Appendix A — Cited Provisions

Standing Orders of the House of Commons
(Version effective May 2011)

Unprovided Cases

1.1

Participation of Members with disabilities.

The Speaker may alter the application of any Standing or special Order or practice of the House in order to permit the full participation in the proceedings of the House of any Member with a disability.

Chapter I / Presiding Officers / Order and Decorum

13

When motion is contrary to rules and privileges of Parliament.

Whenever the Speaker is of the opinion that a motion offered to the House is contrary to the rules and privileges of Parliament, the Speaker shall apprise the House thereof immediately, before putting the question thereon, and quote the Standing Order or authority applicable to the case.

Chapter II / Members

16

Decorum.

(1) When the Speaker is putting a question, no Member shall enter, walk out of or across the House, or make any noise or disturbance.

(2) When a Member is speaking, no Member shall pass between that Member and the Chair, nor interrupt him or her, except to raise a point of order.

(3) No Member may pass between the Chair and the Table, nor between the Chair and the Mace when the Mace has been taken off the Table by the Sergeant-at-Arms.

(4) When the House adjourns, Members shall keep their seats until the Speaker has left the Chair.

Chapter II / Members

20

When a Member shall withdraw.

If anything shall come in question touching the conduct, election or right of any Member to hold a seat, that Member may make a statement and shall withdraw during the time the matter is in debate.

Chapter III / Sittings of the House

27

Extension of sitting hours in June.

(1) On the tenth sitting day preceding June 23, a motion to extend the hours of sitting to a specific hour during the last ten sitting days may be proposed, without notice, by any Minister during routine proceedings.

When question put.

(2) Not more than two hours after the commencement of proceedings thereon, the Speaker shall put every question necessary to dispose of the said motion.

Chapter IV / Daily Program

30

Prayers.

(1) The Speaker shall read prayers every day at the meeting of the House before any business is entered upon.

Commencement of business.

(2) Not more than two minutes after the reading of prayers, the business of the House shall commence.

Routine Proceedings.

(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 Interparliamentary 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 the Order paper

When introduction of Government Bills not completed before statements by Members.

(4)(a) When proceedings under "Introduction of Government Bills" are not completed on a Tuesday or Thursday prior to statements by Members, the ordinary daily routine of business shall continue immediately after oral questions are taken up, notwithstanding section (5) of this Standing Order, until the completion of all items under "Introduction of Government Bills", suspending as much of Private Members' Business as necessary.

Before ordinary hour of daily adjournment.

(b) When proceedings under "Introduction of Government Bills" are not completed before the ordinary hour of daily adjournment, the House shall continue to sit to complete the ordinary daily routine of business up to and including "Introduction of Government Bills", whereupon the Speaker shall adjourn the House.

Time for statements by Members, Oral Question period and Orders of the Day.

(5) At 2:00 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and at 11:00 a.m. on Fridays, Members, other than Ministers of the Crown, may make statements pursuant to Standing Order 31. Not later than 2:15 p.m. or 11:15 a.m., as the case may be, oral questions shall be taken up. At 3:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and after the ordinary daily routine of business has been disposed of on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, the Orders of the Day shall be considered in the order established pursuant to section (6) of this Standing Order.

Day by day order of business.

(6) Except as otherwise provided in these Standing Orders, the order of business shall be as follows:

Monday

Before the daily routine of business

Private Members’ Business – from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon: Public Bills, Private Bills, Notices of Motions and Notices of Motions (Papers).

Government Orders.

After the daily routine of business

Government Orders.

Tuesday and Thursday

After the daily routine of business

Government Orders.

Private Members’ Business – from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.: Public Bills, Private Bills, Notices of Motions and Notices of Motions (Papers).

Wednesday

After the daily routine of business

Notices of Motions for the Production of Papers.

Government Orders.

Private Members’ Business – from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.: Public Bills, Private Bills, Notices of Motions and Notices of Motions (Papers).

Friday

Before the daily routine of business

Government Orders.

After the daily routine of business

Government Orders.

Private Members’ Business – from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.: Public Bills, Private Bills, Notices of Motions and Notices of Motions (Papers).

Delay or interruption of Private Members’ Hour.

(7) If the beginning of Private Members' Hour is delayed for any reason, or if the Hour is interrupted for any reason, a period of time corresponding to the time of the delay or interruption shall be added to the end of the Hour suspending as much of the business set out in section (6) of this Standing Order as necessary. If the beginning of Private Members' Hour is delayed or the interruption continues past thirty minutes after the time at which the Hour would have ordinarily ended, Private Members' Hour for that day and the business scheduled for consideration at that time, or any remaining portion thereof, shall be added to the business of the House on a day to be fixed, after consultation, by the Speaker, who shall attempt to designate that day within the next ten sitting days, but who, in any case, shall not permit the intervention of more than one adjournment period provided for in Standing Order 28(2). In cases where the Speaker adjourns the House pursuant to Standing Orders 2(3), 30(4)(b) or 83(2), this section shall not apply.

Chapter IV / Daily Program

31

Statements by Members.

A Member may be recognized, under the provisions of Standing Order 30(5), to make a statement for not more than one minute. The Speaker may order a Member to resume his or her seat if, in the opinion of the Speaker, improper use is made of this Standing Order.

Chapter IV / Daily Program

32

Documents deposited pursuant to statutory or other authority.

(1) Any return, report or other paper required to be laid before the House in accordance with any Act of Parliament or in pursuance of any resolution or Standing Order of this House may be deposited with the Clerk of the House on any sitting day or, when the House stands adjourned, on the Wednesday following the fifteenth day of the month. Such return, report or other paper shall be deemed for all purposes to have been presented to or laid before the House.

Messages from the Senate deposited with the Clerk.

(1.1) When the House stands adjourned, any message from the Senate concerning bills to be given Royal Assent may be deposited with the Clerk of the House and such message shall be deemed for all purposes to have been received by the House on the day on which it is deposited with the Clerk of the House.

Tabling of documents in the House.

(2) A Minister of the Crown, or a Parliamentary Secretary acting on behalf of a Minister, may, in his or her place in the House, state that he or she proposes to lay upon the Table of the House, any report or other paper dealing with a matter coming within the administrative responsibilities of the government, and, thereupon, the same shall be deemed for all purposes to have been laid before the House.

Recorded in Journals.

(3) In either case, a record of any such paper shall be entered in the Journals.

In both official languages.

(4) Any document distributed in the House or laid before the House pursuant to sections (1) or (2) of this Standing Order shall be in both official languages.

Permanent referral to committee.

(5) Reports, returns or other papers laid before the House in accordance with an Act of Parliament shall thereupon be deemed to have been permanently referred to the appropriate standing committee.

Referral to committees in other cases.

(6) Papers required to be laid upon the Table pursuant to Standing Order 110 shall be deemed referred to the appropriate standing committee during the period specified in laying the same upon the Table.

Chapter V / Questions / Written Questions

39

Questions on the Order paper.

(1) Questions may be placed on the Order paper seeking information from Ministers of the Crown relating to public affairs; and from other Members, relating to any bill, motion or other public matter connected with the business of the House, in which such Members may be concerned; but in putting any such question or in replying to the same no argument or opinion is to be offered, nor any facts stated, except so far as may be necessary to explain the same; and in answering any such question the matter to which the same refers shall not be debated.

Responsibilities of the Clerk.

(2) The Clerk of the House, acting for the Speaker, shall have full authority to ensure that coherent and concise questions are placed on the Notice Paper in accordance with the practices of the House, and may, on behalf of the Speaker, order certain questions to be posed separately.

Starred questions. Limit of three.

