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December 12, 1968
A long-standing practice allows officials to sit in the special gallery and to take notes. However, if a Member desires that some persons should be expelled, he or she must propose a motion in...
The Speaker ruled that a Member's request to expel strangers from the gallery was dropped because a specific, votable motion is required, which was not possible due to the vague description provided.
November 26, 1968
According to practice, the amendment could not be received or debated, since it amends the report of the committee rather than the motion for concurrence. "However, in view of the terminology of...
The Speaker permitted a procedurally irregular amendment to a committee report concurrence motion due to a special order suspending normal rules.
October 25, 1968
"... as a matter of special importance and immediate urgency the whole of the Nigeria and Biafra situation has been referred by this House to a special committee." Normally, the Chair would not...
The Speaker denied a request for an emergency debate on the Nigeria/Biafra situation because the matter was already being studied by a special committee.
November 24, 1967
The difficulty in this case is that an application for an injunction had been made and, consequently, the matter "is now in a way, and up to a certain point, before the courts". Nonetheless, a...
The Speaker permitted an urgent debate on a matter despite a related court injunction, ruling that the sub judice convention did not apply to the broader issue.
November 6, 1967
The House may refer the subject-matter of a bill to committee at second reading, but the Chair is not disposed to change the established procedure in order to allow the amendment in its present...
The Speaker ruled an amendment out of order because its condition to delay a bill's second reading until a committee reported was procedurally incorrect.
October 25, 1967
The Member's complaint is a grievance and not a question of privilege. The remarks of the Bank chairman "relate more particularly to the Government than to the personal conduct of Members in the...
The Speaker denied a question of privilege, ruling that a complaint about a Bank chairman's remarks was a political grievance against the government, not an impediment to Members' duties.
May 3, 1967
"Generally speaking... it is irregular to refer to the proceedings or the evidence taken in a committee." It might well be that the procedure followed in the committee was not exactly in...
The Speaker ruled that procedural issues arising in a committee must be resolved within that committee and cannot be appealed to the House.
April 21, 1967
The interpretation of provisional Standing Order 15A is confused, ambiguous and uncertain; the main difficulty stems from the obvious conflict between it and Standing Order 16 concerning...
The Speaker upheld a Chairman's decision regarding a conflict between Standing Orders on the suspension of Private Members' Hour.
March 15, 1967
While the irregularity in the Estimates may be a matter of dispute, the role of the Chair is limited to determining if the issue should be given priority over other business byway of a question of...
The Speaker ruled that an irregularity in the Estimates is a matter for debate on supply, not a prima facie question of privilege.
January 26, 1967
The Chair has no authority to remove one of two similar items on the Order Paper. This action should be taken by a Minister of the Crown. When the special joint committee reports to the House, an...
The Speaker ruled that only a Minister, not the Chair, can initiate the removal of a duplicate item from the Order Paper.