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April 26, 1983
Various precedents indicate that charges of this kind cannot be made by way of a question of privilege, but only on a substantive motion making clear and specific accusations. While there may have...
Speaker rules that serious accusations must be made via a substantive motion, not a question of privilege, and finds no procedural error in the tabling of budget documents.
March 24, 1983
The aim in reading these documents is to give sufficient information to the Chair and to the House upon which to make a decision. If the information transmitted during interventions is sufficient,...
A ruling clarifying that for a question of privilege, a summary of supporting documents is sufficient and the entire matter, not just the documents, is what is referred to committee.
June 16, 1982
Any word that is a synonym of a word that is unparliamentary cannot be substituted for the unparliamentary expression, and from now on the word "mendacity" will be considered unparliamentary as...
The Speaker ruled that using synonyms for unparliamentary words, such as 'mendacity' for lying, is also unparliamentary and must be challenged via a point of order.
June 16, 1982
Rules of Debate / Unparliamentary Language June 16, 1982 Debates pp. 18527-8 Background During the introduction of an opposition motion dealing with supply, Mr. Chretien (Minister of Justice)...
This entry pertains to the procedural concept of personal attacks and the associated right of reply, but is not a specific ruling.
May 31, 1982
According to one authority, expressions which are unparliamentary when applied to individual Members are not always so considered when applied to a whole party. Moreover, since the Standing Orders...
This ruling clarifies that unparliamentary language is a matter to be raised on a point of order, not as a question of privilege.
May 27, 1982
The question was raised at the earliest opportunity, but the Minister denies having deliberately misled the House. As it is customary to accept a Member's statement, the matter cannot be dealt...
The Speaker denied a question of privilege concerning a Minister allegedly misleading the House, as the Minister's denial of intent must be accepted.
November 4, 1981
There can be no doubt, as numerous precedents indicate, that questions to chairmen of committees are in order when such questions relate to procedural matters, for example, the time and place of...
The Speaker denied a point of order, ruling that a minister may answer a question addressed to a committee chair if it touches on general House business.
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 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.