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PROC Committee Report

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The Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs has the honour to present its

THIRTY-SEVENTH REPORT

Pursuant to the order of the House of Commons dated October 29, 2004, and its mandate under Standing Order 108(3)(a)(iii), the Committee has considered the provisional Standing Orders governing Private Members’ Business, and is pleased to report as follows:

The provisional Standing Orders for Private Members’ Business – Standing Orders 86 through 99 – were brought in following the adoption of recommendations of the Special Committee on the Modernization and Improvement of the Procedures of the House of Commons in 2003. These new procedural rules built on earlier work of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, and extensive debate and discussion in that Committee and in the House of Commons. The First Report of the Special Committee on the Modernization and Improvement of the Procedures of the House of Commons, which was presented in the House on February 20, 2003, and adopted on the same date, set out the basic elements of the proposed changes. Subsequently, on February 28, 2003, the Committee tabled its Third Report with the necessary changes to the Standing Orders to reflect the recommendations contained in the First Report and various transitional provisions. This report was adopted by the House of Commons on March 17, 2003. The basis of the changes were that all private Members should have an opportunity to have an item of Private Members’ Business debated in the House during the course of a Parliament, and that all items that were debated in the House should come to a vote. A system for reviewing the items on the Order of Precedence, with appeal mechanisms, was also included.

The changes to the Standing Orders were brought in on a provisional basis. The original plan was that the operation of the provisional Standing Orders would be reviewed by the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs after one year of operation – i.e. one year from March 17, 2003 – “and report any changes recommended to them to the House.” Because of the pending general election, and press of other business, the Committee, in its 11th Report of the third session of the 37th Parliament recommended that the provisional Standing Orders be extended until the end of the 37th Parliament and for the first 60 sitting days of the 38th Parliament. This report, which was presented in the House March 23, 2004, was adopted by the House on the same date. Subsequently, at the beginning of this Parliament, on October 29, 2004, the Committee tabled its 12th Report, in which it recommended a further extension of the Provisional Standing Orders to the last sitting day of June 2005. This report was also concurred in by the House, on October 29, 2004.

The October 2004 Report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs contained the following recommendation:

The Committee further recommends that the Subcommittee on Private Members' Business review the provisional Standing Orders regarding Private Members’ Business and report to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs no later than May 31, 2005; that the Committee consider any changes recommended to it and that the Committee report its recommendations to the House no later than June 15, 2005.

Pursuant to the order of the House, the Subcommittee on Private Members’ Business was asked to undertake a review of the Provisional Standing Orders. It undertook its study of this matter in the following ways:

  • On Wednesday, February 2, 2005, the Subcommittee received a briefing from Audrey O'Brien, Deputy Clerk of the House of Commons; Marie-Andrée Lajoie, Clerk Assistant, House Proceedings; and André Gagnon, Principal Clerk, Journals Branch.

  • On February 4, 2005, the Subcommittee sent a survey regarding the Provisional Standing Orders to all Members of the House of Commons. The deadline for responses was February 25, 2005. To date, responses have been received from 103 Members.

  • On Wednesday, March 9, 2005, the Subcommittee convened a round table meeting of Members to discuss the Provisional Standing Orders and proposals for change.

The Committee has carefully reviewed all aspects of this issue, including the views of Members and the experience of the House since March 2003. We note that 48% of the respondents to the survey agreed that the Provisional Standing Orders should be made permanent, while 27% of the respondents to the survey agreed that the Provisional Standing Orders should be continued on a provisional basis. In other words, the vast majority of Members who responded to the survey are in favour of the new regime. This is consistent with our own experiences, and anecdotal evidence that the new standing orders, while not perfect, are an improvement over the old ones, and have been generally successful. They have redressed many of the concerns and complaints that had been voiced previously by Members. There appears to be a significant degree of satisfaction with the Provisional Standing Orders, and no major problems have been identified. Moreover, making the Provisional Standing Orders permanent would allow for certainty, and avoid the need to continue reviewing and extending the Provisional Standing Orders, with the consequent risk that a gap or confusion could arise. We also note that any Standing Orders can be amended by the House of Commons at any time.

