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November 9, 1981
The microphones are activated upon instructions from the Chair and only when the Chair gives the floor to a Member by identifying him by the name of his constituency. This is the only way to be...
The Speaker rules that only formal recognition by the Chair, not an activated microphone, grants a Member the right to speak.
July 13, 1981
Where a bill, as introduced, does not contain a preamble, it is not competent for a committee to introduce one. The same rules apply at report stage. As for the headings of the various parts of a...
This ruling establishes that committees cannot add a preamble to a bill if one was not present at introduction, nor can they amend bill headings.
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.
April 7, 1981
Amendments to the Content of Bills / Report Stage April 7, 1981 Journals p. 1671 Debates p. 9052 Background During report stage consideration of Bill C-42, An Act to establish the Canada Post...
This is not a ruling but a description of the constitutional principle that reserves the right to initiate financial legislation to the Crown (the government).
April 1, 1981
Not only is the personal situation of each Member not governed by the Standing Orders, but it would be violating the principle of equality of all Members in the House if a difference were to be...
The Speaker rules that the Chair cannot determine the legality of a measure and must treat all Members as equals, regardless of their professional background.
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 25, 1981
There is no doubt that the eight one-dollar items which cancel debts are pure legislative items and seek in each case to amend section 18(1) of the Financial Administration Act. Whether or not...
The Speaker ruled that using one-dollar supply items to amend legislation, such as the Financial Administration Act, is procedurally out of order.
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
If it is true to say that a Member elected to a constituency also represents the whole country, then one cannot deny that each member of the Cabinet represents all of Canada. Moreover, the...
The Speaker rules that the assignment of ministerial responsibilities for a region is a potential political grievance, not a breach of privilege.
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.