SMIP Committee Report

SITTINGS OF THE HOUSE

13.   We note that there has been discussion in recent months aboutan adjustment to the parliamentary calendar to enable more Members of Parliament to spend time with their families during school breaks between Christmas and Easter. The Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs tabled its Sixteenth Report in the House on May 15, 2001, in which it recommended an amendment to the Standing Orders that would give the Speaker the discretion to set the sitting weeks in consultation with the House Leaders. This report was adopted by the House on May 15, 2001. The total number of sitting weeks of the House of Commons does not change as a result of the adoption of this report. 

MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS

14.Concerns have been expressed that government announcements, regarding legislation or policies, are increasingly made outside the House of Commons. While this is by no means a recent phenomenon, it continues to be a source of concern. The Committee is recommending two initiatives to address it.

15.First, it is important that more ministerial statements and announcements be made in the House of Commons. In particular, topical developments, or foreseeable policy decisions, should be made first – or, at least, concurrently – in the chamber. Ministers, and their departments, need to be encouraged to make use of the forum provided by the House of Commons. Not only will this enhance the pre-eminence of Parliament, but it will also reiterate the legislative underpinning for governmental decisions. While we recognize that not all announcements will be made in Parliament, it is important that more of them be made in this setting. Standing Order 33 already makes provision for ministerial statements, and responses from opposition parties; it provides that a corresponding period of time is added to government business, so there is no loss of time. A second change would facilitate ministerial statements with respect to government bills that are introduced in the House. At present, Members are entitled to make a brief explanation when tabling reports of inter-parliamentary delegations, reports from committees, and private Members’ bills. By contrast, our practice does not provide for an explanatory statement to be made by the sponsoring Minister at the time a government bill is introduced. Providing for the introduction of government bills prior to Statements by Ministers would encourage Ministers to give brief explanations of their legislation in the House, following introduction.

The Committee recommends that the Government make greater use of Ministerial Statements in the Chamber whenever possible and that the House Leaders be advised in advance of these statements.

The Committee recommends that Standing Order 30(3) be amended as follows:

30. (3) At 3:00 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and at 12:00 noon on Fridays, the House shall proceed to the ordinary daily routine of business, which shall be as follows:

Tabling of Documents (pursuant to Standing Orders 32 or 109)

Introduction of Government Bills

Statements by Ministers (pursuant to Standing Order 33)

Presenting Reports from Inter-parliamentary Delegations (pursuant to Standing Order 34)

Presenting Reports from Committees (pursuant to Standing Order 35)

Introduction of Private Members' Bills

First Reading of Senate Public Bills

Motions

Presenting Petitions (pursuant to Standing Order 36(6))

Questions on Order Paper.