Routine Proceedings / Introduction of Bills

Private Members' bills

Journals pp. 37-8

Debates pp. 385-6

Background

As the House proceeded to the introduction of private Members' public bills for the first time in the session, the Speaker made a statement regarding the handling of the more-than-100 private Members' public bills listed for introduction on the Order Paper.

Issue

Can private Members' public bills be introduced and given first reading before the Chair has had the opportunity to determine whether they are in proper form?

Decision

Yes, with unanimous consent and subject to an examination by the Chair as to the procedural regularity of each bill before its second reading.

Reasons given by the Speaker

Since the Chair did not have the opportunity to examine each bill in detail, it is suggested that the House follow the procedure agreed upon in several recent sessions: by unanimous consent, all the bills will be deemed introduced and given first reading, subject to an examination before second reading to determine if there are any defects in the bills with respect to the practices and usages of the House. For the information of the Members, certain practices seem to have evolved in connection with private Members' public bills. Some Members introduce a considerable number of bills, which take up a disproportionate share of the time allotted for private Members' business. There is also an increasing tendency to include money provisions in private Members' bills. The sponsors of the bills will have to satisfy the Chair that such bills are in order. Some bills include matters of debate, purportedly as explanatory notes. The inclusion of such material under the guise of an explanatory note contravenes the rules of the House.

References

Journals, January 24, 1966, p. 38; May 11, 1967, p. 27; September 20, 1968. p. 54; October 30, 1969, pp. 40-1.