Speaker's Ruling

Madam Speaker: I have a ruling for the House.

The opposition House leader, on May 22, 1996, raised a point of order about words used by the First Minister (Mr. Filmon) in replying to a question posed by the honourable member for Crescentwood (Mr. Sale).

Hansard shows that the First Minister said “he was incompetent when he worked for the government and he is incompetent today, and that is exactly where he stands.”

Having researched the matter, I find that the word “incompetent” has been used in this Chamber by both sides of the House, and there is no record of a Manitoba Speaker ruling that word to be out of order. I am ruling that the language used was not unparliamentary, but I ask all honourable members to take care in selecting their words.