Rules of Debate / Miscellaneous

Vote; announcement of vote result by the Clerk

Debates p. 21640

Background

On December 15, following Question Period, Mr. Nielsen (Yukon) rose on a point of order and claimed that the division held on December 14 on his motion "That the Member for Calgary Centre be now heard" was not in order because the Members of the Opposition did not hear the Clerk announce the vote result. After hearing Members' comments, the Speaker took the matter under consideration and ruled the next day.

Issue

For a vote to be valid, is it necessary that all Members hear the Clerk announce the vote result?

Decision

No. It is the declaration by the Speaker concerning the fate of a motion that counts.

Reasons given by the Speaker

The important aspect is the declaration by the Speaker concerning the fate of a motion and not whether or not the announcement of the result by the Clerk is heard by all Members. The Clerk did announce the result of the vote; the Chair heard him and declared the motion lost. It was at that time that a Member could have risen to challenge the procedure. However, no one did so.

References

Debates, December 14, 1982, pp. 21587-8; December 15, 1982, pp. 21617-22.