Privilege / Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous; committees; schedule of meetings

Journals pp. 349-50

Debates pp. 3601-2

Background

On February 16, as the House proceeded to Orders of the Day, Mr. McGrath (St. John's East) rose on a point of order to question the regularity or propriety of having standing committees meet at the same time that the House is sitting in Committee of the Whole. Such a scheduling conflict, he claimed, was infringing his privileges as a Member. The following day, Mr. McGrath raised the matter again, this time as a question of privilege. On both occasions, the Speaker commented that the practice was not new and was sanctioned by the Standing Orders. Several days later, the Speaker ruled.

Issue

Does holding concurrent meetings of the House or the Committee of the Whole and standing committees constitute a question of privilege?

Decision

There is no question of privilege. [The Chair does recognize, however, that there can be some difficulties when various meetings of the House and standing committees are scheduled for the same time and recommends that this problem be studied by representatives of the different parties.]

Reasons given by the Speaker

Reviewing the practice of the House since 1952, the Chair has had "little difficulty in establishing that Committees of the Whole and standing committees have in fact sat concurrently throughout those years... It would seem that this practice rightly or wrongly has been confirmed by the recent revision of the Standing Orders of the House." The House may also wish to consider the practice of Westminster where proceedings of standing committees are interrupted for votes called in Committee of the Whole. This practice is not unlike what is done here when committee proceedings are interrupted for votes called in the House.

Sources cited

Standing Order 74(1), (2).

British House of Commons, Standing Order 81.

May, 17th ed., p. 1084.

References:

Debates, February 16, 1971, pp. 3429-32; February 17, 1971, pp. 3469-71.