March 18, 2003
The Speaker: I am now prepared to rule on the point of order raised by the hon. Member for St. John's West on February 26, 2003, concerning a change in the budgetary policy of the Government. I...
The Speaker ruled that a government policy change announced outside the House does not procedurally invalidate the ongoing budget debate or require the tabling of revised documents.
February 27, 2003
The Acting Speaker: I have listened very carefully to the arguments that have been presented. First, no rule of the House has been broken because, as Members know, embargoes are part of the...
The Speaker ruled that breaking an embargo is not a breach of House rules, as it is a matter of tradition, and directed the issue to be resolved by House Leaders.
February 17, 2003
The Speaker: I am now prepared to rule on the question of privilege raised on February 12, 2003, by the hon. Member for Sarnia–Lambton concerning management of the Canadian Firearms Program. I...
The Speaker ruled that withdrawing supplementary estimates for the firearms program did not cancel its original funding, so no privilege was breached by the Minister's continued spending.
February 12, 2003
The Speaker: Order, please. I am now prepared to rule on the question of privilege raised on January 29, 2003, by the hon. Member for Saskatoon–Humboldt concerning undue interference by senior...
The Speaker denied a question of privilege regarding public service interference with a Member's private email survey, ruling that parliamentary privilege only applies to activities conducted within formal House proceedings.
February 6, 2003
The Speaker: I am now prepared to rule on the question of privilege raised by the hon. Member for Hochelaga–Maisonneuve on December 12, 2002, concerning the premature disclosure of the Report of...
The Speaker denied a question of privilege, finding no prima facie evidence that two specific members were the source of a leaked special committee report.
February 6, 2003
The Speaker: I am now prepared to rule on the point of order raised on January 27 by the hon. Government House Leader concerning written questions and the difficulties experienced by the...
The Speaker ruled that the Chair cannot judge the merits of complex written questions, only their form, and the government must either answer them or state why it cannot.
January 30, 2003
The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair): Before we begin Orders of the Day I have a statement arising out of the business of yesterday. When the House last considered the report stage of Bill C-13, An Act...
The Speaker clarifies that Members need not be in their seats to demand a recorded division and corrects a procedural error by restarting a sequence of votes on a bill.
January 28, 2003
The Speaker: I am now ready to rule on the points of order raised earlier today by the hon. Member for Mississauga South concerning report stage of Bill C-13, An Act respecting assisted human...
The Speaker reorganized report stage motions for Bill C-13 by splitting a large group into two to allow for more focused debate.
December 12, 2002
The Speaker: I am now prepared to rule on the matter raised by the hon. Member for West Vancouver–Sunshine Coast on December 9 concerning the alleged failure of the Government to report on cases...
The Speaker denied a contempt claim regarding the government's failure to report GST fraud, but criticized the government for not informing Parliament of the change in reporting, thus hindering accountability.
December 4, 2002
The Speaker: I am ready to rule on the point of order raised yesterday by the hon. Member for Winnipeg–Transcona and again today by the hon. Member for Saskatoon–Rosetown–Biggar, and then the...
The Speaker ruled that the Senate did not breach the House's privilege by dividing a bill because it properly sought the Commons' concurrence, leaving the final decision to the House.