Madam Speaker: I have a ruling for the House.
During Question Period on March 25, 1998, the honourable member for Crescentwood (Mr. Sale) raised a point of order respecting words spoken by the honourable Minister of Health (Mr. Praznik). The point of order alleged that the minister had imputed unworthy motives to the honourable member for Crescentwood.
I took the matter under advisement in order to review Hansard. The words objected to, I believe, by the honourable member for Crescentwood were "time and time again we have seen members of the opposition, particularly the member for Crescentwood, exaggerate and take out of context remarks."
I wish to read into the record some words of former Speaker Fraser of the House of Commons: ". . . this place has never been a tea party and strong-minded men and women who believe passionately in things are going to express that passion and conviction from time to time . . . this is a tough place . . . that is not an excuse for excess, but it is and must be remembered that the most precious things and the most vital issues that this country faces are debated here and there will be at times expressions of great commitment, conviction and passion. I am sure that people will understand that in a free country, provided that those expressions are done in such a way that they do not wound others or bring into indignity the institution itself, that is probably something we have always had and probably something that will continue."
I do not believe that the words used by the honourable Minister of Health did constitute an imputation of unworthy motives to the honourable member for Crescentwood. There was, therefore, no point of order.
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