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May 26, 1981
A motion in amendment which seeks to introduce a question foreign to the proposition contained in the main motion cannot be moved. Moreover, the Speaker is prohibited from allowing a motion in...
A ruling stating that amendments must be relevant to the main motion and cannot alter the scope of a Royal Recommendation.
April 10, 1981
"It has been ruled consistently that the Chair does not decide questions of law." Equally, the Chair is not responsible for deciding whether or not a departmental guideline has been breached, nor,...
The Speaker ruled that a Minister opening an office in another Member's riding is not a breach of privilege as the Chair does not rule on the use of funds and all MPs represent the whole country.
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.
March 5, 1981
The Member "is not satisfied with the answers given to him by the Ministers, but the Chair is not in a position to insist on any other answers or to comment on the quality or substance of such...
The Speaker rules that the Chair cannot compel a Minister to change their answer or comment on its quality during Oral Questions.
March 4, 1981
The Chair does not have the duty to uphold the principle of cabinet secrecy, nor does it sit in judgment upon the manner in which Ministers fulfil their responsibilities, including the prevention...
The Speaker ruled that a leak of government estimates is a matter of ministerial responsibility, not a breach of parliamentary privilege for the Chair to adjudicate.
February 25, 1981
There is no question of privilege because Members' duties do not expressly require them to attend press lock-ups. Furthermore, if the denial of entry put the Member at a disadvantage, it is a...
The Speaker ruled that being denied entry to a press lock-up is not a breach of privilege as it is not an express duty of a Member.
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 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".
November 6, 1980
Although it is legitimate for Members in this House to insist that Ministers answer their questions, Ministers are not bound to do so. "Minister may decline to answer a question without stating...
This ruling confirms the established principle that Ministers cannot be compelled to answer questions in the House.
October 29, 1980
To amount to contempt, statements relating to proceedings of the House or the participation of Members should not only be erroneous, but rather they should be deliberately incorrect and improper...
A ruling clarifying that for a statement about House proceedings to be considered contempt, it must be deliberately false and deceitful, not just incorrect.