Ruling
December 4, 1990
Use of a lectern
Hon. John Fraser
Speaker of the House
Ruling Text
The Acting Speaker (Mr. DeBlois):
You have to understand that, in such cases, parliamentary procedure and tradition are of the utmost importance, and usually honourable Members are allowed extensive material. However, the House has been pretty strict on the use of lecterns, and once again, I am bound by the rules of this House. If the House wants to amend the rules, it can do so, but for now, according to parliamentary practice, only the Minister of Finance can use a lectern to make his speech.
Having said that, the House can make appropriate changes, if it so wishes, but for now, I must stick to tradition, according to which no one can use a lectern to make a speech at the House of Commons, although books and other reading material are allowed.
F0711-e 34-2 1990-12-04.
[1]
Debates, December 4, 1990, pp. 16245-6.
Edit Metadata
Holding
"The use of a lectern in the House of Commons is restricted by tradition to only the Minister of Finance."
AI Summary
The Speaker denied a Member's use of a lectern, citing the parliamentary tradition that reserves its use exclusively for the Minister of Finance.
AI Analysis
- Outcome
- Denied
- Tone
- Educational
- Procedural Stage
- Debate
- Significance
Low
High