Rules of Debate - Order and Decorum / Question-and-comment Period

Recognition by Chair

Debates p. 13746

Background

During the question-and-comment period on a Member's speech, the Deputy Speaker recognized a Member of the speaker's own party. Mr. Blaikie (Winnipeg—Birds Hill) rose to object, stating that the intention of the Standing Orders was to give priority for questions and comments to Members of other parties. Mr. Blaikie contended that since Members from other parties were seeking the floor, the Chair should recognize one of them.

Issue

During the question-and-comment period, is the Chair obliged to recognize only Members of parties other than that of the person speaking as long as Members of other parties are seeking the floor?

Decision

No. Members of the speaker's own party may be recognized.

Reasons given by the Deputy Speaker

While preference should begiven to the Members of parties other than that to which the speaker belongs, the Chair does not understand the Standing Orders to mean that questions and comments from Members of the speaker's own party are excluded.