Time Limits on Debates and Lengths of Speeches
| Proceeding | Time Limit on Debate | Notes on the Debate | Member Speaking | Length of Speech | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne | Not exceeding 6 sitting days for resuming debate — S.O. 50(1) | 15 min. before the end of the time provided for the Address debate on 2nd day, question put on subamdt.; 30 min. before the end of that time on 4th day, question put on 2nd subamdt. (if any) and on amdt.; and 15 min. before the end of that time on 6th day, question put on main motion — S.O. 50(4), (5), (7) | Any member | 20 minutes — S.O. 50(2) | 10-minute question-and-comment period — S.O. 43(1)(b) |
| Adjournment Proceedings | 30 minutes — S.O. 38(1) | 10 min. maximum for each question (no more than 3 questions) — S.O. 38(2) | Member raising question | 4 minutes and 1 minute to reply — S.O. 38(5) | |
| Minister or parliamentary secretary responding | 4 minutes and 1 minute to respond to the reply — S.O. 38(5) | ||||
| Bill, introduction on motion for leave | No debate — S.O. 68(2) | Member moving motion | Succinct explanation of provisions of bill — S.O. 68(2) | ||
| Bill, committee to prepare and bring in, motion by a minister | 90 minutes — S.O. 68(4) | Any member | 10 minutes — S.O. 68(4) | 5-minute question-and-comment period — S.O. 43(1)(c) | |
| Bill, government | |||||
| • 2nd reading or 3rd reading | No limit | Exceptions: 15 min. before end of Govt. Orders on 2nd day, question put on 2nd reading of a borrowing authority bill — S.O. 73(5); and no debate at 2nd reading of a bill in response to an order made pursuant to S.O. 68(6) — S.O. 68(7) | Any member | 20 minutes — S.O. 74(1)(a) | 10-minute question-and-comment period — S.O. 43(1)(b) |
| Any member who begins speaking within the 5 hours of debate after the first round of speeches | 20 minutes — S.O. 74(1)(b) | 10-minute question-and-comment period — S.O. 43(1)(b) | |||
| Any member who begins speaking after the 5-hour period | 10 minutes — S.O. 74(1)(c) | 5-minute question-and-comment period — S.O. 43(1)(c) | |||
| • Reference to committee before 2nd reading | 5 hours — S.O. 73(1)(d) | Speaking order: government, official opposition, other recognized parties in order of size, another member if no speaker from party whose turn it is — S.O. 73(1)(a) | Any member | 10 minutes — S.O. 73(1)(c) | 5-minute question-and-comment period — S.O. 43(1)(c) |
| • Report stage motion or group of motions (Report stage after 2nd reading) | No limit | Shall not be taken into consideration prior to the second sitting day following the presentation of the report to the House — S.O. 76.1(1) | Any member | 10 minutes — S.O. 76.1(7) | 5-minute question-and-comment period — S.O. 43(1)(c) |
| • Report stage motion or group of motions (Report stage at 2nd reading) | No limit | Shall not be taken into consideration prior to the third sitting day following the presentation of the report to the House — S.O. 76(1) After the first round of 20 min. speeches on the first amendment, no member shall speak more than once or longer than 10 min. during proceedings on any other amendment at that stage. — S.O. 76(7) | First member of each recognized party speaking on the first amendment | 20 minutes — S.O. 76(7) | 10-minute question-and-comment period — S.O. 43(1)(b) |
| Any other member | 10 minutes — S.O. 76(7) | 5-minute question-and-comment period — S.O. 43(1)(c) | |||
| • Senate amendments, motion respecting | No limit | Minister moving motion or member speaking first on behalf of minister and member speaking immediately afterwards | Unlimited time — S.O. 43(1)(a) — Debates, Jan. 28, 1986, pp. 10246-7 — Debates, December 16, 1999, pp. 3055-6 | 10-minute question-and-comment period — S.O. 43(1)(b) | |
| Any other member | 20 minutes — S.O. 43(1)(b) | 10-minute question-and-comment period — S.O. 43(1)(b) | |||
