Ruling
January 12, 1971
Miscellaneous; committees; chairman's conduct
Hon. Lucien Lamoureux
Speaker of the House
Ruling Text
Committee proceedings are the responsibility of the members of the committee and it is irregular to refer to such proceedings or to the evidence taken in a committee until a report is before the House. It is true that a committee chairman has no right to decide unilaterally which witnesses should be called by the committee; only the committee, by a majority, can make such a decision. This matter should in any event be resolved by the committee rather than by the House or by another standing committee.
Edit Metadata
Holding
"Committees are masters of their own proceedings, including the selection of witnesses, and must resolve internal disputes themselves without intervention from the House."
AI Summary
The Speaker affirmed that committees are autonomous in their proceedings, including witness selection, and that such internal matters must be resolved by the committee itself, not the House.
AI Analysis
- Outcome
- Other
- Tone
- Educational
- Procedural Stage
- Routine Proceedings
- Significance
Low
High