The following statement was issued today by the Honourable Scott Reid, Speaker of the House of Assembly:

The Standing Orders of the House of Assembly were followed appropriately with respect to the vote that occurred on Thursday, December 5, 2019.

Matters related to Code of Conduct are matters of Privilege, as it is only the House that has the right to discipline its Members. For related votes on such matters previously, all Members present voted, including those Members who were the subject of the matter of Privilege or Code of Conduct complaint. This is a disciplinary matter, not a matter of pecuniary interest (Standing Order 20).

All Members of the House of Assembly have the ability to raise a Point of Order at the time of a perceived infraction. No Points of Order were raised at the time of the vote on Thursday, December 5.

With respect to revisiting decisions of the House (votes), the applicable provision of Standing Order 49 is noted.

“No Member may reflect upon any vote of the House except for the purpose of moving that such vote be rescinded.”

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Media contact
Bobbi Russell
Policy and Communications Officer
House of Assembly
709-729-1178
bobbirussell@gov.nl.ca