Emergency Debates / Motions to Adjourn – Emergency Debates

Guidelines: Speaker not bound to give reasons for his decision; not in order for Members to reflect on decision; leave not granted

Debates, pp. 11980-1

Context

On May 29, 1990, Miss Deborah Grey (Beaver River) rose pursuant to Standing Order 52 to ask for leave to move the adjournment of the House to discuss the constitutional crisis which was building in Canada. The Speaker ruled immediately and denied the application. Mr. Alex Kindy (Calgary Northeast) rose to comment on the Speaker's ruling. The Speaker reminded the Member that it was not appropriate to argue with a Speaker's ruling on the decision on an emergency debate.[1] The initial decision and the Speaker's additional remarks are reproduced below.

Decision of the Chair

Mr. Speaker: The honourable Member for Beaver River has applied under Standing Order 52 for an emergency debate on a matter which I am sure all Members of this House agree is a very important one.

However I must point out that the matter is being raised on a daily basis. The honourable Member has another course to follow by which she could debate the matter.

As a consequence, today I am not inclined to grant her application. It has nothing to do with whether or not the matter is serious. We all know it is serious. At this time, and I say at this time, I think it would be inappropriate.

I thank the honourable Member for giving me notice, and I thank her for her intervention.

[…]

Order. I must interrupt the honourable Member for Calgary Northeast. It is not appropriate to argue with the Speaker's ruling.

At the time the reform committee considered the whole question of applications for emergency debate, it was recommended that the Speaker give no reasons at all.

All that the Speaker did in this case is remind honourable Members that the matter has been raised continually, which of course it has been, and that there is for the honourable Member another approach to the matter.

I have great respect for the honourable Member, but he is not in order in arguing with the Speaker on an application for an emergency debate.

F0808-e

34-2

1990-05-29

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[1] Debates, May 29, 1990, p. 11980.