The Committee recommends that, subject to the changes outlined below, it is now appropriate to make provisional Standing Orders 86 through 99, adopted by the House on March 17, 2003, and subsequently amended on February 16, 2004, and October 20, 2004, permanent.

During the appearance on February 2, 2005 of the Deputy Clerk, Clerk Assistant, and Principal Clerk of the House of Commons, three specific issues were raised, which the Committee has considered:

  • Status of votable items: The Committee agrees with the proposal that a mechanism be established to inform the House about items on the Order of Precedence that have been confirmed as votable items.

  • Appeal process: The Committee concurs with the suggestion of allowing the sponsor of an item to waive his or her right of appeal; and clarifying that the two sitting days for a secret ballot vote in the chamber to be contiguous.

  • Bills in Committee: The Committee agrees with the establishment of mechanisms for the House to make a decision on a committee report requesting a 30-sitting day extension for studying a bill, and on a committee report that a private Member’s bill not be further proceeded with.

In addition, the procedural staff of the House of Commons have reviewed the provisional Standing Orders, and have proposed a number of technical amendments, including those designed to ensure that he English and French texts are consistent, and for the sake of clarity. The Committee agrees with these changes, and has included them in the proposed wording attached to this report.

The Committee recommends the adoption of the Appendix to this Report, as an amended Chapter 11 of the Standing Orders of the House of Commons, to replace the existing Chapter 11 on a permanent basis, effective Thursday, June 30, 2005.

The Committee further recommends that the Clerk of the House shall be authorized to make any necessary editorial and consequential alterations to the Standing Orders of the House of Commons.

APPENDIX
PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BUSINESS
STANDING ORDERS AS AMENDED

Proposed Changes to Standing Orders

86. (1) Any one Member may give notice of an item of Private Members’ Business.

(2) Notwithstanding the usual practices of the House, not more than twenty Members may jointly second an item under Private Members’ Business and may indicate their desire to second any motion in conjunction with the Member in whose name it first appeared on the Notice Paper, by so indicating, in writing to the Clerk of the House, at any time prior to the item being proposed.

(3) Any names received, pursuant to section (2) of this Standing Order, shall be appended to the notice or order as the case may be. Once proposed to the House, Members’ names shall not be added to the list of those seconding the said motion or order.

(4) The Speaker shall be responsible for determining whether two or more items are so similar as to be substantially the same, in which case he or she shall so inform the Member or Members whose items were received last and the same shall be returned to the Member or Members without having appeared on the Notice Paper.

86.1 At the beginning of the second or a subsequent session of a Parliament, all items of Private Members’ Business originating in the House of Commons that were listed on the Order Paper during the previous session shall be deemed to have been considered and approved at all stages completed at the time of prorogation and shall stand, if necessary, on the Order Paper or, as the case may be, referred to committee and the List for the Consideration of Private Members’ Business and the order of precedence established pursuant to Standing Order 87 shall continue from session to session.

86.2 (1) During the first sixty sitting days of the second or subsequent session of a Parliament, whenever a private Member proposing the first reading of a bill brought from the Senate pursuant to Standing Order 69(2) states that the bill is in the same form as a Senate public bill that was before the House in the previous session and the Speaker is satisfied that the bill is in the same form as at prorogation, notwithstanding Standing Order 71, the bill shall be deemed to have been considered and approved at all stages completed at the time of prorogation and shall stand, if necessary, on the Order Paper pursuant to Standing Order 87 after those of the same class, at the same stage at which it stood at the time of prorogation or, as the case may be, referred to committee, and with the votable status accorded to it pursuant to Standing Order 92(1) during the previous session.

(2) A Member shall not lose his or her place on the List for the Consideration of Private Members’ Business by virtue of sponsoring a Senate public bill or a private bill, but no Member may sponsor more than one such bill during a Parliament.

87. (1)(a)(i) At the beginning of the first session of a Parliament, the Clerk of the House, acting on behalf of the Speaker, shall, after notifying all Members of the time, date and place, conduct a random draw of the names of all Members of the House to establish the List for the Consideration of Private Members’ Business, and, on the twentieth sitting day following the draw, the first thirty names on the List shall, subject to paragraph (c) of this Standing Order, constitute the order of precedence.