| Budget Debate | 4 sitting days for resuming debate — S.O. 84(2) | 15 min. before end of Govt. Orders, question put forthwith on subamdt. on 2nd day, on amdt. on 3rd day, and on main motion on 4th day — S.O. 84(4), (5), (6) | Minister of Finance and first opposition member speaking | Unlimited time — S.O. 84(7) | 10-minute question-and-comment period — S.O. 43(1)(b) |
| Any other member | 20 minutes — S.O. 84(7) | 10-minute question-and-comment period — S.O. 43(1)(b) | |||
| Closure, motion to apply pursuant to S.O. 57 | No debate, but 30 minutes for questions and replies — S.O. 57, 67.1(1)(a) | Question put at conclusion of 30 min. period — S.O. 67.1(1)(b) | Any member | Brief question — S.O. 67.1(1)(a) | |
| Minister responsible for motion to be closured or minister acting on their behalf | Corresponding reply — S.O. 67.1(1)(a) | ||||
| Closured motion | No member can begin speaking after 8:00 p.m. — S.O. 57 | All questions to be decided forthwith — S.O. 57 | Any member | 20 minutes — S.O. 57 | 10-minute question-and-comment period — S.O. 43(1)(b) |
| Committee of the whole, motion in | No limit | Exceptions: consideration of main estimates (see Supply, Business of) and take-note debate (see Take-note debate) | Any member (may speak more than once) | 20 minutes at a time — S.O. 101(3) (Except the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition who have unlimited time) | |
| Delegated legislation, report of Joint Committee on Scrutiny of Regulations | |||||
| • Presentation of report with resolution to revoke a regulation | No debate | Committee member presenting report | Must state that report contains resolution and statutory instrument, and identify the latter — S.O. 123(4) | ||
| • Motion to reject resolution | 1 hour — S.O. 126(1) | Any member | 10 minutes — S.O. 126(1)(a) | ||
| Election of the Speaker, addresses by candidates | No debate | The addresses shall take place prior to the balloting procedure | Any candidate | 5 minutes — S.O. 3.1 | |
| Emergency Debate | No later than midnight, or 4:00 p.m. on a Friday — S.O. 52(12) | Debate starts at ordinary hour of daily adjournment, or immediately on a Friday, unless Speaker directs that it be set down for next sitting day at a specified hour — S.O. 52(9), (10), (11) | Any member | 20 minutes (member may split time) — S.O. 52(13) | 10-minute question-and-comment period — S.O. 43(1)(b) |
| Motion (in general, unless otherwise provided in the Standing Orders) | No limit | Minister moving a government order (or member speaking first on behalf of minister) and member speaking immediately afterwards | Unlimited time — S.O. 43(1)(a) — Debates, Jan. 28, 1986, pp. 10246-7 — Debates, December 16, 1999, pp. 3055-6 | 10-minute question-and-comment period — S.O. 43(1)(b) | |
| Any other member (or any member if motion is not a government order) | 20 minutes — S.O. 43(1)(b) | 10-minute question-and-comment period — S.O. 43(1)(b) | |||
| Petition, presentation | No debate — S.O. 36(7) | 15 min. period for presenting petitions — S.O. 36(6) | Member presenting petition | Brief statement of content of petition — Debates, Dec. 11, 1986, p. 1997 | |
| Private Members’ Business | |||||
| • Motion or Public Bill at 2nd reading, non-votable | 1 hour — S.O. 96(1) | Member moving motion | 15 minutes to open debate and 5 minutes to close debate — S.O. 95(2) | ||
| Any other member | 10 minutes, for a period not exceeding 40 minutes — S.O. 95(2) | ||||
| • Motion or Public or Private Bill at 2nd reading, votable | 2 hours — S.O. 93(1) | Debate will normally take place on 2 sitting days for no more than 1 hour per sitting — S.O. 93(1) At least ten sitting days shall elapse between the first and the second hour of debate — S.O. 93(2) | Member moving motion | 15 minutes to open debate and 5 minutes to close debate — S.O. 95(1) | 5-minute question-and-comment period — S.O. 95(1) |
| Any other member | 10 minutes — S.O. 95(1) | ||||
| • Bill at report stage and 3rd reading | 2 hours — S.O. 98(2) | At the end of time provided on 2nd day, every question put for all stages remaining — S.O. 98(4) | Any member at report stage | 10 minutes — S.O. 76.1(7) | |