(3)(a) Any Member who requires an oral answer to his or her question may distinguish it by an asterisk, but no Member shall have more than three such questions at a time on the daily Order paper.

Reply printed in Hansard.

(b) If a Member does not distinguish his or her question by an asterisk, the Minister to whom the question is addressed hands the answer to the Clerk of the House who causes it to be printed in the official report of the Debates.

Limit of four questions on the Order paper.

(4) No Member shall have more than four questions on the Order paper at any one time.

Request for ministerial response.

(5)(a) A Member may request that the Ministry respond to a specific question within forty-five days by so indicating when filing his or her question.

After forty-five days, question deemed referred to committee; can be transferred to adjournment proceedings.

(b) If such a question remains unanswered at the expiration of the said period of forty-five days, the matter of the failure of the Ministry to respond shall be deemed referred to the appropriate Standing Committee. Within five sitting days of such a referral the Chair of the committee shall convene a meeting of the committee to consider the matter of the failure of the Ministry to respond. The question shall be designated as referred to committee on the Order paper and, notwithstanding Standing Order 39(4), the Member may submit one further question for each question so designated. The Member who put the question may rise in the House under “Questions on the Order paper” and give notice that he or she intends to transfer the question and raise the subject-matter thereof on the adjournment of the House, and the order referring the matter to committee is thereby discharged.

Transfer of question to Notices of Motions.

(6) If, in the opinion of the Speaker, a question on the Order paper put to a Minister of the Crown is of such a nature as to require a lengthy reply, the Speaker may, upon the request of the government, direct the same to stand as a notice of motion, and to be transferred to its proper place as such upon the Order paper, the Clerk of the House being authorized to amend the same as to matters of form.

Question made order for return.

(7) If a question is of such a nature that, in the opinion of the Minister who is to furnish the reply, such reply should be in the form of a return, and the Minister states that he or she has no objection to laying such return upon the Table of the House, the Minister's statement shall, unless otherwise ordered by the House, be deemed an order of the House to that effect and the same shall be entered in the Journals as such.

Chapter VII / Special Debates / Emergency Debates

52

Leave must be requested.

(1) Leave to make a motion for the adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter requiring urgent consideration must be asked for after the ordinary daily routine of business as set out in sections (3) and (4) of Standing Order 30 is concluded.

Written statement to Speaker.

(2) A Member wishing to move, "That this House do now adjourn", under the provisions of this Standing Order shall give to the Speaker, at least one hour prior to raising it in the House, a written statement of the matter proposed to be discussed.

Making statement.

(3) When requesting leave to propose such a motion, the Member shall rise in his or her place and present without argument the statement referred to in section (2) of this Standing Order.

Speaker’s prerogative.

(4) The Speaker shall decide, without any debate, whether or not the matter is proper to be discussed.

Speaker to take into account.

(5) In determining whether a matter should have urgent consideration, the Speaker shall have regard to the extent to which it concerns the administrative responsibilities of the government or could come within the scope of ministerial action and the Speaker also shall have regard to the probability of the matter being brought before the House within reasonable time by other means.

Conditions.

(6) The right to move the adjournment of the House for the above purposes is subject to the following conditions:

(a) the matter proposed for discussion must relate to a genuine emergency, calling for immediate and urgent consideration;

(b) not more than one matter can be discussed on the same motion;

(c) not more than one such motion can be made at the same sitting;

(d) the motion must not revive discussion on a matter which has been discussed in the same session pursuant to the provisions of this Standing Order;

(e) the motion must not raise a question of privilege; and

(f) the discussion under the motion must not raise any question which, according to the Standing Orders of the House, can only be debated on a distinct motion under notice.

Speaker not bound to give reasons.

(7) In stating whether or not the Speaker is satisfied that the matter is proper to be discussed, the Speaker is not bound to give reasons for the decision.

Reserving decision.

(8) If the Speaker so desires, he or she may defer the decision upon whether the matter is proper to be discussed until later in the sitting, when the proceedings of the House may be interrupted for the purpose of announcing his or her decision.

Motion to stand over.

(9) If the Speaker is satisfied that the matter is proper to be discussed, the motion shall stand over until the ordinary hour of daily adjournment on that day, provided that the Speaker, at his or her discretion, may direct that the motion shall be set down for consideration on the following sitting day at an hour specified by the Speaker.

Motion to be taken up at the ordinary hour of daily adjournment.

(10) Notwithstanding any Standing or Special Order, when a request to make such a motion has been made on any day, except Friday, and the Speaker directs that it be considered the same day, the motion shall be taken up at the ordinary hour of daily adjournment.

When moved on Friday.

(11) When a request to make such a motion has been made on any Friday, and the Speaker directs that it be considered the same day, it shall be considered forthwith.

Time limit on debate.

(12) The proceedings on any motion being considered, pursuant to sections (9) or (11) of this Standing Order, may continue beyond the ordinary hour of daily adjournment but, when debate thereon is concluded prior to that hour in any sitting, it shall be deemed withdrawn. Subject to any motion adopted pursuant to Standing Order 26(2), at 12:00 midnight on any sitting day except Friday, and at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, the Speaker shall declare the motion carried and forthwith adjourn the House until the next sitting day. In any other case, the Speaker, when satisfied that the debate has been concluded, shall declare the motion carried and forthwith adjourn the House until the next sitting day.

Time limit on speeches. Period of debate divided in two.

(13) No Member shall speak longer than twenty minutes during debate on any such motion, provided that a Member may indicate to the Speaker that he or she will be dividing his or her time with another Member.

Debate not to be interrupted by Private Members’ Business.

(14) Debate on any such motion shall not be interrupted by “Private Members’ Business.”

Debate to take precedence. Exception.

(15) The provisions of this Standing Order shall not be suspended by the operation of any other Standing Order relating to the hours of sitting or in respect of the consideration of any other business; provided that, in cases of conflict, the Speaker shall determine when such other business shall be considered or disposed of and the Speaker shall make any consequential interpretation of any Standing Order that may be necessary in relation thereto.

Chapter VII / Special Debates / Take-note Debates

53.1

Motion by Minister decided without debate or amendment.

(1) A Minister of the Crown, following consultation with the House Leaders of the other parties, may propose a motion at any time, to be decided without debate or amendment, setting out the subject-matter and designating a day on which a take-note debate shall take place, provided that the motion may not be proposed less than forty-eight hours before the said debate is to begin.

Debate to begin at the ordinary hour of daily adjournment.

(2) A take-note debate ordered by the House pursuant to section (1) of this Standing Order shall begin at the ordinary hour of daily adjournment and any proceedings pursuant to Standing Order 38 shall be suspended on that day.

Rules for take-note debate.

(3) The rules to apply to a debate under the present Standing Order shall be those applied during a Committee of the Whole except that:

(a) the Speaker may preside;

(b) no Member may speak for longer than ten minutes and each speech may be followed by a period of not more than ten minutes for questions and comments;

(c) the Speaker shall not accept any motions except a motion “That the Committee do now rise”;

(d) when no Member rises to speak or after four hours of debate, whichever is earlier, the Committee shall rise; and

(e) when the Committee rises, the House shall immediately adjourn to the next sitting day.

Chapter VIII / Motions

56.1

When unanimous consent denied, routine motion by Minister.

(1)(a) In relation to any routine motion for the presentation of which unanimous consent is required and has been denied, a Minister of the Crown may request during Routine Proceedings that the Speaker propose the said question to the House.

