Routine Proceedings / Presenting Reports from Standing and Special Committees

Presenting reports from standing and special committees

Journals pp. 194-5

Debates pp. 879-80

Background

After presentation to the House of the final report by the Special Joint Committee of the Senate and the House of Commons on the Constitution of Canada, Mr. Asselin (Charlevoix) rose on a point of order to ask that the general rule of the House that a minority report may not be presented with the main report be suspended in this case, as the reporting committee was a special committee. After listening to Members' comments, the Speaker ruled.

Issue

Is it permissible to present one or more minority reports to the House at the same time as a main report?

Decision

No. Both the Standing Orders and parliamentary practice forbid the presentation of minority reports.

Reasons given by the Speaker

No precedent permits the Chair to allow the submission of one or more minority reports. However, there is nothing in the precedents that forbids the inclusion in a committee report of dissident or minority opinions held by certain Members. The suggestion that Parliament allow committee members to express dissident opinions in a minority report could be considered by the Standing Committee on Procedure and Organization; it is not for the Speaker to make such a decision.

Sources cited

Journals, 1874, Appendix 9, p. 144, (Report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts).

Beauchesne, 4th ed., p. 249, c. 319.

Bourinot, 4th ed., p. 472.

References

Debates, March 16, 1972, pp. 872-9.