Madam Speaker: Prior to recognizing the Leader of the official opposition, I wish to draw a matter of attention to the House. Yesterday I was troubled by some of the language used, but I did not address it then because I wanted to check with the authorities to review past Manitoba practice. Having reviewed the transcript of yesterday’s Question Period and debate under Orders of the Day, at this time for the benefit of all members I would like to make clarification of rules respecting unparliamentary language, particularly quotations from other sources.

Speaker Rocan on October 5, 1989, ruled that quoting words of another person which were unparliamentary is out of order. He also ruled on December 12, 1994, that words may not be used hypothetically or conditionally if they are plainly intended to convey a direct imputation, as did Speaker Phillips on September 2, 1986.

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Speaker Graham in a statement on June 30 made reference to the parliamentary authority Erskine May which reads: A member is not allowed to use unparliamentary words by the device of putting them in somebody else’s mouth. This quote is also contained in the current edition of Erskine May.

Mr. Ashton: I am wondering, Madam Speaker, was that some advice or was that a ruling. I do not believe a point of order was raised on that, and I would specifically like to know whether your ruling is suggesting that we cannot quote page 16 of the Monnin inquiry which stated "In all my years on the Bench I never encountered as many liars in one proceeding as I did during this inquiry."--statements that were attributed towards the Filmon team, I suppose, the eight individuals that lied repeatedly before the commission. Can I receive your advice on whether that is a ruling? Because, in terms of unparliamentary language, I would raise the question as to whether you are now saying that we cannot say what Judge Monnin said, and that is that significant Conservative Party members lied. If that is the case on the ruling, we may indeed challenge it, but I would like some clarification because I am not sure indeed whether that was merely advice to the House or whether indeed it was an official ruling.

Madam Speaker: That, indeed, was advice to the House, to all members of the Chamber. I did, as I indicated, review all yesterday’s transcripts and also in the heckling back and forth I heard words used that if they were on the record would be clearly unparliamentary by all members on both sides of the House. I stated this simply for clarification. I have been advised that it is past Manitoba practice, but I was not aware if all members knew what past Manitoba practice was.