Madam Speaker: I have two rulings for the House.

I took under advisement a point of order raised during Question Period on October 29, 1996. The honourable member for St. Johns (Mr. Mackintosh) had posed a question to the Minister of Justice containing the phrase "did she," meaning the minister, "deliberately mislead this House." I had asked him to withdraw the words because they have been ruled to be unparliamentary. The honourable member for St. Johns then raised a point of order to which both House leaders spoke. I undertook to review Hansard to examine closely the context in which the words were used.

I would reference two recent decisions of Manitoba Speakers where the words "deliberately misleading" were ruled to be unparliamentary: Speaker Rocan on July 12, 1991, and by this Speaker on October 17, 1995.

Having reviewed the Hansard with care to look at the context in which the words were used by the honourable member for St. Johns in reference to the honourable Minister of Justice, I am still of the opinion that the use of the words by the honourable member for St. Johns were unparliamentary, and I am calling upon him now to withdraw the words "deliberately mislead."

Mr. Gord Mackintosh (St. Johns): The Hughes inquiry speaks much louder than me, Madam Speaker. I will withdraw the word "deliberately."

Madam Speaker: I thank the honourable member for St. Johns.

During Question Period on October 29, I took under advisement a point of order raised by the honourable member for St. Johns in which he stated that the honourable Minister of Justice had imputed unworthy motives to him when she said "but my concern is for the member for St. Johns who continues to use this very tragic issue to advance his own political agenda."

I would like to reference two recent rulings, May 2 and May 8 of last year, as relevant precedents. In my opinion, on October 29 the Minister of Justice did indeed contravene Beauchesne Citation 481(e) which reads that a member must not impute bad motives or motives different from those acknowledged by a member. I would ask the minister to withdraw the comments in question.

Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of Culture, Heritage and Citizenship): Madam Speaker, certainly, according to your ruling, I will withdraw those comments.

Madam Speaker: I thank the honourable Minister of Culture.