The Chair would like to thank all hon. members who have participated in this for their assistance in dealing with this point of order, which was raised by the hon. member for Langley—Abbotsford.
He cited at the opening of his remarks citation 505 of the 6th edition of Beauchesne. I would also draw to his attention and to the attention of all hon. members citation 506, which reads:
The sub judice convention has been applied consistently in criminal cases.
I skip on to citation 507, which reads:
No settled practice has been developed in relation to civil cases, as the convention has been applied in some cases but not in others.
In civil cases the convention does not apply until the matter has reached the trial stage.
The hon. member for Langley—Abbotsford has not brought to the House any indication that there is a criminal proceeding involving this case, nor is it possible to imagine how there could be at this time. Accordingly, I feel that given the past practice of the House and given the fact that the House is master of its own procedure, I do not believe the House is bound by proceedings in the courts until the court has made a ruling that binds the House. Until the court has made a ruling that has bound the House under the constitution of Canada, I feel that the proceedings so far today are entirely in order and I intend to proceed with the bill pursuant to Standing Order 83(4).