(b) For the purposes of this Standing Order, "routine motion" shall be understood to mean any motion, made upon Routine Proceedings, which may be required for the observance of the proprieties of the House, the maintenance of its authority, the management of its business, the arrangement of its proceedings, the establishing of the powers of its committees, the correctness of its records or the fixing of its sitting days or the times of its meeting or adjournment.

Question put forthwith.

(2) The question on any such motion shall be put forthwith, without debate or amendment.

Objection by twenty-five or more Members.

(3) When the Speaker puts the question on such a motion, he or she shall ask those who object to rise in their places. If twenty-five or more Members then rise, the motion shall be deemed to have been withdrawn; otherwise, the motion shall have been adopted.

Chapter IX / Public Bills / Introduction and Readings

68

Motion for introduction of bills.

(1) Every bill is introduced upon motion for leave, specifying the title of the bill; or upon motion to appoint a committee to prepare and bring it in.

Brief explanation permitted.

(2) A motion for leave to introduce a bill shall be deemed carried, without debate, amendment or question put, provided that any Member moving for such leave may be permitted to give a succinct explanation of the provisions of the said bill.

Imperfect or blank bills.

(3) No bill may be introduced either in blank or in an imperfect shape.

Motion by a Minister to prepare and bring in a bill.

(4) A motion by a Minister of the Crown to appoint or instruct a standing, special or legislative committee to prepare and bring in a bill, pursuant to section (1) of this Standing Order, shall be considered under Government Orders. During debate on any such motion no Member shall be permitted to speak more than once or for more than ten minutes. After not more than ninety minutes debate on any such motion, the Speaker shall interrupt debate and put all questions necessary to dispose of the motion without further debate or amendment. A motion by a Minister of the Crown to concur in the report of a committee pursuant to this section shall also be taken up under Government Orders and shall, for the purposes of Standing Order 78, be considered to be a stage of a public bill.

Committee’s report.

(5) A committee appointed or instructed to prepare and bring in a bill shall, in its report, recommend the principles, scope and general provisions of the said bill and may, if it deems it appropriate, but not necessarily, include recommendations regarding legislative wording.

Order to bring in a bill.

(6) The adoption of a motion to concur in a report made pursuant to section (5) of this Standing Order shall be an order to bring in a bill based thereon.

Second reading stage of the bill. Minister’s motion.

(7) When a Minister of the Crown, in proposing a motion for first reading of a bill, has stated that the bill is in response to an order made pursuant to section (6) of this Standing Order, notwithstanding any Standing Order, the bill shall not be set down for consideration at the second reading stage before the third sitting day after having been read a first time. The second reading and any subsequent stages of such a bill shall be considered under Government Orders. When a motion for second reading of such a bill is proposed, notwithstanding any Standing Order, the Speaker shall immediately put all questions necessary to dispose of the second reading stage of the bill without debate or amendment.

Chapter IX / Public Bills / Introduction and Readings

70

Printed in English and French before second reading.

All bills shall be printed before the second reading in the English and French languages.

Chapter IX / Public Bills / Introduction and Readings

73

Motion to refer a government bill to a committee before second reading.

(1) Immediately after the reading of the Order of the Day for the second reading of any government bill, a Minister of the Crown may, after notifying representatives of the opposition parties, propose a motion that the said bill be forthwith referred to a standing, special or legislative committee. The Speaker shall immediately propose the question to the House and proceedings thereon shall be subject to the following conditions:

(a) the Speaker shall recognize for debate a Member from the party
forming the government, followed by a Member from the party forming the Official Opposition, followed by a Member from each officially recognized party in the House, in order of the number of Members in that party, provided that, if no Member from the party whose turn has been reached rises, a Member of the next party in the rotation or a Member who is not a Member of an officially recognized party may be recognized;

(b) the motion shall not be subject to any amendment;

(c) no Member may speak more than once nor longer than ten minutes; and

(d) after not more than five hours of debate, the Speaker shall interrupt the debate and the question shall be put and decided without further debate.

Referral before amendment.

(2) Every public bill, except for bills referred to a committee before being read a second time pursuant to section (1) of this Standing Order, shall be read twice and referred to a committee before any amendment may be made thereto.

Referral to a committee.

(3) Unless otherwise ordered and except for bills referred to a committee before being read a second time pursuant to section (1) of this Standing Order, in giving a bill second reading, the same shall be referred to a standing, special or legislative committee.

Supply bills.

(4) Any bill based on a Supply motion shall, after second reading, stand referred to a Committee of the Whole.

Second reading of borrowing authority bills: two days’ consideration.

(5) When an Order of the Day is read for the consideration of any bill respecting borrowing authority, a maximum of two sitting days shall be set aside for the consideration of the bill at second reading. On the second of the said days, at fifteen minutes before the expiry of the time provided for Government Orders, the Speaker shall interrupt the proceedings then in progress and shall put forthwith and successively, without further debate or amendment, every question necessary for the passage of the second reading stage of the bill.

Chapter IX / Public Bills / Report Stage at Second Reading

76

Not before third sitting day.

(1) The report stage of any bill reported by any standing, special or legislative committee before the bill has been read a second time shall not be taken into consideration prior to the third sitting day following the presentation of the said report, unless otherwise ordered by the House.

Notice to amend.

(2) If, not later than the second sitting day prior to the consideration of the report stage of a bill that has not yet been read a second time, written notice is given of any motion to amend, delete, insert or restore any clause in a bill, it shall be printed on the Notice Paper. When the same amendment is put on notice by more than one Member, that notice shall be printed once, under the name of each Member who has submitted it. If the Speaker decides that an amendment is out of order, it shall be returned to the Member without having appeared on the Notice Paper.

Recommendation of Governor General.

(3) When a recommendation of the Governor General is required in relation to any amendment of which notice has been given pursuant to section (2) of this Standing Order, notice shall be given of the said Recommendation no later than the sitting day before the day on which the report stage is to commence and such notice shall be printed on the Notice Paper along with the amendment to which it pertains.

Amendment as to form only.

(4) An amendment, in relation to form only in a government bill, may be proposed by a Minister of the Crown without notice, but debate thereon may not be extended to the provisions of the clause or clauses to be amended.

NOTE: The purpose of this section is to facilitate the incorporation into a bill of amendments of a strictly consequential nature flowing from the acceptance of other amendments. No waiver of notice would be permitted in relation to any amendment which would change the intent of the bill, no matter how slightly, beyond the effect of the initial amendment.

Speaker’s power to select amendments.

(5) The Speaker shall have the power to select or combine amendments or clauses to be proposed at the report stage and may, if he or she thinks fit, call upon any Member who has given notice of an amendment to give such explanation of the subject of the amendment as may enable the Speaker to form a judgement upon it. If an amendment has been selected that has been submitted by more than one Member, the Speaker, after consultation, shall designate which Member shall propose it.

NOTE: The Speaker will not normally select for consideration any motion previously ruled out of order in committee, unless the reason for its being ruled out of order was that it required a recommendation of the Governor General, in which case the amendment may be selected only if such Recommendation has been placed on notice pursuant to this Standing Order. The Speaker will normally only select motions that were not or could not be presented in committee. A motion, previously defeated in committee, will only be selected if the Speaker judges it to be of such exceptional significance as to warrant a further consideration at the report stage. The Speaker will not normally select for separate debate a repetitive series of motions which are interrelated and, in making the selection, shall consider whether individual Members will be able to express their concerns during the debate on another motion.

For greater certainty, the purpose of this Standing Order is, primarily, to provide Members who were not members of the committee with an opportunity to have the House consider specific amendments they wish to propose. It is not meant to be a reconsideration of the committee stage.

