May 20, 1970
The Member questions the adequacy of current legislation with respect to abortion. It would be a questionable practice to initiate the consideration of amendments to statutes by way of debate...
The Speaker denied a request for an emergency debate on abortion, ruling that the matter was not urgent and the procedure was inappropriate for initiating legislative amendments.
May 20, 1970
The nature of the question is out of order. Only questions relating to procedural matters (if and when a committee will be convened or will meet) may be directed to committee chairmen. Questions...
The Speaker ruled that questions to committee chairs are only in order if they relate strictly to procedural matters like meeting schedules.
May 19, 1970
The Member is seeking an inquiry by the committee into an alleged threat to the freedom of the press. If such a far-reaching question were to be investigated by the House, it should be done by way...
The Speaker denied a question of privilege regarding a newspaper article, clarifying that it did not meet the high threshold for a breach and that the matter should be raised via a substantive motion.
May 14, 1970
Amendments to the Content of Bills / Report Stage May 14, 1970 Journals p. 807 Debates pp. 6985-6 Background During report stage consideration of Bill S-5, an Act to amend the Oil and Gas...
An amendment was ruled inadmissible for being beyond the scope of the bill and for setting a new condition.
May 4, 1970
"... the only way in which the Standing Order can be operated so as to work and make sense is to have agreement between... representatives of the parties in the House." In this instance, there has...
The Speaker permitted a vaguely worded supply day motion to proceed as a non-confidence vote but warned that future motions must more clearly express non-confidence.
April 29, 1970
The powers of a committee as set down in the notice of the motion for its appointment cannot be expanded by an amendment. When an amendment is irregular in any particular, the whole of it is not...
A ruling from April 29, 1970, confirms that an amendment cannot expand a committee's powers beyond the scope of the original motion.
April 24, 1970
By considering this motion in amendment, the House would be considering an entirely new bill which should have been introduced like any other bill. The only thing left of the original bill is its...
The Speaker ruled an amendment out of order for being beyond the scope of the original bill, as it effectively created entirely new legislation.
April 20, 1970
While the argument is not without merit, it is somewhat premature. "... if the bill receives second reading and is referred to committee, it would then be considered by a committee of the House...
The Speaker ruled that a point of order about a bill referencing other bills was premature and should be raised at third reading.
April 14, 1970
The Chair doubts that the privileges of any individual Member are affected by the circumstances outlined by the Member's complaint. The complaint also suggests that this contravenes the Senate and...
The Chair denied a question of privilege, ruling the matter was a point of law that should be raised via a substantive motion.
April 13, 1970
Parliamentary privilege extends to Members of Parliament, not to officers of Parliament or officials of the House of Commons. In addition, "if it is the conduct of a Minister or Ministers of the...
The Speaker ruled that parliamentary privilege does not cover officers of Parliament and that criticism of a Minister requires a substantive motion.