15. Special Debates

Over the past several years, a number of “take note” motions have been debated in the House. A Minister moves a motion, which includes the words “that the House ‘take note’ of”, to solicit the views of Members on some aspect of government policy. As the Prime Minister noted in the House on January 25, 1994, “take note” debates allow Members to participate in the development of government policy, making their views known before the government makes a decision. ^[142]  A “take note” motion will not usually come to a vote.

Since the beginning of the Thirty-Fifth Parliament in 1994, there have been numerous “take note” debates, the majority of them dealing with Canada’s peacekeeping commitments in various trouble spots around the world ^[143]  and the government’s budgetary policy. ^[144]  The topics of other “take note” debates have included cruise missile testing, NORAD, violence against women, the reform of Canada’s social security programs, and the war in Kosovo. ^[145] 

A “take note” debate is initiated by a Minister giving the usual 48 hours’ notice required before a substantive motion may be moved in the House. After the motion has been transferred to the Order Paper under Government Business, it is taken up for debate at a time of the government’s choosing during Government Orders. On several occasions, however, the 48 hours’ notice requirement was by-passed when the House unanimously adopted a special order which included the wording of a “take note” motion and the rules governing the debate. ^[146]  In many cases, the sitting was extended so that the debate could be held after the ordinary hour of daily adjournment. ^[147] 

Unless otherwise specified in a special order, ^[148]  the normal rules of debate pertaining to length of speeches, duration of the debate, and amendments ^[149]  apply. On several occasions, however, the House unanimously agreed to sit beyond the ordinary hour of daily adjournment to continue the debate. ^[150]  In all of these cases, the special orders stipulated that dilatory motions and quorum calls were not allowed.

It has been the practice that debate on a “take note” motion lasts one sitting day, either during regular sitting hours or during extended hours. There have been occasions when a “take note” debate resumed on a following sitting day. ^[151] With one exception, no decision has been taken on a “take note” motion. ^[152]  The motion remains on the Order Paper under Government Business. ^[153]