(ii) Following the draw referred to in subparagraph (i) of this section, the names of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker, Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries, who are ineligible by virtue of their offices, shall be dropped to the bottom of the List for the Consideration of Private Members’ Business, where they will remain as long as they hold those offices.

(iii) Members who become eligible during the course of a Parliament shall be added to the bottom of the eligible names on the List for the Consideration of Private Members’ Business, provided that their position shall be determined by a draw if more than one Member becomes eligible on a given day.

(b) Not later than the ordinary hour of daily adjournment on the second sitting day after the day on which the order of precedence is established or replenished, each Member whose name has been newly placed in the order of precedence, and who has given notice of more than one item, shall file with the Clerk an indication as to which item is to be placed in the order of precedence. If a Member does not file such an indication within the time specified, the first bill standing on the Order Paper in the name of that Member under Private Members’ Business will be included in the order of precedence. Where there are no bills standing in the name of the Member, the first motion standing in the name of that Member shall be selected or, if required, the first motion in the name of that Member under the heading “Notices of Motions (Papers)”.

(c)(i) In order to be placed in the order of precedence pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Standing Order, a Member must have a notice of motion on the Order Paper or Notice Paper or a bill on the Order Paper set down for consideration at the second reading stage.

(ii) If at the end of the time provided for in paragraph (b) of this Standing Order, a Member whose name is in the order of precedence does not have a notice of motion on the Order Paper or Notice Paper, or a bill set down on the Order Paper for consideration at second reading stage, then the name of the Member shall be dropped from the List for Consideration of Private Members’ Business.

(d) Not later than the ordinary hour of daily adjournment on the second sitting day after the day on which the order of precedence is established or replenished, a Member whose name has been placed in the order of precedence may indicate that he or she wishes to have his or her item designated non-votable by informing the Clerk in writing.

(2) The Clerk of the House, acting on behalf of the Speaker, shall, when necessary during a Parliament, replenish the order of precedence with the names of the next fifteen Members on the List for the Consideration of Private Members’ Business.

(3) If during the course of a Parliament, there are fewer than fifteen eligible names remaining on the List for the Consideration of Private Members’ Business, the Clerk, acting on behalf of the Speaker shall, after notifying all Members of the time, date and place, conduct a random draw of the names of all Members of the House to establish a new List for the Consideration of Private Members’ Business.

(4) The establishment of an order of precedence for Private Members’ Business shall not be construed so as to prevent Members from giving notice of items of Private Members’ Business.

(5) The House shall not consider any order for the second reading and reference to a standing, special or legislative committee or for reference to a Committee of the Whole House of any bill, nor any Notices of Motions or Notices of Motions (Papers) unless the said item has been placed in the order of precedence.

88. Deleted (date).

89. The order for the first consideration of any subsequent stages of a bill already considered during Private Members’ Business, of second reading of a private bill and of second reading of a private Member’s public bill originating in the Senate shall be placed at the bottom of the order of precedence.

90. Except as provided pursuant to Standing Order 96, after any bill or other order standing in the name of a private Member has been considered in the House or in any Committee of the Whole and any proceeding thereon has been adjourned or interrupted, the said bill or order shall be placed on the Order Paper for the next sitting at the bottom of the order of precedence under the respective heading for such bills or orders.

91. Notwithstanding Standing Order 30(6), the consideration of Private Members’ Business shall be suspended and the House shall continue to consider any business before it at the time otherwise provided for the consideration of Private Members’ Business until an order of precedence is established pursuant to Standing Order 87(1).

91.1. (1) At the beginning of the first session of a Parliament, and thereafter as required, the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs shall name one Member from each of the parties recognized in the House and a Chair from the government party to constitute the Subcommittee on Private Members’ Business, which shall be empowered to meet forthwith after the establishment or replenishment of the order of precedence to determine whether any of the items placed in the order of precedence are non-votable according to the criteria adopted by the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, provided that no item shall be considered by the House unless the condition set out in section (2) of this Standing Order or one of the conditions in Standing Order 92(1)(b) has been satisfied. If necessary, the item shall be dropped to the bottom of the order of precedence.

