Ruling
June 15, 1995
Recorded divisions: deferred
Hon. Gilbert Parent
Speaker of the House
Ruling Text
The Speaker:
My colleagues, I asked a little earlier if the whips would confer on the deferral of this vote. The Chair would always prefer that these decisions be made in harmony after consultation. To my knowledge no decision has been made by the whips of any of the parties.
I saw the video tapes earlier today of exactly what took place. I have satisfied myself that the acting whip of the Bloc Québécois proceeded in the normal and accepted fashion. I have reviewed what the government whip had to say with regard to this point and I have taken into consideration what the whip of the Reform Party said in the House.
I want to make one thing clear to all honourable members. It is the purview of the Speaker to make this decision. I will tell you how I am not making it. I am not making it on first past the post. It would be unseemly, in my view, to have the whips running up to the table and knocking each other down. This is, after all, the House of Commons and we should have some decorum. Because the decision has been placed on my plate, I have decided and I order that the vote on this particular amendment take place at 11:30 p.m., Monday, June 19.
P0401-e 35-1 1995-06-15
Edit Metadata
Holding
"The Speaker ordered a deferred vote on an amendment to take place at 11:30 p.m. on Monday, June 19, after the party whips failed to reach an agreement on the matter."
AI Summary
The Speaker resolves a dispute among party whips by ordering a deferred vote to be held at a specific time, emphasizing decorum over a "first past the post" approach.
AI Analysis
- Outcome
- Other
- Tone
- Stern
- Procedural Stage
- Not specified
- Significance
Low
High