Search thousands of Speaker's rulings with AI-powered precision.
October 28, 1983
According to Beauchesne, a Minister cannot read or quote from a dispatch or other state paper that is not before the House unless he is prepared to lay it upon the Table. However, if the public...
The Speaker clarifies the rule that Ministers must table any state papers they quote from unless they declare it is not in the public interest.
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.
February 28, 1983
For there to be a prima facie case of privilege, sufficient evidence must be presented to warrant the matter proceeding to investigation. Furthermore, it is not for the Chair to determine whether...
The Speaker clarifies that the Chair does not rule on the accuracy of tabled documents and that reflections on Members require a substantive motion.
February 16, 1983
The Standing Orders stipulate that a Minister may table in the House any report or other paper dealing with a matter falling within his administrative responsibilities. According to Beauchesne,...
The Speaker clarifies that Ministers are permitted by the Standing Orders and Beauchesne to voluntarily table documents related to their administrative duties.
April 17, 1980
The Prime Minister may table the letter if he wishes, but there is no obligation upon him to do so because it involves a letter which he did not actually quote but to which he merely referred.
A Speaker's ruling clarifies that a document only needs to be tabled if it is quoted from, not if it is merely referenced.