Rules of Debate / Miscellaneous

Right to speak; recognition by the Chair; priority to Ministers

Debates pp. 28389-90

Background

During Routine Proceedings, Mr. Mazankowski (Vegreville) rose on a question of privilege and maintained that on the previous day, during Routing Proceedings, he rose on a point of order to move "That the Member for Yukon be now heard", but that the Chair instead gave the floor to Mr. Axworthy (Minister of Transport), in spite of the fact that the Minister had spoken after Mr. Mazankowski. According to Mr. Mazankowski, he had the right to put his motion and Standing Order 33 which governs the introduction of this motion gives precedence neither to a Member who had begun to speak nor to a Minister, but it does give a Member the right to be heard. The Speaker ruled immediately.

Issue

When a Member and a Minister rise at the same time, is there an order of priority as to who shall have the floor?

Decision

Yes. When a Member and a Minister rise at the same time, it is customary to recognize the Minister before the Member. [Therefore, the question of privilege is unfounded.]

Reasons given by the Speaker

According to one authority, it is usual to give priority to members of the Government who wish to speak. Moreover, the parliamentary spirit allows that courtesies are afforded to certain Members such as Ministers and the Leader of the Opposition, but this custom does not mean that Members do not have equal rights. The Speaker's power to select is absolute.

Sources cited

Standing Order 33.

Bourinot, 4th ed., p. 334.

References

Debates, October 27, 1983, pp. 28388-91.