Rules of Debate - Order and Decorum / Question-and-comment Period

Continuing after adjournment

Debates pp. 8075-6

Background

The House resumed debate on Bill C-80 (Act to amend the Excise Tax Act and the Excise Act) after the mid-day interruption, and Mr. Cassidy (Ottawa Centre) rose to speak in the time remaining for questions and comments on Mr. Caccia's (Davenport) speech. The Speaker pointed out that since Mr. Caccia was no longer in the House, the time for questions and comments on his speech would not continue. Mr. Prud'homme (Saint-Denis) and Mr. Cassidy rose to comment on the Speaker's statement.

Issue

When the House resumes debate, are Members entitled to complete the time for questions and comments remaining on the previous speech if the Member who gave that speech is no longer in the House?

Decision

No. The time for questions and comments expires.

Reasons given by the Speaker

The report that brought in the proposal for questions and comments makes it clear that the intention of the ten-minute period is to allow a back and forth exchange between the person who made the speech and those who wish to put forward questions and comments after it. When debate has been adjourned for a normal period of time, it does not seem sensible to allow the questions and comments to continue in the unavoidable absence of the Member who spoke. Following comments the Speaker pointed out that this should not be interpreted to mean that the question-and-comment period can be obviated by a Member making a speech and then immediately leaving the Chamber.

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Sources cited

Special Committee on Standing Orders and Procedure, Third Report, November 5, 1982, p. 7:16.