For greater clarity, the Speaker will not select for debate a motion or series of motions of a repetitive, frivolous or vexatious nature or of a nature that would serve merely to prolong unnecessarily proceedings at the report stage and, in exercising this power of selection, the Speaker shall be guided by the practice followed in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.

Debate on the amendments.

(6) When the Order of the Day for the consideration of a report stage is called, any amendment proposed pursuant to this Standing Order shall be open to debate and amendment.

Limits on speeches.

(7) When debate is permitted, the first Member from each of the recognized parties speaking during proceedings on the first amendment proposed at report stage may speak for not more than twenty minutes, and no other Member shall speak more than once or longer than ten minutes during proceedings on any amendment at that stage.

Division deferred.

(8) When a recorded division has been demanded on any amendment proposed during the report stage of a bill, the Speaker may defer the calling in of the Members for the purpose of recording the "yeas" and "nays" until more or all subsequent amendments to the bill have been considered.
A recorded division or divisions may be so deferred from sitting to sitting.

NOTE: In cases when there are an unusually great number of amendments for consideration at the report stage, the Speaker may, after consultation with the representatives of the parties, direct that deferred divisions be held before all amendments have been taken into consideration.

Motion when report stage concluded.

(9) When proceedings at the report stage on any bill that has not been read a second time have been concluded, a motion "That the bill, as amended, be concurred in and be read a second time" or "That the bill be concurred in and read a second time" shall be put and forthwith disposed of, without amendment or debate.

Third reading.

(10) The report stage of a bill pursuant to this Standing Order shall be deemed to be an integral part of the second reading stage of the bill. When a bill has been concurred in and read a second time in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Standing Order, it shall be set down for a third reading and passage at the next sitting of the House.

Chapter IX / Public Bills / Report Stage after Second Reading

76.1

Not before second sitting day.

(1) The report stage of any bill reported by any standing, special or legislative committee after the bill has been read a second time shall not be taken into consideration prior to the second sitting day following the presentation of the said report, unless otherwise ordered by the House.

Notice to amend.

(2) If, not later than the sitting day prior to the consideration of the report stage of a bill that has been read a second time, written notice is given of any motion to amend, delete, insert or restore any clause in a bill, it shall be printed on the Notice Paper. When the same amendment is put on notice by more than one Member, that notice shall be printed once, under the name of each Member who has submitted it. If the Speaker decides that an amendment is out of order, it shall be returned to the Member without having appeared on the Notice Paper.

Recommendation of Governor General.

(3) When a recommendation of the Governor General is required in relation to any amendment to be proposed at the report stage of a bill that has been read a second time, at least twenty-four hours' written notice shall be given of the said Recommendation and proposed amendment.

Amendment as to form only.

(4) An amendment, in relation to form only in a government bill, may be proposed by a Minister of the Crown without notice, but debate thereon may not be extended to the provisions of the clause or clauses to be amended.

NOTE: The purpose of the section is to facilitate the incorporation into a bill of amendments of a strictly consequential nature flowing from the acceptance of other amendments. No waiver of notice would be permitted in relation to any amendment which would change the intent of the bill, no matter how slightly, beyond the effect of the initial amendment.

Speaker’s power to select amendments.

(5) The Speaker shall have power to select or combine amendments or clauses to be proposed at the report stage and may, if he or she thinks fit, call upon any Member who has given notice of an amendment to give such explanation of the subject of the amendment as may enable the Speaker to form a judgement upon it. If an amendment has been selected that has been submitted by more than one Member, the Speaker, after consultation, shall designate which Member shall propose it.

NOTE: The Speaker will not normally select for consideration by the House any motion previously ruled out of order in committee and will normally only select motions which were not or could not be presented in committee. A motion, previously defeated in committee, will only be selected if the Speaker judges it to be of such exceptional significance as to warrant a further consideration at the report stage. The Speaker will not normally select for separate debate a repetitive series of motions which are interrelated and, in making the selection, shall consider whether individual Members will be able to express their concerns during the debate on another motion.

For greater certainty, the purpose of this Standing Order is, primarily, to provide Members who were not members of the committee, with an opportunity to have the House consider specific amendments they wish to propose. It is not meant to be a reconsideration of the committee stage of a bill.

For greater clarity, the Speaker will not select for debate a motion or series of motions of a repetitive, frivolous or vexatious nature or of a nature that would serve merely to prolong unnecessarily proceedings at the report stage and, in exercising this power of selection, the Speaker shall be guided by the practice followed in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.

Debate on the amendments.

(6) When the Order of the Day for the consideration of a report stage is called, any amendment of which notice has been given in accordance with this Standing Order shall be open to debate and amendment.

Limits on speeches.

(7) When debate is permitted, no Member shall speak more than once or longer than ten minutes during proceedings on any amendment at that stage.

Division deferred.

(8) When a recorded division has been demanded on any amendment proposed during the report stage of a bill, the Speaker may defer the calling in of the Members for the purpose of recording the "yeas" and "nays" until more or all subsequent amendments to the bill have been considered.
A recorded division or divisions may be so deferred from sitting to sitting.

NOTE: In cases when there are an unusually great number of amendments for consideration at the report stage, the Speaker may, after consultation with the representatives of the parties, direct that deferred divisions be held before all amendments have been taken into consideration.

Motion when report stage concluded.

(9) When proceedings at the report stage on any bill that has been read a second time have been concluded, a motion "That the bill, as amended, be concurred in" or "That the bill be concurred in" shall be put and forthwith disposed of, without amendment or debate.

Third reading after debate or amendment.

(10) When a bill that has been read a second time has been amended or debate has taken place thereon at the report stage, the same shall be set down for a third reading and passage at the next sitting of the House.

Third reading when no amendment or after Committee of the Whole.

(11) When a bill that has been read a second time has been reported from a standing, special or legislative committee, and no amendment has been proposed thereto at the report stage, and in the case of a bill reported from a Committee of the Whole, with or without amendment, a motion, "That the bill be now read a third time and passed", may be made in the same sitting.

Report stage of bill from a Committee of the Whole.

(12) The consideration of the report stage of a bill from a Committee of the Whole shall be received and forthwith disposed of, without amendment or debate.

Chapter IX / Public Bills / Time Allocation

78

Agreement to allot time.

(1) When a Minister of the Crown, from his or her place in the House, states that there is agreement among the representatives of all parties to allot a specified number of days or hours to the proceedings at one or more stages of any public bill, the Minister may propose a motion, without notice, setting forth the terms of such agreed allocation; and every such motion shall be decided forthwith, without debate or amendment.

Qualified agreement to allot time.

(2)(a) When a Minister of the Crown, from his or her place in the House, states that a majority of the representatives of the several parties have come to an agreement in respect of a proposed allotment of days or hours for the proceedings at any stage of the passing of a public bill, the Minister may propose a motion, without notice, during proceedings under Government Orders, setting forth the terms of the said proposed allocation; provided that for the purposes of this section of this Standing Order an allocation may be proposed in one motion to cover the proceedings at both the report and the third reading stages of a bill if that motion is consistent with the provisions of Standing Order 76.1(10). The motion shall not be subject to debate or amendment, and the Speaker shall put the question on the said motion forthwith. Any proceeding interrupted pursuant to this section of this Standing Order shall be deemed adjourned.

(b) If a motion pursuant to this section regarding any bill is moved and carried at the beginning of Government Orders on any day and if the order for the said bill is then called and debated for the remainder of the sitting day, the length of that debate shall be deemed to be one sitting day for the purposes of paragraph (a) of this section.

Procedure in other cases to allot time.

