House of Commons Procedure and Practice
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[1] 
Standing Order 30(6).
[2] 
See Rules, Orders and Forms of Proceeding of the House of Commons of Canada, 1868, Rule No. 19.
[3] 
Standing Order 30(1). The reading of the prayer is considered the first stage of the proceedings of the House (Debates, February 19, 1877, p. 94). Objection has been raised in the House that the practice of reciting prayers is in violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In response, the Speaker noted that it was not for the Chair to rule on the constitutionality of this practice or make any decision concerning the laws of the nation. The Speaker further stated that the jurisdiction of the Chair extended only to decisions concerning the procedural rules, and if any changes were contemplated regarding the practice of prayers, it was a matter for the House and not the Chair to decide (Debates, June 19, 1990, pp. 12927-9).
[4] 
Standing Order 30(2) states: “Not more than two minutes after the reading of prayers, the business of the House shall commence.” This excludes any private business that may have to be conducted in camera before the doors are opened to the public. This Standing Order came into force in 1975 and has not been amended since (see Item No. 9 of the Second Report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and Organization, presented on March 14, 1975 (Journals, p. 373) and concurred in on March 24, 1975 (Journals, p. 399)). Although not recently, there have been occasions, following prayers but before the public was allowed into the galleries, when the House has met in camera to discuss internal matters or matters of privilege (Bourinot, 4th ed., p. 219). See also Debates, February 19, 1877, p. 94. References to in camera discussions can be found in Debates, December 6, 1867, p. 199; December 19, 1867, p. 317; and Journals, April 16, 1929, p. 245. See a related discussion in Debates, April 12, 1929, pp. 1508-11.
[5] 
Journals, March 22, 1927, pp. 330, 333.
[6] 
Journals, February 13, 1877, p. 26. See also Debates, February 12, 1877, pp. 26-8.
[7] 
Journals, February 19, 1877, p. 42.
[8] 
Debates, February 19, 1877, p. 94. Although not specified in the report, when two sittings occur on the same day, the prayer must be read at the opening of each (see Bourinot, 4th ed., p. 216).
[9] 
See Debates, November 12, 1957, p. 991; April 21, 1978, p. 4734; Item Nos. 16 and 17 of the Tenth Report of the Special Committee on Standing Orders and Procedure, presented on September 30, 1983 (Journals, p. 6250); Item No. 7.12 of the Third Report of the Special Committee on the Reform of the House of Commons, presented on June 18, 1985 (Journals, p. 839).
[10] 
See Debates, February 1, 1944, p. 65; Item No. 15 of the Tenth Report of the Special Committee on Standing Orders and Procedure, presented on September 30, 1983 (Journals, p. 6250); Item No. 7.12 of the Third Report of the Special Committee on the Reform of the House of Commons, presented on June 18, 1985 (Journals, p. 839).
[11] 
Debates, November 9, 1976, p. 881; November 10, 1976, pp. 939-40.
[12] 
On March 19, 1984, for example, the sitting was suspended and resumed the following day. That sitting ended at 11:30 a.m. on March 20 and was immediately followed by the opening of the next sitting. The public was in the galleries when the prayer was read since the galleries had remained opened (see Debates, March 19, 1984, pp. 2219-21; March 20, 1984, p. 2223). See also Debates, February 21, 1994, p. 1581, when the Speaker requested the “agreement” of the House to read the prayer in public.
[13]
The text of the prayer was as follows:
O Lord our heavenly Father, high and mighty, King of kings, Lord of lords, the only Ruler of princes, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon earth: Most heartily we beseech thee with thy favour to behold our most gracious Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth; and so replenish her with the grace of thy Holy Spirit that she may always incline to thy will and walk in thy way; Endue her plenteously with heavenly gifts: grant her in health and wealth long to live; strengthen her that she may vanquish and overcome all her enemies; and finally, after this life, she may attain everlasting joy and felicity; through Jesus Christ our Lord — Amen.
Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness, we humbly beseech thee to bless Elizabeth the Queen Mother, the Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Charles, Prince of Wales, and all the Royal Family: Endue them with thy Holy Spirit; enrich them with thy Heavenly Grace; prosper them with all happiness; and bring them to thine everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord — Amen.
Most gracious God, we humbly beseech thee, as for the United Kingdom, Canada and Her Majesty’s other Realms and Territories, so especially for Canada, and herein more particularly for the Governor General, the Senate, and the House of Commons, in their legislative capacity at this time assembled; that thou wouldst be pleased to direct and prosper all their consultations, to the advancement of thy glory, the safety, honour, and welfare of our Sovereign and Her Realms and Territories, that all things may be so ordered and settled by their endeavours, upon the best and surest foundations, that peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety, may be established among us for all generations. These, and all other necessaries for them, and us, we humbly beg in the name, and through the mediation of Jesus Christ, our most blessed Lord and Saviour — Amen. Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed by thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil — Amen.
