Rule of Debate / Order and Decorum

Points of order: maintaining the orderly conduct of business

May 25, 2018

Debates, p. 19677

On May 25, 2018, Candice Bergen (Portage—Lisgar) rose on a point of order seeking clarification from the Speaker on the proceedings of House business. Ms. Bergen noted that, following several points of order regarding the main estimates 2018–19, the Chair proceeded to Government Orders when, in her view, there were other points of order that had yet to be heard by the Speaker.^[1]

Resolution

The Speaker ruled immediately. He confirmed that it is within the Speaker’s discretion to decide when enough has been heard on a matter raised and that Government Orders had been called and were, therefore, under way.

Decision of the Chair

The Speaker: I thank the opposition House leader for her point of order. As I said previously, and it is very well established, that it is at the discretion of the Speaker to determine when he or she feels he or she has heard enough of an argument.

As it turned out, in fact, the point of order from the hon. member for Carleton was in my view on the same topic. Whether or not a member declares personally that orders of the day have or have not started is beside the point. Orders of the day had been called. It has commenced. I had called for debate. We are under way.

Members may not like that, I recognize that, but the hon. government House leader now has the floor. I have heard enough as I have indicated.

Editor’s Note

Later that sitting, Ms. Bergen rose again on a point of order to seek clarification as to why the Speaker proceeded to Government Orders without hearing several points of order. He reminded her that a ruling on the matter had been made that challenging a decision of the Chair could be done only by way of a motion. He also reminded the House that, out of respect for other members, only one member was to stand at a time.^[2]

The Speaker: I am sorry, but again, the member is challenging the decision of the Chair, which can only be done by a motion. I have made it very clear.

I would ask the hon. opposition House leader to take her seat, because one member stands at a time. In fact, I would wish that all members recognized and understood the rule in this House that one member stands at a time. Sometimes we see that when one member is standing, another gets up well before it is really time for them to speak, so I would ask them to keep that in mind and refrain from doing so, even though members are eager to be up and get ready for their statements, or what have you. However, that is one of the important rules of the House. It is a question of respect for other people speaking that there is this rule of the House that only one person stands at a time. Obviously, members will be leaving and so forth, and that is fine.

That said, I have made my ruling.