Adjournment Motion Proposed Under Standing Order 26 / Application Accepted

Urgent issue

Journals pp. 801-2

Debates p. 7863

Background

Mr. Woolliams (Calgary North) and Mr. Burton (Regina) separately sought leave to move the adjournment of the House, under the provisions of Standing Order 26, in order to discuss the payments owed by the Government to the Canadian Wheat Board, a situation causing serious hardship to the farmers concerned. The motion of Mr. Woolliams referred to "the serious cost squeeze and present economic plight of the farmer which has been further aggravated and their income seriously reduced by the failure of the Canadian Wheat Board to receive moneys for storage of grain... from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of Canada". Similarly, Mr. Burton's motion raised the issue of "the urgent need for the Government to make the payments to the Canadian Wheat Board specified in the Temporary Wheat Reserves Act of 1956, so that an immediate improvement can be made in the economic position of western farmers."

Issue

Do the applications meet the requirements of Standing Order 26?

Decision

Yes. The applications are accepted. [Mr. Woolliams was recognized to move the adjournment of the House.]

Reasons given by the Speaker

A number of motions made under Standing Order 26 have been rejected because they have been, in essence, motions of censure or non-confidence; this motion, however, refers to the situation of western farmers relating to the payment or non-payment of certain sums to the Canadian Wheat Board.

Although this matter could be debated on a supply motion, the Chair has no indication when such an opportunity might arise, and thus allows the debate to be held.

Sources cited

Debates, September 15, 1971, p. 7831.

References

Debates, September 16, 1971, p. 7890.