House of Commons Procedure and Practice
Edited by Robert Marleau and Camille Montpetit
2000 Edition — More information …

2. Parliaments and Ministries

[51] 
“We Twa”, Reminiscences of Lord and Lady Aberdeen, Volume II, London: W. Collins Sons & Co., 1925, pp. 32-4.
[52] 
See “We Twa”, pp. 35-7, for a description of the circumstances from the Governor General’s point of view.
[53] 
For an Australian example, see House of Representatives Practice, 3rd ed., p. 87.
[54] 
In early 1896, seven Ministers (half the Cabinet) resigned and it took several days to reconstruct the Cabinet (see Debates, January 7 to 15, 1896, cols. 5-71). The death or dismissal of several Ministers could result in similar circumstances for the government, and thus a similar adjournment of the proceedings in the House, should it be sitting at the time.
[55] 
See, for example, Journals, January 7 to 15, 1896, pp. 7-13, and Debates, January 7 to 15, 1896, cols. 5-71. See also Bourinot, 2nd ed., pp. 795-6.
[56] 
See, for example, Debates, November 5 to 7, 1873, pp. 781-7, and June 8, 1891, cols. 888-91. See also Journals, June 28, 1926, p. 483.
[57] 
See Debates, November 5 to 7, 1873, pp. 781-7, and June 28, 1926, pp. 5096-7.
[58] 
See Speaker’s ruling, Debates, June 28, 1926, p. 5096. See also Bourinot, 4th ed., p. 355.
[59] 
See, for example, Debates, November 7, 1873, pp. 785-6 (following resignation of Macdonald); June 16, 1891, cols. 891-2 (following death of Macdonald); January 15, 1896, cols. 69-71 (following resolution of Bowell Cabinet crisis); and Journals, June 29, 1926, pp. 485-6 (following resignation of Mackenzie King).

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.