Introduction

The Selected Decisions of Speaker Sauvé is the third in a series which will bring together, in a comprehensive collection, all significant modern rulings of the Speakers of the Canadian House of Commons. Earlier volumes contained the decisions of Speaker Lucien Lamoureux (1966-1974) and Speak­er James Jerome (1974-1979). The present volume contains approximately 120 decisions and covers the period from 1980 to 1984.

Speaker Jeanne Sauvé, the first woman to be chosen as Speaker, presided over most of the tumultuous Thirty-Second Parliament. This period is re­membered for many fundamental reforms adopted by the House for the conduct of its business. The Special Committee on Standing Orders and Procedure made seven substantive reports during this Parliament and the House adopted many of its recommendations as provisional Standing Orders, making most of these changes permanent in June 1987.

Speaker Sauvé made a number of significant rulings and statements during her tenure. On supply, for example, she made several rulings which indicated that votes in the Estimates should not be used to amend legislation. Other significant rulings interpreted the definition of omnibus bills, and clarified the sub judice convention. The Speaker made important statements in relation to the "bell ringing crisis" and the application of the provisional Standing Orders.

Many people have contributed to this work. I would like to acknowledge the efforts of the Table Research Branch which has worked assiduously to gather, analyze and prepare these decisions for publication. I also wish to ex­press our thanks to the Government Translation Services, the Index and Reference Service and the Publications Service of the Parliamentary Publications Directorate for their assistance in this publication.

Ottawa, 1994

Clerk of the House

Robert Marleau