I am now prepared to rule on the point of order raised on November 18, 2024, by the member for Edmonton Strathcona regarding the wearing of lapel pins in the House.
During Oral Questions that day, the Chair cautioned all members to be mindful in this regard. The member for Edmonton Strathcona argued that pins are regularly worn in the House without them being considered props. The Chair undertook to consider the matter and return to the House. Other members also intervened briefly on this matter.
Using visual displays of any kind to illustrate remarks or to emphasize positions in the House is normally considered a breach of decorum. Typically, members are called to order by the Chair when they use displays that cause disorder, no matter what message is conveyed. This extends to the wearing of buttons and lapel pins.
As stated in House of Commons Procedure and Practice, third edition, at page 618:
While political buttons and lapel pins have not been considered exhibits as long as they do not cause disorder, the Speaker has interrupted a division to request that certain Members remove “props” from their lapels.
In a ruling on a similar matter, Deputy Speaker Savoie stated on June 23, 2011, at page 980 of the Debates:
We are in a grey zone because in many cases some buttons or scarves have been allowed. It seems to me from reading the precedents that the test is whether they cause disorder, and apparently they have this evening. I would ask that the buttons be removed.
As several members pointed out, including the members for Edmonton Strathcona and Kitchener Centre, there are sometimes situations where members of all parties wear pins, ribbons or displays to show their support for a particular cause and this elicits no reaction. In other cases, objections are raised as some feel they are being used as props to emphasize a political point about which there is some disagreement.
The Chair is in no way commenting on the worthiness of any particular cause, as I know members, as do all Canadians in general, hold strong views on a variety of subjects. However, our practice in this place is that members express their points of view through their words and their votes rather than through displays. Therefore, the litmus test just described, that is, whether a button or a pin causes disorder, will continue to guide the Chair in enforcing this rule of decorum.
Now, given the wide scope of interpretation involved, the Chair seeks the co-operation of all members to be judicious in choosing to wear buttons or pins and to be equally judicious in choosing to raise their concern with the Chair. I ask all members for their co-operation in this regard.
The hon. member for Mégantic—L'Érable on a point of order.