Rules of Debate / Miscellaneous

Right to speak; recognition by the Chair

Debates pp. 12644-5

Background

During Routine Proceedings, Mr. Nielsen (Yukon) rose on a question of privilege and claimed that the operators of the sound equipment encroach on a prerogative of the Chair, that is granting a Member the right to speak. According to Mr. Nielsen, the sound technicians activate the Ministers' microphones as soon as one of them rises to answer a question even if it is addressed to a committee chairman or to a private Member. He also said he was prepared to move a motion referring the matter to the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections. After hearing Members' comments, the Speaker ruled immediately.

Issue

Does the Chair always retain the exclusive prerogative to activate the microphones to give the floor to a Member?

Decision

Yes. The Chair exercises the most complete control possible over the microphones. [Therefore, there is no prima facie case of privilege.]

Reasons given by the Speaker

The microphones are activated upon instructions from the Chair and only when the Chair gives the floor to a Member by identifying him by the name of his constituency. This is the only way to be recognized in the House. A Member need not think that he has the floor merely because his microphone has been activated. The microphone operators do not make any decisions and it is the Speaker who, by being able to turn off the microphones from her seat in case of error, retains the ultimate discretion over who has the floor of the House.

References

Debates, November 9, 1981, pp. 12641-5.