(3)(a) A Minister of the Crown who from his or her place in the House, at a previous sitting, has stated that an agreement could not be reached under the provisions of sections (1) or (2) of this Standing Order in respect of proceedings at the stage at which a public bill was then under consideration either in the House or in any committee, and has given notice of his or her intention so to do, may propose a motion during proceedings under Government Orders, for the purpose of allotting a specified number of days or hours for the consideration and disposal of proceedings at that stage; provided that the time allotted for any stage is not to be less than one sitting day and provided that for the purposes of this paragraph an allocation may be proposed in one motion to cover the proceedings at both the report and the third reading stages on a bill if that motion is consistent with the provisions of Standing Order 76.1(10). The motion shall not be subject to debate or amendment, and the Speaker shall put the question on the said motion forthwith. Any proceedings interrupted pursuant to this section of this Standing Order shall be deemed adjourned.

(b) If a motion pursuant to this section regarding any bill is moved and carried at the beginning of Government Orders on any day and if the order for the said bill is then called and debated for the remainder of the sitting day, the length of that debate shall be deemed to be one sitting day for the purposes of paragraph (a) of this section.

Chapter X / Financial Procedures / Recommendations

79

Recommendation of Governor General.

(1) This House shall not adopt or pass any vote, resolution, address or bill for the appropriation of any part of the public revenue, or of any tax or impost, to any purpose that has not been first recommended to the House by a message from the Governor General in the session in which such vote, resolution, address or bill is proposed.

Recommendation to be printed.

(2) The message and recommendation of the Governor General in relation to any bill for the appropriation of any part of the public revenue or of any tax or impost shall be printed on the Notice Paper, printed in or annexed to the bill and recorded in the Journals.

Message on Estimates.

(3) When estimates are brought in, the message from the Governor General shall be presented to and read by the Speaker in the House.

Chapter X / Financial Procedures / Supply

81

Order for Supply.

(1) At the commencement of each session, the House shall designate, by motion, a continuing Order of the Day for the consideration of the Business of Supply.

Business of Supply takes precedence over government business.

(2) On any day or days appointed for the consideration of any business under the provisions of this Standing Order, that order of business shall have precedence over all other government business in such sitting or sittings.

Business of Supply defined.

(3) For the purposes of this Order, the Business of Supply shall consist of motions to concur in interim supply, main estimates and supplementary or final estimates; motions to restore or reinstate any item in the estimates; motions to introduce or pass at all stages any bill or bills based thereon; and opposition motions that under this order may be considered on allotted days.

Main estimates referred to and reported by standing committees.

(4) In every session the main estimates to cover the incoming fiscal year for every department of government shall be deemed referred to standing committees on or before March 1 of the then expiring fiscal year. Each such committee shall consider and shall report, or shall be deemed to have reported, the same back to the House not later than May 31 in the then current fiscal year, provided that:

Consideration in Committee of the Whole.

(a) not later than May 1, the Leader of the Opposition, in consultation with the leaders of the other opposition parties, may give notice during the time specified in Standing Order 54 of a motion to refer consideration of the main estimates of no more than two named departments or agencies to committees of the whole, and the said motion shall be deemed adopted and the said estimates shall be deemed withdrawn from the standing committee to which they were referred. Notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Orders 28(2) or 38(5), on any day appointed for the consideration of any business under the provisions of this section, but in any case not later than May 31, consideration of the main estimates of the said department or agency shall be taken up by a Committee of the Whole House at the conclusion of the adjournment proceedings or, if taken up on a Friday, at the conclusion of Private Members’ Business, for a period of time not exceeding four hours. During the time provided for consideration of estimates pursuant to this paragraph, no Member shall be recognized for more than fifteen minutes at a time and the Member shall not speak in debate for more than ten minutes during that period. The fifteen minutes may be used both for debate and for posing questions to the Minister of the Crown or a Parliamentary Secretary acting on behalf of the Minister. When the Member is recognised he or she shall indicate how the fifteen minutes is to be apportioned. At the conclusion of the time provided for the consideration of the business pursuant to this section, the Committee shall rise, the estimates shall be deemed reported and the House shall immediately adjourn to the next sitting day;

Extension of consideration by a committee.

(b) not later than the third sitting day prior to May 31, the Leader of the Opposition may give notice during the time specified in Standing Order 54 of a motion to extend consideration of the main estimates of a named department or agency and the said motion shall be deemed adopted when called on "Motions" on the last sitting day prior to May 31;

Report by the committee.

(c) on the sitting day immediately preceding the final allotted day, but in any case not later than ten sitting days following the day on which any motion made pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section is adopted, at not later than the ordinary hour of daily adjournment, the said committee shall report, or shall be deemed to have reported, the main estimates for the said department or agency; and

Reverting to “Presenting Reports from Committees”.

(d) if the committee shall make a report pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section, the Chair or a member of the committee acting for the Chair may so indicate, on a point of order, prior to the hours indicated in paragraph (c) of this section, and the House shall immediately revert to "Presenting Reports from Committees" for the purpose of receiving the said report.

Supplementary estimates referred to and reported by standing committees.

(5) Supplementary estimates shall be deemed referred to a standing committee or committees immediately [after] they are presented in the House. Each such committee shall consider and shall report, or shall be deemed to have reported, the same back to the House not later than three sitting days before the final sitting or the last allotted day in the current period.

(6) Deleted (October 15, 2001).

Future expenditure plans and priorities.

(7) When main estimates are referred to a standing committee, the committee shall also be empowered to consider and report upon the expenditure plans and priorities in future fiscal years of the departments and agencies whose main estimates are before it.

Presentation of report.

(8) Any report made in accordance with section (7) of this Standing Order may be made up to and including the last normal sitting day in June, as set forth in Standing Order 28(2), and shall be deemed to be subject to the provisions of section (9) of this Standing Order.

Motion to concur in a report.

(9) There shall be no debate on any motion to concur in the report of any standing committee on estimates which have been referred to it except on an allotted day.

Supply periods. Allotted days.

(10)(a) In any calendar year, seven sitting days shall be allotted to the Business of Supply for the period ending not later than December 10; seven additional days shall be allotted to the Business of Supply in the period ending not later than March 26; and eight additional days shall be allotted to the Business of Supply in the period ending not later than June 23; provided that the number of sitting days so allotted may be altered pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of this section. These twenty- two days are to be designated as allotted days. In any calendar year, no more than one fifth of all the allotted days shall fall on a Wednesday and no more than one fifth thereof shall fall on a Friday.

(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), if the House does not sit on days designated as sitting days pursuant to Standing Order 28(2), the total number of allotted days in that supply period shall be reduced by a number of days proportionate to the number of sitting days on which the House stood adjourned, provided that the number of days of the said reduction shall be determined by the Speaker and announced from the Chair.

(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), if the House sits, for purposes other than those set out in Standing Order 28(4), on days designated as days on which the House shall stand adjourned pursuant to Standing Order 28(2), the total number of allotted days in that supply period shall be increased by one day for every five such days during which the House sits.

Unused days added to allotted days.

(11) When any day or days allotted to the Address Debate or to the Budget Debate are not used for those debates, such day or days may be added to the number of allotted days in the period in which they occur.

Final supplementary estimates after close of fiscal year.

(12) When concurrence in any final supplementary estimates relating to the fiscal year that ended on March 31 is sought in the period ending not later than June 23, three days for the consideration of the motion that the House concur in those estimates and for the passage at all stages of any bill to be based thereon shall be added to the days for the Business of Supply in that period.

Opposition motions.

(13) Opposition motions on allotted days may be moved only by Members in opposition to the government and may relate to any matter within the jurisdiction of the Parliament of Canada and also may be used for the purpose of considering reports from standing committees relating to the consideration of estimates therein.

