subject matter proposed for debate relate to a genuine emergency. In this case, the issue of emergency is a matter of argument between the government and the opposition....
The Speaker denied an emergency debate request because the issue was a matter of political argument and another debate opportunity was imminent.
October 25, 1979
In considering an application made under the terms of Standing Order 26, the Chair must take into account the probability that the matter will come before the House within a reasonable time by...
The Speaker denied an emergency debate request because the topic was already before a standing committee.
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.