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Since the early 1990s, a number of take-note motions have been debated in the House or in Committee of the Whole.[159] These debates solicit the views of Members on some aspect of government policy and allow Members to participate in policy development, making their views known before the government makes a decision.[160] Standing committees studying the idea of take-note debates in 1993 and 1994 saw them as an alternative to emergency debates, which could only be authorized by the Speaker after a series of criteria had been met.[161] As most of the House’s time was spent considering legislation, take-note debates were viewed as an opportunity for Members to address national issues in a detailed manner. However, early proposals to establish a procedure for such debates were not adopted by the House.[162] In the early years, the government normally gave notice of a motion to take note of some matter and called it for debate during Government Orders.[163] In other cases, the House adopted a special order scheduling a take-note debate on a specific issue for a specific time.[164] In 2001, after experimenting with the Committee of the Whole format, the House adopted a new Standing Order governing the timetable and the holding of take‑note debates in Committees of the Whole.[165] Although the House uses this Standing Order for most of its take-note debates, it can still hold take-note debates during Government Orders by considering a government motion.[166] Over the years, take-note debates have covered a wide range of domestic and international issues, including cruise missile testing, Canada’s commitment in Afghanistan, and the situation in the Canadian textile industry.[167]
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