Notice.

(14)(a) Forty-eight hours' written notice shall be given of opposition motions on allotted days, motions to concur in interim supply, main estimates, supplementary or final estimates, to restore or reinstate any item in the estimates. Twenty-four hours' written notice shall be given of a notice to oppose any item in the estimates, provided that for the supply period ending not later than June 23, forty-eight hours' written notice shall be given of a notice to oppose any item in the estimates.

Speaker’s power of selection.

(b) When notice has been given of two or more motions by Members in opposition to the government for consideration on an allotted day, the Speaker shall have power to select which of the proposed motions shall have precedence in that sitting.

Opposition motions have precedence on allotted days.

(15) Opposition motions shall have precedence over all government supply motions on allotted days and shall be disposed of as provided in sections (16), (17), (18) and (19) of this Standing Order.

All motions votable unless designated otherwise.

(16)(a) Every opposition motion is votable unless the sponsor of such a motion designates it as non-votable.

Duration of proceedings.

(b) The duration of proceedings on any opposition motion moved on an allotted day shall be stated in the notice relating to the appointing of an allotted day or days for those proceedings.

(c) Except as provided for in section (18) of this Standing Order, on the last day appointed for proceedings on a motion that shall come to a vote, at fifteen minutes before the expiry of the time provided for Government Orders, the Speaker shall interrupt the proceedings and forthwith put, without further debate or amendment, every question necessary to dispose of the said proceedings.

When question put in December and March periods.

(17) On the last allotted day in the supply periods ending December 10 and March 26, but, in any case, not later than the last sitting day in each of the said periods, at fifteen minutes before the expiry of the time provided for Government Orders, the Speaker shall interrupt the proceedings then in progress and,

Non-votable motions. Putting of questions seriatim.

(a) if those proceedings are not in relation to a motion that shall come to a vote, the Speaker shall put forthwith and successively, without debate or amendment, every question necessary to dispose of any item of business relating to interim supply and supplementary estimates, the restoration or reinstatement of any item in the estimates or any opposed item in the estimates and, notwithstanding Standing Order 71, for the passage at all stages of any bill or bills based thereon; or

Votable motions. Putting of questions seriatim.

(b) if those proceedings are in relation to a motion that shall come to a vote, the Speaker shall first put forthwith, without further debate or amendment, every question necessary to dispose of that proceeding, and forthwith thereafter put successively, without debate or amendment, every question necessary to dispose of any item of business relating to interim supply and supplementary estimates, the restoration or reinstatement of any item in the estimates, or of any opposed item in the estimates and, notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 71, for the passage at all stages of any bill or bills based thereon.

Ordinary hour of adjournment suspended if necessary.

The Standing Orders relating to the ordinary hour of daily adjournment shall remain suspended until all such questions have been decided.

Opposition motion and Main Estimates to be considered on last day of June period.

(18) On the last allotted day in the period ending June 23, the House shall consider an opposition motion and any motion or motions to concur in the Main Estimates, provided that:

Non-votable motion. Expiration of proceedings.

(a) if the opposition motion is not a motion that shall come to a vote, proceedings on the motion shall expire when debate thereon has been concluded or at 6:30 p.m., as the case may be, notwithstanding Standing Order 33(2) and the House shall proceed to consider a motion or motions relating to the Main Estimates; or

Votable motions. Deferral of divisions.

(b) if the opposition motion is a motion that shall come to a vote, unless previously disposed of, at 6:30 p.m. the Speaker shall interrupt the proceedings and put forthwith, without further debate or amendment, every question necessary to dispose of the proceedings and any recorded division requested shall be deferred to the conclusion of consideration of a motion or motions relating to the Main Estimates as set out in section (18)(c); and

When question put in June period.

(c) when proceedings on the opposition motion have been concluded, but in any case not later than 6:30 p.m., the House shall proceed to the consideration of a motion or motions to concur in the Main Estimates, provided that, unless previously disposed of, at not later than 10:00 p.m., the Speaker shall interrupt any proceedings then before the House, and the House shall proceed to the taking of any division or divisions necessary to dispose of the opposition motion deferred pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Standing Order, and the Speaker shall then put forthwith and successively, without further debate or amendment, every question necessary to dispose of the motion or motions to concur in the Main Estimates, and forthwith thereafter put successively, without debate or amendment, every question necessary to dispose of any business relating to the final estimates for the preceding fiscal year or for any supplementary estimates, the restoration or reinstatement of any item in the final or supplementary estimates or any opposed item in the final or supplementary estimates and, notwithstanding Standing Order 71, for the passage at all stages of any bill or bills based on the final, main or supplementary estimates; and

Ordinary hour of adjournment suspended.

(d) the Standing Orders relating to the ordinary hour of daily adjournment shall remain suspended until all such questions pursuant to paragraph (c) have been decided.

Expiration of proceedings.

(19) Proceedings on an opposition motion, which is not a motion that shall come to a vote, shall expire when debate thereon has been concluded or at the expiry of the time provided for Government Orders, as the case may be, provided that the expiry of the said time may be delayed pursuant to Standing Order 33(2) or 45(7.1).

Unopposed items.

(20) The adoption of all unopposed items in any set of estimates may be proposed in one or more motions.

Order to bring in a bill.

(21) The adoption of any motion to concur in any estimate or estimates or interim supply shall be an Order of the House to bring in a bill or bills based thereon.

Time limit on speeches.

(22) During proceedings on any item of business under the provisions of this Standing Order, no Member may speak more than once or longer than twenty minutes.

Chapter XI / Private Members' Business / Order of Precedence

92.1

Intention to substitute item.

(1) Where a report pursuant to Standing Order 92(3)(a) has been presented to the House, the sponsor of the item that has been designated non-votable may, within five sitting days of the presentation of the said report, give written notice of his or her intention to substitute another item of Private Members’ Business for the item designated non-votable.

Sponsor to specify another item on Order paper or Notice Paper.

(2) When notice has been given pursuant to section (1) of this Standing Order, the sponsor of the item who has other notices of motion on the Order paper or Notice Paper or bills on the Order paper set down for consideration at the second reading stage shall, when forwarding that notice, inform the Clerk which of his or her items is to replace the non-votable item in the order of precedence and, notwithstanding any other Standing Order, that item shall retain its place in the order of precedence and shall remain subject to the application of Standing Orders 86 to 99.

If no item, Sponsor to submit one within 20 days.

(3) When notice has been given pursuant to section (1) of this Standing Order, the sponsor of the item who does not have a notice of motion on the Order paper or Notice Paper or a bill on the Order paper set down for consideration at the second reading stage shall, within 20 days of the deposit of the report pursuant to Standing Order 92(3)(a), have another notice of motion on the Order paper or Notice Paper or a bill on the Order paper set down for consideration at the second reading stage and, notwithstanding any other Standing Order, that item shall be placed at the bottom of the order of precedence and shall remain subject to the application of Standing Orders 86 to 99.

No item submitted. Name dropped.

(4) If at the end of the time provided for in section (3) of this Standing Order, the Member whose name is in the order of precedence does not have a notice of motion on the Order paper or Notice Paper, or a bill set down on the Order paper for consideration at second reading stage, then the name of the Member shall be dropped from the Order paper.

Chapter XI / Private Members' Business / Order of Precedence

94

Speaker’s responsibility.

(1)(a) The Speaker shall make all arrangements necessary to ensure the orderly conduct of Private Members' Business including:

Notice of items to be considered.

(i) ensuring that all Members have not less than twenty-four hours' notice of items to be considered during "Private Members' Hour"; and

Publication of notice.

