Ruling
February 16, 1972
Strangers; Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod
Hon. Lucien Lamoureux
Speaker of the House
Ruling Text
The Chair has the power to order the withdrawal at this point of strangers from the Chamber; that is, all people in the galleries, including those behind the Chair. This would be done, of course, without putting a motion and without a vote. It would not be proper, however, for the Chair to take such an initiative at this stage. It is a long-established practice that when a summons, manifested by a knock on the door, comes from the other place, it is the duty of the Speaker to admit the messenger and to hear the message from the other place. No precedent has been found to justify refusing admission to the Chamber to the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod as the messenger of the Governor General's representative.
Edit Metadata
Holding
"The Chair will not prevent the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod from entering the Chamber, as it is the Speaker's duty to admit the messenger from the other place."
AI Summary
The Speaker rules that the tradition of admitting the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod for a summons from the Senate overrides the Chair's power to clear the galleries.
AI Analysis
- Outcome
- Denied
- Tone
- Educational
- Procedural Stage
- Royal Assent
- Significance
Low
High