Rules of Debate / Order and Decorum

Recognizing visitors in the gallery; acknowledgement

September 30, 2011

Debates, p. 1704

On September 29, 2011, during Statements by Members, Corneliu Chisu (Pickering—Scarborough East) invited his colleagues to join him in congratulating the Honourable Veaceslav Ionita and the Honourable Ivan Ionas, Moldovan parliamentarians who were visiting Parliament, on the 20^th anniversary of Moldova’s independence.^[1] The following day, also during Statements by Members, Jamie Nicholls (Vaudreuil—Soulanges) mentioned that Michel Bernier, a citizen in his riding who had retired after working for 51 years in the field of fire safety, was in the public gallery.^[2]

On September 30, 2011, the Speaker reminded Members that it is the prerogative of the Chair to recognize distinguished visitors, and that this approach ensures fairness and safeguards the time of the House.

Statement of the Chair

The Speaker: On two occasions this week, during Statements by Members, once by a member of the Government caucus and once by a member of the Official Opposition, individual Members took it upon themselves to recognize special guests who were in the galleries. I want to remind all hon. Members that it has been a long-standing practice in the House that this is a prerogative of the Chair.

As O’Brien and Bosc’s House of Commons Procedure and Practice, [Second Edition], states at page 284:

Only from the Speaker’s Gallery can distinguished visitors (such as heads of state, heads of government and parliamentary delegations invited to Canada and celebrated Canadians) be recognized and introduced to the House, and only by the Speaker. Members other than the Speaker may not refer to the presence of any visitors in the galleries at any time.

Only distinguished visitors can be recognized and introduced to the House, and only by the Speaker.

I ask for the co-operation of all Members in respecting this approach, as it ensures fairness and safeguards the time of the House.