Rules of Debate / Miscellaneous

March 30, 2000

Debates, p. 5443

On March 29, 2000, following a recorded division on the motion for second reading and reference to committee of private member’s bill C-213, An Act to promote shipbuilding, 1999, Yvon Godin (Acadie—Bathurst) rose on a point of order concerning the conduct of Rob Anders (Calgary West), whom he accused of holding up a sign during the recorded division.^[1] It being later than 6:30 p.m., the Deputy Speaker (Peter Milliken) declared the second reading motion carried without ruling on the point of order, and a motion to adjourn the House was deemed moved pursuant to Standing Order 38. At the end of Routine Proceedings on March 30, 2000, Lorne Nystrom (Regina-Qu’Appelle) rose on a point of order to ask the Chair to rule on the point of order raised by Mr. Godin concerning Mr. Anders’ conduct. After hearing from Mr. Anders, the Deputy Speaker ruled immediately.

The Deputy Speaker stated that the rule against using props in the House had been consistently enforced for many years. After noting that Mr. Anders had held up signs on previous occasions, particularly in the course of voting, the Deputy Speaker declared that the Chair would not hesitate to direct the Clerk to strike from the division list the name of any member who persisted in using signs, and that the Chair would, if necessary, take further measures.

Decision of the Chair

The Deputy Speaker: The Chair regards the using of props in the House with the utmost seriousness. It has been consistent practice in the House for many years to enforce the rule that members may not use props. Occasionally, members are able to get away with it because either it is not noticed or sometimes the member uses it before the Chair can intervene, not realizing it is about to happen.

I must say to the honourable member for Calgary West, who gave what I regard as a wholly insufficient explanation of his conduct, that this problem has arisen before. When I have personally been in the chair I have had to deal with the fact that he has held up signs, in particular during the course of voting in the House.

As the honourable member and all honourable members know, points of order are generally not permitted during voting. It is for that reason that the honourable member for Acadie—Bathurst was not permitted to pursue the matter last evening. When the voting was complete, the honourable member for Calgary West had left the House, so I directed the matter to stand over.

Last night was the second time I personally warned the honourable member and I know that one of the other occupants of the chair has had this difficulty. It is not something which the Chair can lightly tolerate because if one member, as the honourable member for Regina-Qu’Appelle has said, can hold up a sign, so can other members. In my view, it is entirely inappropriate and out of place in the House. We are here to carry on a legislative function, not an advertising function. If the honourable member wishes to make his views known on a bill, he can do so by participating in debate, by making a speech or by putting a question or making a comment on another honourable member’s speech. I invite him to do that if he wishes his views to be known. Or, better still, he could put it in his householder, which he is allowed to do four times a year in his constituency.

The Chair will say that if members persist in using signs during voting or some other demonstration of that kind which is inappropriate in the House, the Chair will have no reluctance in directing the Clerk to strike the honourable member’s name from the list of those who have voted and continue to strike it if the conduct persists and, if necessary, take further measures.

I hope that it will not be necessary to revisit this issue. In the Chair’s view, it is entirely inappropriate.

P0704-e

36-2

2000-03-30