The Decision-making Process / Miscellaneous
Recorded divisions: Members leaving their seats during the taking of recorded divisions
Debates, p. 7498
Context
On December 1, 2009, following the taking of a recorded division on an opposition motion standing in the name of Paul Dewar (Ottawa Centre) regarding the transfer of Afghan detainees, Dave MacKenzie (Oxford) rose on a point of order. Mr. MacKenzie noted that Francis Valeriote (Guelph) had left his seat during the vote, and argued that his vote should accordingly be disallowed. Mr. Valeriote explained that, although he had momentarily left his seat, he had not left the Chamber. The Speaker took the matter under advisement.[1]
Resolution
On December 2, 2009, the Speaker delivered his ruling. He confirmed that Members are required to remain in their seats until a vote has been completed. As Mr. Valeriote had admitted that he had left his seat during the vote, the Speaker ordered that his vote be struck from the record and the Journals corrected accordingly.
Decision of the Chair
The Speaker: After yesterday’s deferred recorded division[2] on the opposition motion, a point of order was raised regarding the vote by the hon. Member for Guelph.
On October 28, 2003, while addressing a similar issue, I stated:
I would urge hon. Members that if they want to have their vote count, they must remain in their seats from the time the vote begins until the result of the vote is announced.
The Member admitted that he had left his seat during the vote yesterday. Accordingly, the vote cast by the hon. Member for Guelph is struck from the record and I have directed the Table to correct the Journals accordingly.
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[2] The published Debates repeated the word “yesterday”.