Ruling
February 18, 1966
Statements by Ministers
Hon. Lucien Lamoureux
Speaker of the House
Ruling Text
Although this practice has been embodied in the rules of the House since 1965, the House should, in general, be guided not so much by the literal construction of the Orders as by what has been its practice for some years. The practice, even after adoption of Standing Order 15, has been to permit a spokesperson to comment on ministerial statements, even if his or her Party had fewer Members than the number stipulated [12] in the 1963 amendment to the Senate and House of Commons Act.
Edit Metadata
Holding
"The established practice of allowing a spokesperson from any party to comment on ministerial statements will continue, even if the party does not meet the membership threshold stipulated in the rules."
AI Summary
The Speaker rules that established House practice allowing smaller party responses to ministerial statements supersedes the literal text of the Standing Orders.
AI Analysis
- Outcome
- Other
- Tone
- Educational
- Procedural Stage
- Routine Proceedings
- Significance
Low
High