Routine Proceedings / Statement by Ministers

Statement by Ministers

Journals pp. 158-60

Debates pp. 1434-5

Background

On February 15, Mr. Coates (Cumberland) raised a point of order to ask who was entitled to speak in reply to ministerial statements. The Speaker listened to the comments of Members regarding the interpretation of Standing Order 15, and rendered his decision on February 18.

Issue

Do all Members have the right to comment on ministerial statements?

Decision

No. Only the Leader of the Official Opposition and spokespersons of the other opposition parties are entitled to comment on ministerial statements; independent Members do not have this right.

Reasons given by the Speaker

Although this practice has been embodied in the rules of the House since 1965, the House should, in general, be guided not so much by the literal construction of the Orders as by what has been its practice for some years. The practice, even after adoption of Standing Order 15, has been to permit a spokesperson to comment on ministerial statements, even if his or her Party had fewer Members than the number stipulated [12] in the 1963 amendment to the Senate and House of Commons Act.

Sources cited

Senate and House of Commons Act, S.C. 1963, c. 14, s. 3.

Standing Order 15(2)(a).

Debates, June 4, 1951, p. 3669; February 1, 1954, p. 1627.

Beauchesne, 4th ed., p. 10, c. 8(3); pp. 84-5, c. 91.

References

Debates, February 15, 1966, pp. 1224-6.