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May 24, 1988
The Speaker: First, I want to make it clear to honourable Members exactly what has occurred here. The Honourable Minister of State (Mr. Doug Lewis) has pointed out that there was a vote on...
The Speaker ruled against reviving an archaic practice from Bourinot that would allow debate on the formal motion to set a date for a bill's second reading, upholding the modern practice described in Beauchesne.
November 18, 1987
Mr. Speaker: I have another ruling with respect to a matter raised on October 13 by the honourable Member for Nickel Belt, who raised a question of privilege alleging improper restrictions on the...
The Speaker ruled that a committee motion restricting members' access to researchers did not constitute a prima facie question of privilege because committees are masters of their own procedure.
June 18, 1987
Mr. Speaker: The honourable Member has risen and moved a traditional motion that another Member be now heard. It is important that all honourable Members and the public that is watching understand...
The Speaker ruled a motion 'that another Member be now heard' out of order because the originally recognized Member had already begun speaking.
April 9, 1987
Mr. Speaker: First, I want to say this is very important. I thank the honourable Member for Ottawa—Vanier for his intervention and also for the various points he made on the present position. It...
The Speaker ruled that a committee breached House rules by televising its proceedings without prior authorization from the House itself.
March 17, 1987
The Speaker: On February 19, 1987, the honourable Member for Charlevoix rose on a question of privilege concerning the application or lack of application of the Official Languages Act to...
The Speaker denied a question of privilege regarding the Official Languages Act, ruling it a legal matter for the courts and not a procedural issue for the Chair.
December 1, 1986
Mr. Speaker: The Chair wishes to report to the House on a matter of some importance concerning petitions introducing laws, and I will read the ruling. An entry in the Votes and Proceedings of...
The Speaker rules that the 25-signature requirement for petitions does not apply to petitions for Private Bills due to a procedural oversight in the Standing Orders.
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.
November 9, 1978
The complaint was raised at the earliest opportunity. The letter from the Solicitor General to Mr. Lawrence can be considered a proceeding in Parliament for the purpose of privilege. A contempt...
The Speaker found a prima facie case of contempt, ruling that a minister's letter is a proceeding in Parliament and the sub judice convention does not apply to a Royal Commission.
December 15, 1975
Amendments to the Content of Bills / Report Stage December 15, 1975 Journals pp. 935, 937 Debates pp. 10006, 10022 Background As consideration of the report stage of Bill C-69, an Act to amend the...
A ruling clarifying that private members' amendments cannot increase spending or alter the purpose of a financial measure due to the principle of the financial initiative of the Crown.
July 20, 1973
The purpose of the bill is to provide for the reinstatement of the law relating to capital punishment. The effect of these motions, however, is to remove those provisions from the bill. "In other...
The Speaker reluctantly allows a bill to proceed from committee even though its amendments negate the bill's original principle.