Precedence and Sequence / Miscellaneous

Extension of a sitting

Journals, pp. 434-6

Debates, pp. 3838-9

Background

During debate on Estimates in Committee of Supply, the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole (Mr. Batten) interrupted the deliberations to announce that in accordance with special orders adopted on April 26 and June 26, he intended to put forthwith the question on all votes before the Committee of Supply. Mr. Bell (Carleton) raised a point of order to ask which, if any, provision of the Standing Orders permitted a Committee of Supply to continue sitting after 10:00 p.m. The Chairman of the Committee of the Whole ruled that in his opinion the authority to sit beyond 10:00 p.m. and to proceed with the business of supply was to be found in the provisional amendment to Standing Order 56 and in Standing Order 6(5)(b). The ruling was appealed; when the Speaker took the Chair, he upheld the Chairman's decision.

Issue

Can the House extend its hours of sitting in order to dispose of business governed by a special order?

Decision

Yes. The House can extend its hours of sitting in order to terminate business governed by a special order.

Reasons given by the Speaker

According to the Standing Order governing supply, consideration of this matter must be terminated when the number of allotted days has expired. Since this is the last such day, the sitting must continue in order to complete the current business, and cannot be adjourned except by a motion to that effect made by a Minister of the Crown.

Sources cited

Standing Orders 6(5)(b) and 56.

Journals, April 26, 1967, pp. 1769-74; June 26, 1967, pp. 163-4.

References

Debates, November 2, 1967, pp. 3831-8.