(ii) ensuring that the notice required by subparagraph (i) of this paragraph is published in the Notice Paper.

Private Members’ Hour suspended when notice not published.

(b) In the event of it not being possible to provide the twenty-four hours' notice required by subparagraph (i) of this section, "Private Members' Hour" shall be suspended for that day and the House shall continue with or revert to the business before it prior to "Private Members' Hour" until the ordinary hour of daily adjournment.

Forty-eight hours’ notice required when Member unable to move his or her item. Speaker to arrange an exchange.

(2)(a) When a Member has given at least forty-eight hours' written notice that he or she is unable to be present to move his or her motion under Private Members' Business on the date required by the order of precedence, the Speaker, with permission of the Members involved, may arrange for an exchange of positions in the order of precedence with a Member whose motion or bill has been placed in the order of precedence, provided that, with respect to the Member accepting the exchange, all of the requirements of Standing Order 92 necessary for the Member’s item to be called for debate have been complied with.

When no arrangement can be made, business before House to continue.

(b) In the event that the Speaker has been unable to arrange an exchange, the House shall continue with the business before it prior to "Private Members' Hour".

Limitation on exchanges.

(c) When an item is placed at the bottom of the order of precedence pursuant to Standing Order 42(2) or 94(2)(b), that shall be indicated on the Order paper by marking the item with an asterisk and

(i) the sponsor shall be prohibited from requesting an exchange pursuant to Standing Order 94(2)(a); and

(ii) notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 42(2), if the item is not proceeded with when next called, it shall be dropped from the Order paper.

Chapter XI / Private Members' Business / Order of Precedence

97.1

Committee Report.

(1) A standing, special or legislative committee to which a Private Member's public bill has been referred shall in every case, within sixty sitting days from the date of the bill's reference to the committee, either report the bill to the House with or without amendment or present to the House a report containing a recommendation not to proceed further with the bill and giving the reasons therefor or requesting a single extension of thirty sitting days to consider the bill, and giving the reasons therefor. If no bill or report is presented by the end of the sixty sitting days where no extension has been approved by the House, or by the end of the thirty sitting day extension if approved by the House, the bill shall be deemed to have been reported without amendment.

Report recommending not to proceed further with a bill. Motion placed on Notice Paper.

(2)(a) Immediately after the presentation of a report containing a recommendation not to proceed further with a bill pursuant to section (1)of this Standing Order, the Clerk of the House shall cause to be placed on the Notice Paper a notice of motion for concurrence in the report, which shall stand in the name of the Member presenting the report. No other notice of motion for concurrence in the report shall be placed on the Notice Paper.

(b) When a notice given pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Standing Order is transferred to the Order paper under “Motions”, it shall be set down for consideration only pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Standing Order.

Debate on the motion.

(c) Debate on the motion to concur in a report containing a recommendation not to proceed further with a bill shall be taken up at the end of the time provided for the consideration of Private Members’ Business on a day fixed, after consultation, by the Speaker. The motion shall be deemed to be proposed and shall be considered for not more than one hour, provided that:

Time limit on speeches.

(i) during consideration of any such motion, no Member shall speak more than once or for more than ten minutes;

Voting.

(ii) unless previously disposed of, not later than the end of the said hour of consideration, the Speaker shall interrupt the proceedings and put forthwith and successively, without further debate or amendment, every question necessary to dispose of the motion; and

Deferral of recorded divisions.

(iii) any recorded division demanded pursuant to Standing Order 45(1) shall be deemed deferred to the next Wednesday, immediately before the time provided for Private Members’ Business.

Motion adopted and proceedings on bill come to an end.

(d) When a motion to concur in a report containing a recommendation not to proceed further with a bill is adopted, all proceedings on the bill shall come to an end.

Motion negatived and bill deemed reported.

(e) When a motion to concur in a report containing a recommendation not to proceed further with a bill is negatived, the bill shall be deemed to have been reported without amendment.

Proceedings on a motion not concluded by 60th sitting day.

(f) If proceedings on a motion to concur in a report of a committee containing a recommendation not to proceed further with a bill have not been concluded by the sixtieth sitting day following the date of the referral of the bill to the committee, or by the end of the thirty day extension, if one has been granted pursuant to sections (1) and (3) of this Standing Order, the said bill shall remain before the committee until proceedings on the motion to concur in the report have been concluded.

Request for an extension.

(3)(a) Upon presentation of a report requesting an extension of thirty sitting days to consider a bill referred to in section (1) of this Standing Order, a motion to concur in the report shall be deemed moved, the question deemed put, and a recorded division deemed demanded and deferred to the next Wednesday, immediately before the time provided for Private Members’ Business.

Proceedings on report requesting an extension not concluded by 60th sitting day.

(b) If proceedings on any motion to concur in a report of a committee requesting an extension of thirty sitting days to consider a bill have not been concluded by the sixtieth sitting day following the date of the referral of the bill to the committee, the said bill shall remain before the committee until proceedings on the motion to concur in the report have been concluded, provided that:

(i) should the motion to concur in the report be adopted, the committee shall have an extension until the ninetieth sitting day following the date of the referral of the bill to the committee; or

(ii) should the motion to concur in the report be negatived, the bill shall be deemed to have been reported without amendment.

Chapter XI / Private Members' Business / Order of Precedence

98

Bill to be placed at bottom of the order of precedence after committee stage.

(1) When a Private Member's bill is reported from a standing, special or legislative committee or a Committee of the Whole House, or is deemed to have been reported pursuant to Standing Orders 86.1 or 97.1, the order for consideration of the bill at report stage shall be placed at the bottom of the order of precedence notwithstanding Standing Order 87.

Two-day debate at certain stages of a bill.

(2) The report and third reading stages of a Private Member's bill shall be taken up on two sitting days, unless previously disposed of, provided that once consideration has been interrupted on the first such day the order for the remaining stage or stages shall be placed at the bottom of the order of precedence and shall be again considered when the said bill reaches the top of the said order.

Extension of sitting hours. Limited to five hours.

(3) When the report or third reading stages of the said bill are before the House on the first of the sitting days provided pursuant to section (2) of this Standing Order, and if the said bill has not been disposed of prior to the end of the first thirty minutes of consideration, during any time then remaining, any one Member may propose a motion to extend the time for the consideration of any remaining stages on the second of the said sitting days during a period not exceeding five consecutive hours, which shall begin at the end of the time provided for Private Members’ Business, except on a Monday when the period shall begin at the ordinary hour of daily adjournment, on the second sitting day, provided that:

Support of twenty Members.

(a) the motion shall be put forthwith without debate or amendment and shall be deemed withdrawn if fewer than twenty Members rise in support thereof; and

No subsequent motion unless intervening proceeding.

(b) a subsequent such motion shall not be put unless there has been an intervening proceeding.

When question put.

(4)(a) On the second sitting day provided pursuant to section (2) of this Standing Order, unless previously disposed of, at the end of the time provided for the consideration thereof, any proceedings then before the House shall be interrupted and every question necessary to dispose of the then remaining stage or stages of the said bill shall be put forthwith and successively without further debate or amendment.

Recorded division.

(b) Any recorded division on an item of Private Members’ Business demanded pursuant to Standing Order 45(1) shall be deemed deferred to the next Wednesday, immediately before the time provided for Private Members’ Business.

Suspension of adjournment hour in certain cases.

(5) If consideration has been extended pursuant to section (3) of this Standing Order, the Standing Orders relating to the ordinary hour of daily adjournment shall be suspended until all questions necessary to dispose of the said bill have been put.

Chapter XIII / Committees / Mandate

108

Powers of standing committees.