A shorter version of the prayer was initiated by Speaker Sauvé in the early 1980s; there is no record of the change in the Journals or the Debates, nor is there any indication that objections were raised.
[14] 
For examples of the House being informed of changes in reference to royalty, see Journals, March 22, 1957, p. 303; July 28, 1958, p. 311.
[15] 
On February 18, 1994, the House concurred in the Sixth Report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, which contained the text of the new prayer. See Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence, March 15, 1994, Issue No. 3, pp. 5, 12; Debates, February 18, 1994, pp. 1559-60, 1563-5.
[16] 
Debates, February 21, 1994, p. 1581.
[17] 
Debates, February 19, 1877, pp. 94-6.
[18] 
Bourinot, 4th ed., pp. 215-6.
[19] 
Bourinot, 4th ed., p. 216.
[20] 
Standing Order 2.
[21] 
Bourinot, 4th ed., pp. 88-9.
[22] 
See, for example, Journals, October 9, 1979, p. 11; April 14, 1980, p. 11; November 5, 1984, p. 10. Neither the Journals nor the Debates makes reference to the prayer before the House proceeded to the Senate for the opening of Parliament on December 12, 1988. In 1994 and 1997, the Speaker was elected the day prior to the opening of Parliament; the prayer was read on the day Parliament opened (Journals, January 18, 1994, p. 14; September 23, 1997, p. 11).
[23] 
Members wishing to lead the House in the singing of the anthem advise the Speaker through their whip of their interest and the Speaker recognizes one of them (see Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, Evidence, November 9, 1995, Issue No. 95, p. 2). On December 4, 1996, a visiting choir led the House in the singing of the anthem. After the reading of the prayer, the Sergeant-at-Arms was ordered to admit the choir into the gallery facing the Speaker before the doors were opened to the public (Debates, December 4, 1996, p. 7077). Again, on December 10, 1997, and on December 9, 1998, a school choir participated in the singing of the national anthem (Debates, December 10, 1997, p. 3021; December 9, 1998, p. 11107). On April 23, 1997, the Speaker invited the pages to lead the House in the singing of the anthem (Debates, April 23, 1997, p. 10111).
[24] 
See Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, Minutes of Proceedings, November 10, 1995, Issue No. 53, p. 10; Journals, November 10, 1995, pp. 2124-5. The singing of the national anthem is televised. There was consensus among the members of the Committee that the television coverage would begin immediately after the prayers had been read. See Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, Evidence, November 9, 1995, pp. 1-6. Deborah Grey (Beaver River) led the House in singing the national anthem for the first time on November 22, 1995. See Debates, November 22, 1995, p. 16659. See also Debates, October 30, 1995, pp. 15975-6.
[25] 
Standing Order 30(5).
[26] 
When “Statements by Members” was first established in 1983, Speaker Sauvé stated that this period was intended to provide Members with an opportunity “to voice serious issues of international, national or local concern” (Debates, January 17, 1983, p. 21873). During this period, Members have, on occasion, given part or all of their statement to the House in a language other than English or French (for example, Inuktitut, Cree, Slavey, Italian, Hebrew, Creole, Croatian and Armenian). See, for example, Debates, October 2, 1991, p. 3134; March 26, 1992, p. 8856; April 10, 1992, p. 9644; February 8, 1993, p. 15550; March 31, 1993, pp. 17837, 17840; March 10, 1994, p. 2120; May 27, 1998, p. 7269. A Member has also used sign language to make a statement (Debates, May 13, 1998, pp. 6918-9). When using another language, Members usually provide the interpreters with a copy of the text in English or French. See also Chapter 13, “Rules of Order and Decorum”.
[27] 
For the convenience of the House, the Speaker has occasionally proceeded to “Statements by Members” before 2:00 p.m. (or 11:00 a.m. on Friday) (see, for example, Debates, November 28, 1997, p. 2432; June 9, 1998, p. 7803). The House has also unanimously agreed to proceed to “Statements by Members” before the appointed time (see, for example, Debates, November 30, 1990, p. 16031; March 27, 1992, p. 8923).