(2) After it has met pursuant to section (1) of this Standing Order, the Subcommittee on Private Members’ Business shall forthwith deposit with the clerk of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs a report recommending that the items listed therein, which it has determined should not be designated non-votable, be considered by the House, and that report, which shall be deemed to have been adopted by the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, shall be presented to the House at the next earliest opportunity as a report of that committee and shall be deemed concurred in as soon as it is presented.

92. (1)(a) When the Subcommittee agrees that an item of Private Members’ Business originating in the House of Commons, or a Senate public bill which is similar to a bill voted on by the House in the same Parliament, should be designated as non-votable, it shall forthwith deposit a report of its decision with the clerk of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

(b) When the Subcommittee on Private Members’ Business has reported that an item should be designated non-votable pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Standing Order, the item may be considered by the House only after

(i) a final decision on the votable status of the item has been made pursuant to section (4) of this Standing Order; or

(ii) the sponsor of the item has waived the right to appeal by so notifying the Speaker in writing.

(2) Within five sitting days of the deposit of a report referred to in section (1)(a) of this Standing Order, the sponsor of an item that is the object of the report shall have the opportunity to appear before the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs and to provide a written submission to the Committee to explain why the item should be votable.

(3)(a) Where the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, following proceedings pursuant to section (2) of this Standing Order, concurs in the report of the Subcommittee on Private Members’ Business, it shall report that decision to the House forthwith, and, notwithstanding Standing Order 54, no notice of a motion to concur in the Committee’s report shall be receivable.

(b) Where the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, following proceedings pursuant to section (2) of this Standing Order, does not concur in the report of the Subcommittee on Private Members’ Business and is of the opinion that the item should remain votable, it shall report that decision to the House forthwith, and the report shall, upon presentation, be deemed concurred in.

(4)(a) Where a report pursuant to section (3)(a) of this Standing Order has been presented to the House, the sponsor of the item which is the object of the report may appeal the decision of the Committee by filing with the Speaker within five sitting days of the presentation of the said report, a motion to that effect signed by the sponsor and five other Members of the House representing a majority of the recognized parties in the House, and, if no appeal is filed with the Speaker during the period provided for in this paragraph, or if the sponsor has waived the right to appeal by so notifying the Speaker in writing, the report is deemed adopted.

(b) Where the Speaker is satisfied that a motion in appeal filed pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section is in conformity with the Standing Orders, he or she shall inform the House to that effect and shall cause a vote on the appeal to be held by secret ballot during the hours of sitting of the House on two sitting days to be designated by the Speaker, during which time Members may deposit their completed ballot papers in the ballot box placed on the Table for that purpose.

93. (1)(a) Except as provided for in Standing Order 96(1), unless previously disposed of, bills at the second reading stage or motions shall receive not more than two hours of consideration and, unless previously disposed of, an item having been once considered, shall be dropped to the bottom of the order of precedence and again considered only when it reaches the top of the said order.

Provided that, unless otherwise disposed of, at the end of the time provided for the consideration of the said item, any proceedings then before the House shall be interrupted and every question necessary to dispose of the selected motion or of the selected bill at the second reading stage, shall be put forthwith and successively without further debate or amendment.

(b) Any recorded division on an item of Private Members’ Business demanded pursuant to Standing Order 45(1) shall be deferred to the next Wednesday, immediately before the time provided for Private Members’ Business.

(2) At least ten sitting days shall elapse between the first and second hour of debate on items referred to in section (1) of this Standing Order.

(3) Amendments to motions and to the motion for the second reading of a bill may only be moved with the consent of the sponsor of the item.

94. (1)(a) The Speaker shall make all arrangements necessary to ensure the orderly conduct of Private Members’ Business including:

(i) ensuring that all Members have not less than twenty-four hours’ notice of items to be considered during "Private Members’ Hour"; and

(ii) ensuring that the notice required by subparagraph (i) of this paragraph is published in the Notice Paper.

