Rules of Debate / Miscellaneous

Length of debate; second reading; eight-hour rule

Debates p. 25477

Background

On May 13, during the second reading of Bill C-155, An Act to facilitate transportation, shipping and handling of western grain and to amend certain acts in consequence thereof, Mr. Benjamin (Regina West) raised a point of order contending that the ten minutes reserved for questions and comments following a Member's speech should not be taken into account when calculating the eight hours of consideration of a bill at second reading. After hearing Member's comments, the Acting Speaker (Mr. Blaker) took the matter under consideration and the Deputy Speaker ruled at the next sitting.

Issue

Is the ten-minute period reserved for questions and comments following a Member's speech included in the calculation of the eight hours of second reading.

Decision

Yes. The ten-minute period reserved for questions and comments is included in the calculation of the eight hours.

Reasons given by the Deputy Speaker

The practice developed since the beginning of the year confirms the interpretation given to the provisional Standing Orders and the intent of the Third Report of the Special Committee on Standing Orders and Procedure to the effect that the ten-minute period reserved for questions and comments following a Member's speech has always been included in determining the eight-hour period.

Sources cited

Special Committee on Standing Orders and Procedure, Third Report, November 5, 1982, Issue No. 7, pp. 16-7.

Standing Order 35(2).

References

Debates, May 13, 1983, pp. 25463-5.