Selected Decisions of Speaker Lucien Lamoureux 1966 – 1974
Adjournment Motion Proposed Under Standing Order 26 / Application Accepted
Debate urgent
Debates pp. 7893-4
Background
Shortly after the House met, the Speaker announced that he had received two notices of motion for the adjournment of the House that were substantially the same. Since only one notice had been received within the time limit set for notices by the rules, the Speaker decided to call upon that Member to propose his motion. Accordingly, Mr. Douglas (Nanaimo-Cowichan-The Islands) sought leave to move the adjournment of the House, under the provisions of Standing Order 26, in order to discuss "the resignation of the Minister of Transport (Mr. Hellyer), because of the failure of the Government to agree to take action to increase the housing supply in Canada, and the consequent danger of further delay in the taking of adequate legislative and financial steps to meet the housing crisis that now faces this country". In rendering his decision, the Speaker also made reference to the second motion which had been proposed by Mr. Stanfield (Leader of the Opposition).
Issue
Does the application meet the requirements of Standing Order 26?
Decision
Yes. The application is accepted. [The Speaker directed that the matter be set aside until 2:00 p.m. the next day to allow for a debate scheduled for today by a special order. Moreover, the Speaker indicated that the beginning of the adjournment debate was conditional upon the disposition of certain procedural issues related to a government bill.]
Reasons given by the Speaker
Despite misgivings as to whether the matter should or might be raised in another form (that is, a motion of confidence), the motion will be allowed. Taken separately, neither the question of housing and the Government's policy related to it nor the resignation of a Minister responsible for that policy would necessitate an adjournment debate. "... however, when these two events are tied together it seems to the Chair there is a matter of urgency which may very well satisfy the provisions of Standing Order 26 in respect of the matter of urgency of debate."