I have just heard a number of precedents referenced, and what I said earlier today was that there is no need to have an unlimited number of precedents or a long list of precedents, because the table officers do have access to the precedents. It is not like a court of law, where one gives a long argument and the court hears a long argument.
The precedents and the traditions of the House are clear that it is up to the Speaker to indicate when he has heard enough, as I have ruled previously, and it is not the case that members have the right to have a monopoly when they want to raise a question of privilege or a point of order. They do not have the right to monopolize the time of the House.
As the servant of the House, it is my responsibility to manage the time of the House and ensure that things proceed while at the same time endeavouring to ensure fairness and to allow points of orders or questions of privilege to be raised, as I have.
In this case, I have given my ruling. It appears that members simply want to challenge the authority of the Chair, which seems to be what the hon. member is doing. I trust that is not his intention, but I do not think he is showing an appreciation of the nature of this place. While he refers to it as a court, it is not like a court of law.
The member has had extensive experience in a court of law, and I am sure has given detailed legal arguments and set a lot of precedents. In a legal argument, that is the case. It is normal to do that.
It is not the case in the House of Commons that one gets to cite a long list of precedents because, as I said, the table officers who assist the Speaker have access to those precedents. However, as I also indicated, I did hear a number of precedents cited by the hon. member for New Westminster—Burnaby. He had the time.
By the way, I want to make it clear that in this place, members do not always seem to recognize that the practice in this place is that one member should stand at a time, so that when the Speaker is standing and speaking, other members should be quiet and should not be standing.
I thank the member and I appreciate the respect shown by members.
If the member has something to add, I will go back to him.