(b) In the event of it not being possible to provide the twenty-four hours’ notice required by subparagraph (i) of this section, "Private Members’ Hour" shall be suspended for that day and the House shall continue with or revert to the business before it prior to "Private Members’ Hour" until the ordinary hour of daily adjournment.

(2)(a) When a Member has given at least forty-eight hours’ written notice that he or she is unable to be present to move his or her motion under Private Members’ Business on the date required by the order of precedence, the Speaker, with permission of the Members involved, may arrange for an exchange of positions in the order of precedence with a Member whose motion or bill has been placed in the order of precedence, provided that, with respect to the Member accepting the exchange, all of the requirements of Standing Order 92 necessary for the Member’s item to be called for debate have been complied with.

(b) In the event that the Speaker has been unable to arrange an exchange, the House shall continue with the business before it prior to "Private Members’ Hour".

(c) When an item is placed at the bottom of the order of precedence pursuant to Standing Orders 42(2) or 94(2)(b), that shall be indicated on the Order Paper by marking the item with an asterisk and

(i) the sponsor shall be prohibited from requesting an exchange pursuant to Standing Order 94(2)(a); and

(ii) notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 42(2), if the item is not proceeded with when next called, it shall be dropped from the Order Paper.

95. (1) When an item of Private Members’ Business that is votable is under consideration, the Member moving the motion shall speak for not more than fifteen minutes followed by a five minute period for questions and comments. Thereafter, no Member shall speak for more than ten minutes. The Member moving the motion shall, if he or she chooses, speak again for not more than five minutes at the conclusion of the second hour of debate, or earlier if no other Member rises in debate.

(2) When an item of Private Members’ Business that is not votable is proposed, the Member moving the motion shall speak for not more than fifteen minutes. Thereafter, no Member shall speak for more than ten minutes for a period not exceeding forty minutes. After forty minutes, or earlier if no other Member rises in debate, the Member moving the motion shall, if he or she chooses, speak again for not more than five minutes and thereby conclude the debate.

(3) No dilatory motion shall be allowed during Private Members’ Business.

96. (1) The proceedings on any item of Private Members’ Business which has been designated non-votable pursuant to Standing Orders 87(1)(d) or 92 shall expire when debate thereon has been concluded or at the end of the time provided for the consideration of such business on that day and that item shall be dropped from the Order Paper.

(2) The dropping of an item pursuant to section (1) of this Standing Order shall not be considered a decision of the House.

97. (1) Notices of motions for the production of papers shall be placed on the Order Paper under the heading "Notices of Motions for the Production of Papers". All such notices, when called, shall be forthwith disposed of; but if on any such motion a debate be desired by the Member proposing it or by a Minister of the Crown, the motion will be transferred by the Clerk to the order of "Notices of Motions (Papers)".

(2) When debate on a motion for the production of papers, under the order "Notices of Motions (Papers)", has taken place for a total time of one hour and fifty minutes, the Speaker shall at that point interrupt the debate, whereupon a Minister of the Crown or a Parliamentary Secretary speaking on behalf of the Minister, whether or not such Minister or Parliamentary Secretary has already spoken, may speak for not more than five minutes, following which the mover of the motion may close the debate by speaking for not more than five minutes, after which the Speaker shall forthwith put the question.

97.1. (1) A standing, special or legislative committee to which a Private Member’s public bill has been referred shall in every case, within sixty sitting days from the date of the bill's reference to the committee, either report the bill to the House with or without amendment or present to the House a report containing a recommendation not to proceed further with the bill and giving the reasons therefor or requesting a single extension of thirty sitting days to consider the bill, and giving the reasons therefor. If no bill or report is presented by the end of the sixty sitting days where no extension has been approved by the House, or by the end of the thirty sitting day extension if approved by the House, the bill shall be deemed to have been reported without amendment.

(2)(a) Immediately after the presentation of a report containing a recommendation not to proceed further with a bill pursuant to section (1) of this Standing Order, the Clerk of the House shall cause to be placed on the Notice Paper a notice of motion for concurrence in the report, which shall stand in the name of the Member presenting the report. No other notice of motion for concurrence in the report shall be placed on the Notice Paper.

