Selected Decisions of Speaker John Fraser 1986 - 1994
Rules of Debate / Decorum
Use of a lectern
Debates, p. 16246
Context
On December 4, 1990, during debate on the motion for the third reading of Bill C-40, respecting broadcasting, Mr. Jim Edwards (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Communications) rose on a point of order to indicate to the Chair that Mrs. Sheila Finestone (Mount Royal) was using a lectern. Mr. Edwards was of the opinion that parliamentary tradition held that the only Member permitted to use a podium was the Minister of Finance during the presentation of the Budget speech.
Mrs. Finestone commented that the Minister of Justice (Hon. Kim Campbell) had recently used the same lectern in the House. The Acting Speaker (Mr. Charles DeBlois) replied that it was possible that another Member had indeed used a podium, and that he was inclined to be tolerant, but that as the matter had been raised, he had no choice but to enforce the practice of the House. He asked Mrs. Finestone to remove the lectern. Mr. Lyle MacWilliam (Okanagan—Shuswap) then asked the Chair if using a stack of books to support notes, as many Members did, amounted to a violation of the rules. He noted that in a number of the provincial legislatures, including the legislature of British Columbia where he had been a Member, lecterns were permitted.[1] The Acting Speaker delivered his ruling which is reproduced in extenso below.
Decision of the Chair
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
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[1] Debates, December 4, 1990, pp. 16245-6.