Precedence and Sequence of Business / Business of the House

Special order; priority over a motion to adjourn the House

Debates p. 354

Background

When the sitting opened at 11:00 o'clock a.m., the House was operating under an order, adopted on December 15, to concur in the report of the Committee of the Whole on Bill C-2, An Act to amend the statute law relating to income tax and to make related amendments to the Canada Pension Plan and the Unemployment Insurance Act (1971), before 6:00 p.m. When the sitting resumed at 2:00 p.m., Mr. Nielsen (Yukon) attempted to rise on a point of order. The Speaker interrupted him immediately to remind him that points of order could not be raised at that stage of the House's deliberations, dealing with "Statements by Members" and "Oral Questions". She suggested that the Member raise his point of order later. Mr. Nielsen subsequently moved, under "Statements by Members", "That this House do now adjourn." The Speaker ruled immediately.

Issue

Can a motion to adjourn be moved by a private Member when the House has already decided by special order to proceed on that day with a specific matter?

Decision

No. The motion is out of order.

Reasons given by the Speaker

A motion to adjourn the House "is not in order since the House is operating under an order which stipulates that all votes pertaining to certain questions should be put at six o'clock".... According to the Standing Orders, "the House shall not be adjourned before such proceedings have been completed except pursuant to a motion to adjourn proposed by a Minister of the Crown".

Sources cited

Standing Order 8(3).

References

Debates, December 15, 1983, pp. 223-4.