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During Oral Questions, Hon. Mr. Mackintosh rose on a point of order regarding the orderliness of a question posed by the Honourable Member for Lac du Bonnet.

And Mr. Praznik, Hon. Mr. Chomiak and Mr. Laurendeau having spoken to the point of order,

WHEREUPON Mr. Speaker informed the House he would take the matter under advisement.

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Following Oral Questions, Mr. Speaker made the following ruling:

During Oral Questions on June 21, 2000, I took under advisement a point of order raised by the Honourable Government House Leader concerning the use of the word "hypocrite" by the Honourable Member for Lac du Bonnet while addressing a question to the Honourable First Minister. The Honourable Government House Leader expressed the view that the word was unparliamentary, and requested that the word be withdrawn. The Official Opposition House Leader spoke to the point of order, and indicated that the word was not out of order because it appeared on the list of parliamentary words contained in Beauchesne citation 490. The Honourable Member for Lac du Bonnet also spoke to the point of order. I took the matter under advisement in order to ascertain the precise words that were used, and the context that the words were used.

I thank the Honourable Members for their contributions to the point of order.

As I had ruled in the House on June 8, 12 and 19 of this year, a word is not in or out of order simply because of the appearance of the word on a list of parliamentary or unparliamentary terms. Much depends on the tone used, the context of the situation, and the amount of disorder generated. The guiding principle for Manitoba Speakers to primarily follow is Manitoba precedents, in conjunction with the context of the usage of the word.

The words in question spoken by the Honourable Member for Lac du Bonnet were: "I ask him not to be a hypocrite." The word hypocrite has been the subject of interventions in the past by Manitoba Speakers. On April 29, 1993, the word "hypocrite" was voluntarily withdrawn after a point of order was raised. On June 23, 1993, Mr. Speaker Rocan directed that the word "hypocrite" be withdrawn, while on September 20, 1995, Madam Speaker Dacquay similarly ruled that the word "hypocrites" be withdrawn.

I would like to caution the Honourable Member for Lac du Bonnet that he had used the word hypocrite for a second time in speaking to the point of order that was raised. I would like to advise that it is not good parliamentary practice to be repeating language complained of when speaking to a point of order, especially when the language is the subject of the point of order.

Given that the word in question was directed at a specific Member, and given that the word has been ruled unparliamentary by previous Manitoba Speakers, I would respectfully request that the Honourable Member for Lac du Bonnet withdraw the word.

WHEREUPON Mr. Praznik withdrew his remarks.

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Pursuant to Rule 23(1), Mr. Helwer, Ms. Korzeniowski, Messrs. Tweed, Jennissen and Pitura made Members’ Statements.

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The House resumed the Interrupted Debate on the Proposed Motion of Hon. Mr. Selinger:

THAT Bill (No. 46) – The Interim Appropriation Act, 2000/Loi de 2000 portant affectation anticipée de crédits, be now read a Second Time and be referred to the Committee of the Whole.

And the debate continuing,

And Messrs. Tweed, Praznik, Derkach, Penner (Emerson), Reimer and Helwer having spoken,

And Mr. Schuler speaking at 6:00 p.m.

The debate was allowed to remain in his name and, by leave, in the name of Mr. Pitura.

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The House then adjourned at 6:00 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 5, 2000.

Hon. George Hickes,

Speaker.