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Parliament has seen fit to include provisions governing special “statutory” debates in certain statutes. These special debates are a form of parliamentary oversight and review of specific statutory provisions. In some cases, the statutory provision is designed to be permissive;[177] in others, it is mandatory. Statutory debates can be grouped into two broad categories, although the procedures pertaining to the debates are similar. The first category provides for a general review of an act or a particular aspect of it. The second and most common category provides for a debate to discuss, confirm, revoke or amend an order, regulation, declaration, proclamation, guideline or other instrument of delegated legislation issued pursuant to the statute in question. Consequently, these statutes make regulations at times that are subject to affirmative resolution of Parliament. This obliges both Houses to adopt the regulations, ostensibly by holding a debate on them, before they can come into effect.[178] Conversely, regulations subject to negative resolution of Parliament are in effect until revoked by resolution of both Houses, again presumably after a debate.[179] Since the 1960s, several statutory debates have taken place. In 1971, for example, pursuant to the Government Organization Act, 1970, the House considered and adopted a motion to establish a Ministry of State for Science and Technology.[180] In 1974, the House debated a motion requesting the Minister of Veterans Affairs to continue provisions of the Veterans’ Land Act scheduled to expire on March 31, 1975.[181] One was held in 1977 in an attempt to advance the expiration date of the Anti‑Inflation Act.[182] Two occurred consecutively in late 1980 when Members sought to revoke two proclamations tabled by the government in relation to the Petroleum Administration Act: one proclamation concerned regulations prescribing maximum prices for various qualities and kinds of crude oil; the other proclamation involved regulations prescribing prices for natural gas.[183] Another took place in 1985 when Members invoked a provision in the Western Grain Transportation Act to move a motion to use a sitting day to examine a progress report on the Act and any outstanding issues of interest to western farmers.[184] One statutory debate took place in September 1992 when, pursuant to the Referendum Act, the House adopted a motion approving the text of a referendum question.[185] A few months later, in December 1992, Members sought to amend the Special Economic Measures (Haiti) Ships Regulations in accordance with provisions set down in the Special Economic Measures Act for amending or revoking orders and regulations regarding economic sanctions programs.[186] In 2000, on the initiative of a Minister, the House held a debate on an order amending the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, as prescribed in the statute.[187] More recently, in 2007, a Minister moved, in accordance with the procedure set out in the Criminal Code, that the application of certain sections of the Code be extended for a period of three years.[188] Moreover, until 1986, the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act contained provisions that allowed Members to discuss their objections to a report of an Electoral Boundaries Commission on the floor of the House. Four debates—in 1966, 1973, 1976 and 1983—were held under the Act’s provisions.[189] In 1986, the Act was amended so that these reports are now tabled in the House and automatically referred to a parliamentary committee established for the purpose of dealing with electoral matters.[190] Objections are filed with and considered by this committee.
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