(b) When a notice given pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Standing Order is transferred to the Order Paper under “Motions”, it shall be set down for consideration only pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Standing Order.

(c) Debate on the motion to concur in a report containing a recommendation not to proceed further with a bill shall be taken up at the end of the time provided for the consideration of Private Members’ Business on a day fixed, after consultation, by the Speaker. The motion shall be deemed to be proposed and shall be considered for not more than one hour, provided that:

(i) during consideration of any such motion, no Member shall speak more than once or for more than ten minutes;

(ii) unless previously disposed of, not later than the end of the said hour of consideration, the Speaker shall interrupt the proceedings and put forthwith and successively, without further debate or amendment, every question necessary to dispose of the motion; and

(iii) any recorded division on an item of Private Members’ Business demanded pursuant to Standing Order 45(1) shall be deemed deferred to the next Wednesday, immediately before the time provided for Private Members’ Business.

(d) When a motion to concur in a report containing a recommendation not to proceed further with a bill is adopted, all proceedings on the bill shall come to an end.

(e) When a motion to concur in a report containing a recommendation not to proceed further with a bill is negatived, the bill shall be deemed to have been reported without amendment.

(f) If proceedings on a motion to concur in a report of a committee containing a recommendation not to proceed further with a bill have not been concluded by the sixtieth sitting day following the date of the referral of the bill to the committee, or by the end of the thirty day extension, if one has been granted pursuant to sections (1) and (3) of this Standing Order, the said bill shall remain before the Committee until proceedings on the motion to concur in the report have been concluded.

(3)(a) Upon presentation of a report requesting an extension of thirty sitting days to consider a bill referred to in section (1) of this Standing Order, a motion to concur in the report shall be deemed moved, the question deemed put, and a recorded division deemed demanded and deferred to the next Wednesday, immediately before the time provided for Private Members’ Business.

(b) If proceedings on any motion to concur in a report of a committee requesting an extension of thirty sitting days to consider a bill have not been concluded by the sixtieth sitting day following the date of the referral of the bill to the committee, the said bill shall remain before the Committee until proceedings on the motion to concur in the report have been concluded, provided that:

(i) should the motion to concur in the report be adopted, the Committee shall have an extension until the ninetieth sitting day following the date of the referral of the bill to the Committee; or

(ii) should the motion to concur in the report be negatived, the bill shall be deemed to have been reported without amendment.

98. (1) When a Private Member’s bill is reported from a standing, special or legislative committee or a Committee of the Whole House, or is deemed to have been reported pursuant to Standing Orders 86.1 or 97.1, the order for consideration of the bill at report stage shall be placed at the bottom of the order of precedence notwithstanding Standing Order 87(3).

(2) The report and third reading stages of a Private Member's bill shall be taken up on two sitting days, unless previously disposed of, provided that once consideration has been interrupted on the first such day the order for the remaining stage or stages shall be placed at the bottom of the order of precedence and shall be again considered when the said bill reaches the top of the said order.

(3) When the report or third reading stages of the said bill are before the House on the first of the sitting days provided pursuant to section (2) of this Standing Order, and if the said bill has not been disposed of prior to the end of the first thirty minutes of consideration, during any time then remaining, any one Member may propose a motion to extend the time for the consideration of any remaining stages on the second of the said sitting days during a period not exceeding five consecutive hours, which shall begin at the end of the time provided for Private Members’ Business, except on a Monday when the period shall begin at the ordinary hour of daily adjournment, on the second sitting day, provided that:

(a) the motion shall be put forthwith without debate or amendment and shall be deemed withdrawn if fewer than twenty Members rise in support thereof; and

(b) a subsequent such motion shall not be put unless there has been an intervening proceeding.

(4)(a) On the second sitting day provided pursuant to section (2) of this Standing Order, unless previously disposed of, at the end of the time provided for the consideration thereof, any proceedings then before the House shall be interrupted and every question necessary to dispose of the then remaining stage or stages of the said bill shall be put forthwith and successively without further debate or amendment.

