SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 302

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
April 18, 2024 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 302 - Apr/18/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/18/24 2:20:30 p.m.
  • Watch
Before I continue with question period and the next question from the hon. member for Thornhill, I am going to ask the member for Miramichi—Grand Lake as well as the member for Dufferin—Caledon to please wait their turns before taking the floor. The hon. member for Thornhill.
51 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 302 - Apr/18/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/18/24 2:25:38 p.m.
  • Watch
Once again, I invite members not to speak unless the Chair has recognized them. I am referring to my friend and dear colleague from Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier. The hon. member for La Prairie.
34 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 302 - Apr/18/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/18/24 2:31:26 p.m.
  • Watch
Some members have raised in the past that they have been concerned about the level of noise and the speaking out of turn. Let us all restrain ourselves so we can hear the question and the answer to the question from the hon. member for Foothills.
46 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 302 - Apr/18/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/18/24 2:37:25 p.m.
  • Watch
Order. Colleagues, we can be pointed, we can be passionate, and we can be many things. However, we must always make sure that we carry ourselves well and refer to each other politely. The hon. parliamentary secretary knows that. I would ask him to withdraw that part of his statement and finish his answer.
54 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 302 - Apr/18/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/18/24 2:38:16 p.m.
  • Watch
I asked the hon. parliamentary secretary to withdraw that part of his statement so that we can stay on the right side of being polite. The hon. parliamentary secretary.
29 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 302 - Apr/18/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/18/24 2:38:45 p.m.
  • Watch
The member did apologize for causing disruption in the House. The hon. member for Hastings—Lennox and Addington.
19 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 302 - Apr/18/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/18/24 3:13:20 p.m.
  • Watch
Following discussions among representatives of all parties in the House, I understand there is an agreement to observe a moment of silence. I now invite the House to rise and observe a moment of silence in memory of the victims of the tragic event that happened four years ago in Nova Scotia. [A moment of silence observed]
57 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 302 - Apr/18/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/18/24 3:15:12 p.m.
  • Watch
The hon. member for Grande Prairie—Mackenzie is rising on a point of order.
15 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 302 - Apr/18/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/18/24 3:16:17 p.m.
  • Watch
I appreciate the point that the member for Grande Prairie—Mackenzie has raised, and it is one that I intend to address immediately. I do see that the hon. member for Milton is rising. I hope it is to do what would be consistent with the Speaker's observations and rulings in the past.
55 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 302 - Apr/18/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/18/24 3:16:44 p.m.
  • Watch
I did hear the hon. member withdraw this comment. The hon. member for Grande Prairie—Mackenzie is rising on a point of order.
24 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 302 - Apr/18/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/18/24 3:17:29 p.m.
  • Watch
I thank the hon. member for his intervention. I will continue to apply the rulings as has been indicated in the House. The hon. member for Drummond is rising on a point of order.
34 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 302 - Apr/18/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/18/24 3:18:47 p.m.
  • Watch
I thank the hon. member for Drummond for his comments. Members can refer to the statement I made on October 18, 2023, which outlines what is acceptable to say in Parliament. That said, I will have the opportunity to continue my discussions with the leaders of all the political parties to further explore the issue of the guidelines that are needed to ensure that we can have passionate and pointed debates that nevertheless remain acceptable in terms of parliamentary language. The hon. member for Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot is rising on a point of order.
96 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 302 - Apr/18/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/18/24 3:20:01 p.m.
  • Watch
Unfortunately, I heard some members say nay. Once again, I encourage all members to obtain confirmation from all the political parties before seeking unanimous consent to move a motion.
29 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 302 - Apr/18/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/18/24 3:21:04 p.m.
  • Watch
All those opposed to the hon. member's moving the motion will please say nay. There is no objection. The House has heard the terms of the motion. All those opposed to the motion will please say nay.
38 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 302 - Apr/18/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/18/24 3:25:47 p.m.
  • Watch
The Chair will have to reflect on this and come back to the House, if necessary.
16 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 302 - Apr/18/24
The Speaker
  • Apr/18/24 3:29:07 p.m.
  • Watch
I am now prepared to rule on the question of privilege raised on April 9, 2024, by the member for La Prairie concerning the premature disclosure of financial initiatives prior to the tabling of the 2024 budget. In raising his question of privilege, the member alleged that the government had violated the principle of secrecy relating to fiscal matters by unveiling programs and measures over the past few weeks, prior to the budget presentation on April 16, 2024. In addition, the member argued that, in announcing key aspects of its budget piece by piece, the government had breached the privileges of members by affecting the opposition parties’ ability to take an informed position and properly advise voters of the nature and effects of those measures. In response, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House referenced a decision by Speaker Sauvé on November 18, 1981, and House of Commons Procedure and Practice, third edition. That book states the following, on page 899: “Speakers have maintained that secrecy is a matter of parliamentary convention rather than one of privilege.” In addition, while noting that it may not be a question of privilege, the member for New Westminster—Burnaby and the member for Saanich—Gulf Islands lamented that prematurely disclosing budget information has become too common and said that this practice should be examined. Regarding budget secrecy, I would like to highlight the ruling of Speaker Jerome of April 17, 1978, which can be found on page 4549 of the Debates, and the ruling by Speaker Fraser of June 18, 1987, on page 7315 of the Debates. I will quote from the latter: Budgetary secrecy is a matter of parliamentary convention. Its purpose is to prevent anybody from gaining a private advantage by reason of obtaining advance budgetary information....The limits of parliamentary privilege are very narrow and it is not a responsibility of the Chair to rule as to whether or not a parliamentary convention is justified, or whether or not the matter complained of is a breach of that convention. That is a matter of political debate and not one in which the Chair would wish to become involved. Each year, the Minister of Finance presents the government's financial position in detail in the budget. The budget can contain various measures, including the creation, modification or elimination of government programs, as well as the means to finance its expenditures. It is not unusual for some of these new initiatives to be announced at public events a few weeks or even months before the budget. Some may prefer all these announcements to be made at the same time, but the Standing Orders and practices of the House do not prescribe such an approach. The statements by the members for New Westminster—Burnaby and Saanich—Gulf Islands left me with the impression that there may be an appetite for reviewing our practices. I encourage them to advise the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs if that is indeed their wish. However, I must conclude in this case that there is no prima facie question of privilege. I thank all members for their attention.
535 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border