[28] 
Occasionally, when proceedings have been delayed, the time allotted for “Statements by Members” and Question Period has been extended accordingly so that Members have the full amount of time allotted (see Debates, September 18, 1991, p. 2300; June 16, 1995, p. 14011; November 1, 1995, p. 16063; November 29, 1996, p. 6903). Once before a Christmas adjournment, the Speaker allowed “Statements by Members” to exceed the time limit by five minutes (Debates, December 19, 1990, p. 16939). Question Period was also extended accordingly. More recently, the House unanimously agreed to dispose of this proceeding and proceed directly to Question Period after Members paid tribute for more than 30 minutes to the Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney (see Debates, February 24, 1993, pp. 16379-83).
[29] 
Journals, November 29, 1982, p. 5400.
[30] 
The Standing Order read: “A motion may be moved by unanimous consent of the House without previous notice”. See also Bourinot, 4th ed., pp. 301-2.
[31] 
Journals, May 29, 1925, p. 356.
[32] 
Journals, March 22, 1927, pp. 334-5.
[33] 
Journals, March 14, 1975, p. 373; March 24, 1975, p. 399.
[34] 
See Jerome, pp. 104-6. See also Speaker’s ruling, Debates, February 13, 1979, pp. 3164-6.
[35] 
Third Report of the Special Committee on Standing Orders and Procedure, Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence, November 4, 1982, Issue No. 7, p. 19, presented in the House on November 5, 1982 (Journals, p. 5328), and agreed to on November 29, 1982 (Journals, p. 5400).
[36] 
Journals, February 6, 1986, p. 1648; February 13, 1986, pp. 1709-10.
[37] 
Debates, January 17, 1983, pp. 21873-4.
[38] 
In a 1990 ruling, Speaker Fraser clarified that a statement about another Member’s political position would be acceptable, but a personal attack against a Member would not be allowed (Debates, November 26, 1990, p. 15717). Speaker Parent further cautioned in a 1996 decision that “once they [the words] have been uttered, it is very difficult to retract them and the impression they leave is not always easily erased” (Debates, November 29, 1996, p. 6899). See also Debates, September 22, 1994, pp. 6032-3; December 3, 1997, p. 2646.
[39] 
See, for example, Debates, November 26, 1990, p. 15705; March 8, 1994, p. 1992; September 29, 1997, p. 204; December 11, 1997, pp. 3107-8.
[40] 
See, for example, Debates, October 20, 1986, p. 510; March 25, 1987, p. 4541; October 29, 1997, p. 1278. Speaker Fraser ruled that it is inappropriate for a Member to use this proceeding to attack another Member for offensive language when that Member has already been admonished by the Chair (Debates, October 29, 1986, p. 864).
[41] 
See, for example, Debates, October 1, 1990, pp. 13607, 13621-2; October 3, 1997, pp. 456-7. See also Debates, February 13, 1998, p. 3853; February 19, 1998, p. 4156.
[42] 
See, for example, Debates, December 20, 1989, pp. 7247-8; June 8, 1990, p. 12522; September 22, 1994, pp. 6031-2, 6040.
[43] 
See, for example, Debates, November 19, 1986, p. 1315; December 1, 1986, pp. 1636, 1651-2. In the latter ruling, Speaker Fraser noted that “it is often the obligation of Members of Parliament to criticize a law. However… it is not their place to castigate a court or judge or the decisions rendered under a law…” (p. 1636).
[44] 
See, for example, Debates, November 28, 1996, pp. 6853-4.
[45] 
See, for example, Debates, December 3, 1991, pp. 5679-82. See also Debates, November 28, 1991, pp. 5509-10.
[46] 
See, for example, Debates, April 27, 1995, p. 11878.
[47] 
See, for example, Debates, September 16, 1996, pp. 4221-2; September 17, 1996, pp. 4309-10.
[48] 
At the start of the Thirty-Fifth Parliament (1994-97), the Speaker informed the House that, after consultation, the party whips had agreed on a format regarding party representation and the number of Members to be recognized to offer statements during this period: nine interventions by government Members, three by the Official Opposition (Bloc Québécois), three by the Reform Party; the independent Members would be recognized on an ad hoc basis (Debates, January 19, 1994, p. 17). Five months later, Speaker Parent observed that Members not belonging to a recognized party had participated almost daily during “Statements by Members” (Debates, June 16, 1994, p. 5439). At the beginning of the Thirty-Sixth Parliament in 1997, the breakdown was established as follows: eight interventions by government Members, three by the Official Opposition (Reform Party), two by the Bloc Québécois, one each by the NDP and the Progressive Conservative party.
[49] 
See, for example, Debates, March 9, 1994, pp. 2036-7.
[50] 
See, for example, Debates, November 27, 1997, p. 2379; February 26, 1998, p. 4495; June 9, 1998, p. 7807.

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