Adjournment Motions for Emergency Debates / Application not Accepted

January 27, 1986

Debates p. 10196

Miss Nicholson (Trinity) sought leave to move the adjournment of the House under Standing Order 31 to discuss the drop in the exchange value of the Canadian dollar vis-a-vis the U.S. dollar. The Speaker ruled immediately.

Issue

Did the application meet the requirements of Standing Order 31?

Decision

No. The application was not accepted.

Reasons given by the Speaker

While the pressure on the Canadian dollar is a matter of grave concern, it is a problem of a continuing nature rather than that of a sudden emergency. The Chair has consistently ruled that ongoing problems cannot be raised on an emergency basis except in very special circumstances. This interpretation is supported by Speaker Sauvé's ruling in 1982 with respect to exchange rates and Speaker Jerome's ruling in 1976 on the subject of rising unemployment. While no allotted days have yet been designated, it is probable that an opportunity will a rise to debate this matter within a reasonable period of time.

(Requests for emergency debates on the same or a similar subject were subsequently made on February 3, 1986 (Debates, p.10381) and February 14, 1986 (Debates, p. 10830). The Speaker refused these applications on similar grounds.)