| If bill not disposed of in first 30 min. on 1st day, non-debatable motion may be moved to extend time on 2nd day by up to 5 hours — S.O. 98(3) | Member moving motion at 3rd reading | 15 minutes to open debate and 5 minutes to close debate — S.O. 95(1) | 5-minute question-and-comment period — S.O. 95(1) | ||
| Any other member at 3rd reading | 10 minutes — S.O. 95(1) | ||||
| • Report recommending not to proceed further with a bill, motion to concur in | 1 hour — S.O. 97.1(2)(c) |
Debate starts at the end of the time provided for consideration of Private Members’ Business on a day fixed, after consultation, by the Speaker — S.O. 97.1(2)(c) At the end of the time provided, question put — S.O. 97.1(2)(c) |
Any member | 10 minutes — S.O. 97.1(2)(c)(i) | |
| • Senate amendments to a bill, motion respecting | No limit — S.O. 90 | No more than 1 hour per sitting — S.O. 30(6), (7) | Member moving motion | 15 minutes to open debate and 5 minutes to close debate — S.O. 95(1) | 5-minute question-and-comment period — S.O. 95(1) |
| Any other member | 10 minutes — S.O. 95(1) | ||||
| • Motion (papers) | 2 hours — S.O. 97(2) | After 1 hour and 50 min. of debate, a minister (or parliamentary secretary speaking on behalf of a minister) and then the member who moved the motion may speak — S.O. 97(2) Debate will normally take place on 2 sitting days for no more than 1 hour per sitting — S.O. 30(6), (7) | Member moving motion | 15 minutes to open debate and 5 minutes to close debate — S.O. 95(1) and 97(2) | 5-minute question-and-comment period — S.O. 95(1) |
| Any other member | 10 minutes — S.O. 95(1) | ||||
| Minister (or parliamentary secretary speaking on behalf of a minister) speaking just before the mover closes the debate | 5 minutes — S.O. 97(2) | ||||
| Report from a committee | |||||
| • Presentation | No debate | Committee member presenting report | Succinct explanation of subject-matter — S.O. 35(1) | ||
| Dissenting or supplementary opinions (if any) included | No debate | Committee member from official opposition, representing those who support these opinions | Succinct explanation — S.O. 35(2) | ||
| • Concurrence motion | 3 hours — S.O. 66(2) | If adjourned or interrupted, the debate resumes at the ordinary hour of daily adjournment on a day designated by the govt. — S.O. 66(2) At the end of the time provided, question put — S.O. 66(2) | Any member | 20 minutes — S.O. 43(1)(b) | 10-minute question-and-comment period — S.O. 43(1)(b) |
| Report from the Ethics Commissioner | |||||
| • Statement | No debate | Statement in the House immediately after Question Period, within 10 sitting days after the tabling of the report in the House — Section 28(9) of the Code | Member who is the subject of the report | 20 minutes — Section 28(9) of the Code | |
| • Report pursuant to section 28(4) of the Code (no contravention), motion to concur in | No limit |
If debate is adjourned or interrupted, motion is transferred to Govt. Orders — S.O. 66(1) |
Any member | 20 minutes — S.O. 43(1)(b) | 10-minute question-and-comment period — S.O. 43(1)(b) |
| • Report pursuant to section 28(5) of the Code (mitigated contravention), motion to concur in | No limit | If debate is adjourned or interrupted, motion is transferred to Govt. Orders — S.O. 66(1) | Any member | 20 minutes — S.O. 43(1)(b) | 10-minute question-and-comment period — S.O. 43(1)(b) |
| • Report pursuant to section 28(6) of the Code (unmitigated contravention), motion respecting | 2 hours — section 28(11) of the Code | Any member | 10 minutes — section 28(11) of the Code | 5-minute question-and-comment period — S.O. 43(1)(c) | |
| Report from an interparliamentary delegation, presentation | No debate | Member presenting report | Succinct presentation of subject-matter — S.O. 34(2) | ||
| Sitting hours of last 10 sitting days in June, extending, motion by a minister | 2 hours — S.O. 27(2) | Motion moved during Routine Proceedings on 10th sitting day before June 23 — S.O. 27(1) | Any member | 20 minutes — S.O. 43(1)(b) | 10-minute question-and-comment period — S.O. 43(1)(b) |
