Routine Proceedings / Tabling of Documents

Tabling of documents

Journals pp. 655-7

Debates pp. 5027-8

Background

On January 30, Mr. Baldwin (Peace River), supported by Mr. Knowles (Winnipeg North Centre) and Mr. Lambert (Edmonton West), rose on a question of privilege to challenge the tabling on the previous day by the Secretary of State, under Standing Order 41(2), of a document containing answers to a number of questions put to him during Oral Questions. They held that since the new Standing Order replaced the previous practice of asking consent to table documents of an official nature, its provisions should be restricted to that type of document and that, in any case, tabling was an unsuitable way to answer oral questions. Later that day, Messrs. Lambert and Knowles again protested the tabling of a document, this time by the Minister of Finance, which explained a ways and means motion. The two Members protested that the tabled document was a means to circumvent the fact that there is no debate at the resolution stage of a tax measure. The Speaker decided that the document on the ways and means motion should not be tabled until the issue of privilege had been resolved.

Issue

Are there any restrictions to the procedure for tabling documents?

Decision

Tabling documents is allowed when the subject-matter comes within the administrative competence of the Government. It is not, however, a regular means to supply answers to oral questions.

Reasons given by the Speaker

''According to the Standing Orders, a question put during the daily Oral Questions may be answered either by an oral answer, by an order for return or by a ministerial statement on motions." The Standing Order on tabling of documents "does not provide for the establishment of a new procedure for answering oral questions". The objection raised against the action taken by the Secretary of State is, therefore, justified. With respect to the procedural point raised in connection with the Minister of Finance, the situation is quite different. The object of the new rule under which the Minister acted is to enlarge the class of papers that can be tabled by the Government without notice and without leave. "The Chair is bound by the clear words of the rule to the effect that a Minister may table any report or other paper dealing with a matter coming within the administrative responsibilities of the Government." In this case, the Minister acted within the terms of the rule; the objection is not sustained.

Sources cited

Standing Order 41.

References

Debates, January 29, 1969, pp. 4879-80; January 30, 1969, pp. 4925-31.