Bills and motions sponsored by private Members are taken up individually by the House after several unique
requirements are met. (These procedures are discussed in greater detail in Chapter 21, “Private Members’ Business”.)
The House typically devotes one hour of its time each sitting day to the
consideration of Private Members’ Business. [300]
This hour commences at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and 1:30 p.m.
on Friday. [301]
Historical Perspective
From 1867 to 1906, Private Members’ Business had precedence over government business on particular
days of the week. [302]
However, by means of special or sessional orders, the House regularly gave precedence to government
business. In 1906, the weekly order of business was officially amended so that Thursday ceased to be a
private Members’ day four weeks after the start of a session, precedence being given to government
business. [303]
Until 1955, there were few changes to the daily order of business, and the use of special and sessional
orders continued to appropriate much of the time set aside for private Members. In 1955, amendments to the
Standing Orders formalized the practice of giving precedence to government business and guaranteed private
Members six Mondays and two Thursdays per session to conduct their business. [304]
In 1962, the House abandoned the allocation of a certain number of days each session for Private Members’
Business, setting aside instead one hour per day for that purpose. [305]
After the hour for Private Members’ Business was used 40 times per session on Monday, Tuesday, and
Wednesday, it would lapse on those days, only taking place thereafter on Thursday and Friday. In 1968,
Private Members’ Business was removed from the order of business on Wednesday; the maximum 40
considerations per session for Private Members’ Business was retained for Monday and Tuesday only;
thereafter, Private Members’ Business was held only on Thursday and Friday. [306]
This schedule of business remained intact until 1982 when the practice of considering Private Members’
Business one hour each day except Wednesday was replaced by a single Private Members’ Day, on
Wednesday. [307]
This meant a reduction of one hour in debating time per week, from four hours to three. In late 1983, the
House reverted to the consideration of Private Members’ Business for one hour per day on Monday,
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, without the previous provision for a maximum number of times for
consideration on Monday and Tuesday; [308]
this meant that the amount of time provided for private Members actually increased. There were no changes
to this arrangement until 1991 when amendments to the Standing Orders added an extra hour to the sitting on
Wednesday in order to provide another hour of Private Members’ Business, thus increasing from four to
five the number each week. [309]
Suspension of Private Members’ Hour
Consideration of Private Members’ Business may be suspended on certain occasions, namely:
- on any day designated for resuming debate on the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne; [310]
- on any day designated for the presentation of the Budget Speech if it is scheduled to take place before
Private Members’ Hour; [311]
- on any day designated for resuming debate on the Budget; [312]
- on any day when an emergency debate takes place before Private Members’ Hour; [313]
- when a Minister moves a motion on a matter the government considers to be of an urgent nature, and that
debate takes place in the time normally provided for Private Members’ Business; [314] and
- on the last allotted day of the Supply period ending June 23, except for Monday when Private Members’
Business takes place at the beginning of the sitting. [315]
Because Members must be aware of when particular items are expected to be called for consideration, the
Standing Orders require the Speaker to ensure that Members are given at least 24 hours’ notice of
which item is to be considered during Private Members’ Hour on the next sitting day. [316]
This notification must be published in the Notice Paper.
A Member whose motion or bill is scheduled for consideration during Private Members’ Hour and who is
unable to be present that day to move the motion may notify the Speaker in writing 48 hours in advance. The
Speaker has the authority to arrange an exchange with another item on the Order of Precedence with the
permission of the Members involved and Private Members’ Hour proceeds as usual. [317]
Should such an exchange be impossible, Private Members’ Business is suspended for the day, and the
House continues with the business previously before it. [318]
Should this occur on Monday, the House would then begin consideration of Government Orders at 11:00 a.m.
instead of at 12:00 noon. [319]
The Standing Orders also provide that if the Speaker were unable to notify the House at least 24 hours in
advance of the item to be considered, then Private Members’ Business would be suspended and the House
would continue with the business before it. [320]
Should this occur on Monday, the sitting would then commence at 11:00 a.m. with Government Orders.
When Private Members’ Hour is reached, should a Member be unable to move his or her scheduled item
when called, then Private Members’ Business is suspended for that day. On Monday, the sitting is
suspended until 12:00 noon, at which time the House commences with Government Orders. [321]
On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, the sitting is suspended until the Adjournment Proceedings. When this
occurs on Friday, the Speaker adjourns the House. [322]
Finally, as much of Private Members’ Hour is suspended as necessary on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
and Friday to allow the House to continue Routine Proceedings until the completion of ’Introduction
of Government Bills’. [323]
Private Members’ Business may be delayed or interrupted for a number of reasons. Should this occur,
the debate on the item of business is then extended or rescheduled to another time. [324]
For example, if consideration of Private Members’ Business is delayed because of a recorded division, [325]
or a ministerial statement, [326]
or Royal Assent, or due to an emergency alarm, then Private Members’ Hour is extended by a
corresponding amount of time. [327]
If the delay or interruption extends 30 minutes or more beyond the ordinary ending of Private Members’
Hour, the Speaker will add the remaining time or the entire hour to another sitting. [328]
The rescheduled debate takes place within 10 sitting days, usually after the ordinary hour of daily
adjournment; 24 hours’ notice is given. [329]