| Standing Orders, suspension to consider matter of urgent nature, motion by a minister | 1 hour — S.O. 53(3)(a) | Proceedings not to be interrupted or adjourned — S.O. 53(3)(d) | Any member | 10 minutes — S.O. 53(3)(c) | 5-minute question-and-comment period — S.O. 43(1)(c) |
| Standing Orders and Procedure, motion to consider | 1 sitting day — S.O. 51(2) | Motion moved between 60th and 90th sitting days of a Parliament — S.O. 51(1) | Any member | 10 minutes — S.O. 51(3) | 5-minute question-and-comment period — S.O. 43(1)(c) |
| Statement by a minister | Time taken for minister’s statement and comments of opposition spokespersons is added to the time for Govt. Orders at that sitting — S.O. 33(2) | Minister | Short announcement or statement — S.O. 33(1) | ||
| One member from each opposition party |
Comment of equal length — S.O. 33(1) (Debates, Nov. 22, 1985, p. 8721) |
||||
| Statements by Members | No debate | 15 min. period for statements — S.O. 30(5) | Any member other than a minister — S.O. 30(5) | 1 minute — S.O. 31 | |
| Supply, Business of | |||||
| • Main Estimates, consideration in committee of the whole | 4 hours — S.O. 81(4)(a) | Debate starts at end of Adjournment Proceedings, or end of Private Members' Business on a Friday, and House adjourns when committee rises — S.O. 81(4)(a) | Any member (may speak more than once) | 15 minutes at a time — S.O. 81(4)(a) | |
| The member shall indicate how they wish to apportion their time between speech and question time | 10 minutes maximum — S.O. 81(4)(a) | Remaining time for a question period — S.O. 81(4)(a) | |||
| • Main Estimates, motion(s) to concur in, etc. | No later than 10:00 p.m. — S.O. 81(18)(c) | On last allotted day in June period, debate commences when debate concludes on opposition motion, but no later than 6:30 p.m. — S.O. 81(18)(c) | Any member | 20 minutes — S.O. 81(22) | 10-minute question-and-comment period — S.O. 43(1)(b) |
| • Opposition motion, non-votable (Every opposition motion is votable unless the sponsor of such a motion designates it as non-votable — S.O. 81(16)(a)) | 1 day | On any allotted day except the last in a Supply period, debate ends no later than expiry of Govt. Orders — S.O. 81(19) On last allotted day in December and March periods, debate ends no later than 15 min. before expiry of Govt. Orders — S.O. 81(17)(a) On last allotted day in June period, debate ends no later than 6:30 p.m. — S.O. 81(18)(a) | Any member | 20 minutes — S.O. 81(22) | 10-minute question-and-comment period — S.O. 43(1)(b) |
| • Opposition motion, votable | 1 day (or more) — S.O. 81(16) | On any allotted day except the last in June period, question put no later than 15 min. before expiry of Govt. Orders — S.O. 81(16) and (17)(b) On last allotted day in June period, question put no later than 6:30 p.m. — S.O. 81(18)(b) | Any member | 20 minutes — S.O. 81(22) | 10-minute question-and-comment period — S.O. 43(1)(b) |
| Take-note debate in committee of the whole | 4 hours — S.O. 53.1(3)(d) | Debate starts at ordinary hour of daily adjournment, and House adjourns when committee rises — S.O. 53.1(2), (3)(e) | Any member | 10 minutes — S.O. 53.1(3)(b) | 10 minutes question-and-comment period — S.O. 53.1(3)(b) |
| Throne Speech (see Address in Reply) | |||||
| Time allocation, motion pursuant to S.O. 78(3) | No debate, but 30 minutes for questions and replies — S.O. 78(3), 67.1(1)(a) | Question put at conclusion of 30 min. period — S.O. 67.1(1)(b) Time taken is added to the time for Govt. Orders at that sitting — S.O. 67.1(2) | Any member | Brief question — S.O. 67.1(1)(a) | |
| Minister responsible for bill or minister acting on their behalf | Corresponding reply — S.O. 67.1(1)(a) | ||||
Footnotes
- Except the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, who have unlimited speaking time followed by a 10-minute question-and-comment period.↵
- Any member rising to speak or the whip of a party may indicate that one or more of the periods of debate are to be divided in two. — S.O. 43(2) [motions in general] or S.O. 74(2) [2nd, 3rd reading motions]↵