Adjournment Motion Proposed Under Standing Order 26 / Application Not Accepted

Debate not urgent

Debates pp. 4358-9

Background

Mr. Lewis (York South) sought leave to move the adjournment of the House, under the provisions of Standing Order 26, in order to discuss "the extremely serious situation confronting the people of this country as a result of the mounting unemployment as reflected in the figures released today by the Dominion Bureau of Statistics [U]rgent consideration of this matter by the House is required so that there may be an immediate opportunity for a discussion of policies to deal with this threatening situation."

Issue

Does the application meet the requirements of Standing Order 26?

Decision

No. The application is not accepted.

Reasons given by the Speaker

Among the conditions to be met in moving the adjournment of the House under Standing Order 26, both in its new and old forms, is that the subject-matter "must relate to a genuine emergency calling for immediate and urgent consideration". An element of suddenness is an essential aspect of the meaning of emergency. Based on previous rulings to similar applications, the problem of unemployment, though important, is not sudden but continuous, and the application cannot be justified by the terms of the Standing Order.

Sources cited

Debates, January 14, 1958, pp. 3288-9; March 23, 1959, pp. 2134-6; February 17, 1960, pp. 1149-53.