House of Commons Procedure and Practice
Edited by Robert Marleau and Camille Montpetit
2000 EditionMore information …

12. The Process of Debate

[151] 
May, 22nd ed., p. 332. See also Bourinot, 4th ed., p. 299.
[152] 
See Speaker Lemieux’s ruling, Journals, March 26, 1928, pp. 200-1.
[153] 
Standing Order 57. For further information on closure, see Chapter 14, “The Curtailment of Debate”.
[154] 
Standing Order 78(3). For further information on time allocation, see Chapter 14, “The Curtailment of Debate”.
[155] 
Standing Order 54. See Chapter 16, “The Legislative Process”.
[156] 
Standing Order 61.
[157] 
Standing Order 60.
[158] 
Standing Order 62.
[159] 
Standing Order 59.
[160] 
Standing Order 58.
[161] 
Standing Order 78(1), (2).
[162] 
Standing Order 54 refers to the “times of meeting” which has been interpreted as the hours of sitting. See Speakers’ rulings, Debates, May 21, 1920, pp. 2625-6; Journals, December 20, 1951, pp. 345-7.
[163] 
Standing Order 26(1). See Chapter 9, “Sittings of the House”.
[164] 
Standing Order 53. See Chapter 15, “Special Debates”.
[165] 
Standing Order 56.1.
[166] 
Standing Order 48. See Chapter 3, “Privileges and Immunities”.
[167]
See Chapter 8, “The Parliamentary Cycle”.
[168] 
Standing Order 55(1). See, for example, the Special Order Paper and Notice Paper published prior to the opening of the Second Session of the Thirty-Fifth Parliament (1996-97). This has also happened when the House has been recalled (see Chapter 8, “The Parliamentary Cycle”). For further information on the Special Order Paper and Notice Paper, see Chapter 24, “The Parliamentary Record”.
[169]
For examples of its publication during recalls, see Appendix 13, “Recalls of the House of Commons During Adjournment Periods Since 1867”. Since 1991, it has been the practice to include the time the notice was received in the Special Order Paper and Notice Paper. This serves to demonstrate that the 48-hour notice requirement has been met.
[170] 
See Standing Order 54.
[171] 
See Journals, October 6, 1970, pp. 1417-20.
[172] 
The same applies when the House sits on a Saturday. Notices filed on a Saturday appear in the Order Paper on Monday (see Bourinot, 4th ed., p. 296; see also Speaker Michener’s ruling, Journals, May 8, 1961, p. 516).
[173] 
Standing Order 54(1).
[174] 
Standing Order 81(14)(a). At other times, a 24-hour notice period applies. See also Chapter 18, “Financial Procedures”.
[175] 
Standing Order 76(2).
[176] 
Standing Order 123(4). See also Chapter 17, “Delegted Legislation”.
[177] 
Standing Order 81(14)(a).
[178] 
Standing Order 81(14)(a).
[179] 
Standing Order 77(1).
[180] 
Standing Order 76.1(2).
[181] 
Standing Order 81(14)(a). During the Supply period ending June 23, a 48-hour notice period applies. See also Chapter 18, “Financial Procedures”.
[182] 
Standing Order 94(1)(a)(i). See also Chapter 21, “Private Members’ Business”.
[183] 
Standing Order 141(2)(a).
[184] 
Standing Order 57. See Chapter 14, “The Curtailment of Debate”.
[185] 
Standing Order 78(3). See Chapter 14, “The Curtailment of Debate”.
[186] 
Standing Order 86(2). See Chapter 21, “Private Members’ Business”.
[187] 
Standing Order 88.
[188] 
Standing Order 141(2)(a).
[189] 
Standing Order 48(2). See, for example, Debates, April 21, 1989, pp. 799-800; February 22, 1990, p. 8663. A question of privilege arising out of House proceedings may be raised without notice. A Member wishing to raise a question of privilege may also place a notice on the Notice Paper pursuant to Standing Order 54 or 86(2). See also Chapter 3, “Privileges and Immunities”.
[190] 
Standing Order 52(2). See also Chapter 15, “Special Debates”.
[191] 
See, for example, Debates, May 1, 1985, pp. 4313-4; May 4, 1992, p. 10011.
[192] 
Standing Order 42(1).
[193] 
Standing Order 65. The requirement that a motion be seconded does not apply in any House committee (see Standing Order 116).
[194] 
Bourinot, 4th ed., p. 297.
[195] 
Debates, January 25, 1983, p. 22176; October 28, 1991, pp. 4070-2, 4076.
[196] 
Standing Order 65.
[197] 
Journals, May 31, 1954, pp. 674-5; see also May, 22nd ed., p. 337.
[198] 
Journals, April 28, 1924, pp. 186-7; May 31, 1954, pp. 674-5.
[199] 
Members wishing to make amendments to the substance of their own motions have sought the unanimous consent of the House to do so (Bourinot, 4th ed., p. 299). See, for example, Journals, October 28, 1998, p. 1206.
[200] 
Standing Order 10. See, for example, Debates, December 5, 1995, pp. 17197, 17217-8.

Please note —

As the rules and practices of the House of Commons are subject to change, users should remember that this edition of Procedure and Practice was published in January 2000. Standing Order changes adopted since then, as well as other changes in practice, are not reflected in the text. The Appendices to the book, however, have been updated and now include information up to the end of the 38th Parliament in November 2005.

To confirm current rules and practice, please consult the latest version of the Standing Orders on the Parliament of Canada Web site.

For further information about the procedures of the House of Commons, please contact the Table Research Branch at (613) 996-3611 or by e-mail at trbdrb@parl.gc.ca.