(1)(a) Standing committees shall be severally empowered to examine and enquire into all such matters as may be referred to them by the House, to report from time to time and to print a brief appendix to any report, after the signature of the Chair, containing such opinions or recommendations, dissenting from the report or supplementary to it, as may be proposed by committee members, and except when the House otherwise orders, to send for persons, papers and records, to sit while the House is sitting, to sit during periods when the House stands adjourned, to sit jointly with other standing committees, to print from day to day such papers and evidence as may be ordered by them, and to delegate to subcommittees all or any of their powers except the power to report directly to the House.

Power to create subcommittees.

(b) Standing Committees shall be empowered to create subcommittees of which the membership may be drawn from among both the list of members and the list of associate members provided for in Standing Order 104, who shall be deemed to be members of that committee for the purposes of this Standing Order.

Additional powers of standing committees.

(2) The standing committees, except those set out in sections (3)(a), (3)(f), (3)(h) and (4) of this Standing Order, shall, in addition to the powers granted to them pursuant to section (1) of this Standing Order and pursuant to Standing Order 81, be empowered to study and report on all matters relating to the mandate, management and operation of the department or departments of government which are assigned to them from time to time by the House. In general, the committees shall be severally empowered to review and report on:

(a) the statute law relating to the department assigned to them;

(b) the program and policy objectives of the department and its effectiveness in the implementation of same;

(c) the immediate, medium and long-term expenditure plans and the effectiveness of implementation of same by the department;

(d) an analysis of the relative success of the department, as measured by the results obtained as compared with its stated objectives; and

(e) other matters, relating to the mandate, management, organization or operation of the department, as the committee deems fit.

Mandate of certain standing committees.

(3) The mandate of the Standing Committee on:

Procedure and House Affairs.

(a) Procedure and House Affairs shall include, in addition to the duties set forth in Standing Order 104, and among other matters:

(i) the review of and report on, to the Speaker as well as the Board of Internal Economy, the administration of the House and the provision of services and facilities to Members provided that all matters related thereto shall be deemed to have been permanently referred to the Committee upon its membership having been established;

(ii) the review of and report on the effectiveness, management and operation, together with the operational and expenditure plans of all operations which are under the joint administration and control of the two Houses except with regard to the Library of Parliament and other related matters as the Committee deems fit;

(iii) the review of and report on the Standing Orders, procedure and practice in the House and its committees;

(iv) the consideration of business related to private bills;

(v) the review of and report on the radio and television broadcasting of the proceedings of the House and its committees;

(vi) the review of and report on all matter relating to the election of Members to the House of Commons;

(vii) the review of and report on the annual report of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner with respect to his or her responsibilities under the Parliament of Canada Act relating to Members of Parliament, which shall be deemed permanently referred to the Committee immediately after it is laid upon the Table; and

(viii) the review of and report on all matters relating to the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons.

Citizenship and Immigration.

(b) Citizenship and Immigration shall include, among other matters, the monitoring of the implementation of the principles of the federal multiculturalism policy throughout the Government of Canada in order:

(i) to encourage the departments and agencies of the federal government to reflect the multicultural diversity of the nation; and

(ii) to examine existing and new programs and policies of federal departments and agencies to encourage sensitivity to multicultural concerns and to preserve and enhance the multicultural reality of Canada;

Government Operations and Estimates.

(c) Government Operations and Estimates shall include, among other matters:

(i) the review of and report on the effectiveness, management and operation, together with operational and expenditure plans of the central departments and agencies;

(ii) the review of and report on the effectiveness, management and operation, together with operational and expenditure plans relating to the use of new and emerging information and communications technologies by the government;

(iii) the review of and report on the effectiveness, management and operation of specific operational and expenditure items across all departments and agencies;

(iv) the review of and report on the Estimates of programs delivered by more than one department or agency;

(v) with regard to items under consideration as a result of Standing Orders 108(3)(c)(i), (ii) or (iii), in coordination with any affected standing committee and in accordance with Standing Order 79, the committee shall be empowered to amend Votes that have been referred to other standing committees;

(vi) the review of and report on reports of the Public Service Commission which shall be deemed permanently referred to the Committee immediately after they are laid upon the Table;

(vii) the review of and report on the process for considering the estimates and supply, including the format and content of all estimates documents;

(viii) the review of and report on the effectiveness, management and operation, together with operational and expenditure plans arising from supplementary estimates;

(ix) the review of and report on the effectiveness, management and operation, together with operational and expenditure plans of Crown Corporations and agencies that have not been specifically referred to another standing committee; and

(x) in cooperation with other committees, the review of and report on the effectiveness, management and operation, together with operational and expenditure plans of statutory programs, tax expenditures, loan guarantees, contingency funds and private foundation that derive the majority of their funding from the Government of Canada;

and any other matter which the House shall, from time to time, refer to the Standing Committee.

Human Resources, Skills, and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities.

(d) Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities shall include, among other matters, the proposing, promoting, monitoring and assessing of initiatives aimed at the integration and equality of disabled persons in all sectors of Canadian society;

Justice and Human Rights.

(e) Justice and Human Rights shall include, among other matters, the review and report on reports of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, which shall be deemed permanently referred to the Committee immediately after they are laid upon the Table;

Official Languages.

(f) Official Languages shall include, among other matters, the review of and report on official languages policies and programs, including Reports of the Commissioner of Official Languages, which shall be deemed permanently referred to the Committee immediately after they are laid upon the Table;

Public Accounts.

(g) Public Accounts shall include, among other matters, review of and report on the Public Accounts of Canada and all reports of the Auditor General of Canada, which shall be severally deemed permanently referred to the Committee immediately after they are laid upon the Table;

Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics.

(h) Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics shall include, among other matters:

(i) the review of and report on the effectiveness, management and operation together with the operational and expenditure plans relating to the Information Commissioner;

(ii) the review of and report on the effectiveness, management and operation together with the operational and expenditure plans relating to the Privacy Commissioner;

(iii) the review of and report on the effectiveness, management and operation together with the operational and expenditure plans relating to the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner;

(iv) the review of and report on reports of the Privacy Commissioner, the Information Commissioner and the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner with respect to his or her responsibilities under the Parliament of Canada Act relating to public office holders and on reports tabled pursuant to the Lobbyists Registration Act, which shall be severally deemed permanently referred to the Committee immediately after they are laid upon the Table;

(v) in cooperation with other committees, the review of and report on any federal legislation, regulation or Standing Order which impacts upon the access to information or privacy of Canadians or the ethical standards of public office holders;

(vi) the proposing, promoting, monitoring and assessing of initiatives which relate to access to information and privacy across all sectors of Canadian society and to ethical standards relating to public office holders;

and any other matter which the House shall from time to time refer to the Standing Committee.

Mandate of Standing Joint Committees.

(4) So far as this House is concerned, the mandates of the Standing Joint Committee on

Library of Parliament.

(a) the Library of Parliament shall include the review of the effectiveness, management and operation of the Library of Parliament;

Scrutiny of Regulations.

(b) Scrutiny of Regulations shall include, among other matters, the review and scrutiny of statutory instruments which are permanently referred to the Committee pursuant to section 19 of the Statutory Instruments Act;

Provided that both Houses may, from time to time, refer any other matter to any of the aforementioned Standing Joint Committees.

Chapter XIII / Committees / Meetings

119

Only members may vote or move motion.

Any Member of the House who is not a member of a standing, special or legislative committee, may, unless the House or the committee concerned otherwise orders, take part in the public proceedings of the committee, but may not vote or move any motion, nor be part of any quorum.