Adjournment Motion Proposed under Standing Order 30 / Application not Accepted

Debate not urgent; other opportunities for debate; sub judice

Debates p. 1766

Background

Ms. Jewett (New Westminster—Coquitlam) sought leave to move the adjournment of the House, under the provisions of Standing Order 30, in order to discuss the testing of the U.S. air-launched cruise missile over Canadian soil, scheduled to take place on March 6, 1984. Ms. Jewett stated that the Canadian public had received insufficient notice of the testing plans and that a decision of the Supreme Court was pending on an application to suspend the tests.

Issue

Does the application meet the requirements of Standing Order 30?

Decision

No. The application is not accepted.

Reasons given by the Speaker

Under Standing Order 30, the Speaker must consider the "probability of the matter being brought before the House within reasonable time by other means." There have been and will be various opportunities to debate the matter without setting aside the normal business of the House. The Government's intention to allow the cruise missile testing has been well-known for some time and therefore the issue does not constitute a sudden emergency. The Supreme Court's pending decision on the application to suspend the testing leaves the matter sub judice and therefore excluded from those subjects which may be debated under Standing Order 30.

Sources cited

Beauchesne, 5th ed., p. 92, c. 288.