(b) Any recorded division on an item of Private Members’ Business demanded pursuant to Standing Order 45(1) shall be deemed deferred to the next Wednesday, immediately before the time provided for Private Members’ Business.

(5) If consideration has been extended pursuant to section (3) of this Standing Order, the Standing Orders relating to the ordinary hour of daily adjournment shall be suspended until all questions necessary to dispose of the said bill have been put.

99. (1) The proceedings on Private Members’ Business shall not be suspended except as provided for in Standing Orders 2(3), 30(4), 30(7), 52(14), 83(2), 91, 92(1)(b) and 94(1)(b) or as otherwise specified by Special Order of this House. No Private Members’ Business shall be taken up on days appointed for the consideration of business pursuant to Standing Order 53 or on days, other than Mondays, appointed for the consideration of business pursuant to Standing Order 81(18).

(2) Whenever Private Members’ Business is suspended or not taken up on a Monday, the House shall meet from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon for the consideration of Government Orders.

50. (3) Any day or days to be appointed for the consideration of the said Order shall be announced from time to time by a Minister of the Crown and on any such day or days this Order shall have precedence of all other business except the ordinary daily routine of business and Private Members’ Business.

(4) On the second of the said days, if a subamendment be under consideration at fifteen minutes before the end of the time provided for the Address debate, the Speaker shall interrupt the proceedings and forthwith put the question on the said subamendment.

(5) On the fourth of the said days, if any amendment be under consideration at thirty minutes before the end of the time provided for the Address debate, the Speaker shall interrupt the proceedings and forthwith put the question on any amendment or amendments then before the House

(6) The motion for an Address in Reply shall not be subject to amendment on or after the fifth day of the said debate

(7) On the sixth of the said days, at fifteen minutes before the end of the time provided for the Address debate, unless the said debate be previously concluded, the Speaker shall interrupt the proceedings and forthwith put every question necessary to dispose of the main motion.

68. (1) Every bill is introduced upon motion for leave, specifying the title of the bill; or upon motion to appoint a committee to prepare and bring it in.

(2) A motion for leave to introduce a bill shall be deemed carried, without debate, amendment or question put, provided that any Member moving for such leave may be permitted to give a succinct explanation of the provisions of the said bill.

(3) No bill may be introduced either in blank or in an imperfect shape.

(4) A motion by a Minister of the Crown to appoint or instruct a standing, special or legislative committee to prepare and bring in a bill, pursuant to section (1) of this Standing Order, shall be considered under Government Orders. During debate on any such motion no Member shall be permitted to speak more than once or for more than ten minutes. After not more than ninety minutes debate on any such motion, the Speaker shall interrupt debate and put all questions necessary to dispose of the motion without further debate or amendment. A motion by a Minister of the Crown to concur in the report of a committee pursuant to this section shall also be taken up under Government Orders and shall, for the purposes of Standing Order 78, be considered to be a stage of a public bill.

(5) A committee appointed or instructed to prepare and bring in a bill shall, in its report, recommend the principles, scope and general provisions of the said bill and may, if it deems it appropriate, but not necessarily, include recommendations regarding legislative wording.

(6) The adoption of a motion to concur in a report made pursuant to section (5) of this Standing Order shall be an order to bring in a bill based thereon.

(7) When a Minister of the Crown, in proposing a motion for first reading of a bill, has stated that the bill is in response to an order made pursuant to section (6) of this Standing Order, notwithstanding any Standing Order, the bill shall not be set down for consideration at the second reading stage before the third sitting day after having been read a first time. The second reading and any subsequent stages of such a bill shall be considered under Government Orders. When a motion for second reading of such a bill is proposed, notwithstanding any Standing Order, the Speaker shall immediately put all questions necessary to dispose of the second reading stage of the bill without debate or amendment.

108. (3) The mandate of the Standing Committee on:

(a) Procedure and House Affairs shall include, in addition to the duties set forth in Standing Order 104, and among other matters:

(iv) the consideration of business related to Private Bills;

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meeting No. 34) is tabled.



Respectfully submitted,


DON BOUDRIA
Chair