►Debate continues on a government motion to extend the House of Commons' sitting hours until the summer break. MPs would sit until midnight (except for Friday) as the government attempts to pass several pieces of legislation over the next month.
Government House Leader Peter Van Loan told the Commons yesterday that: "There is only one intention motivating the government in proposing the motion: to work hard and deliver real results for Canadians."
The NDP responded by proposing a 90-minute Question Period be added to the motion.
Opposition House Leader Nathan Cullen gave a long speech denouncing the government's plan:
"We cannot allow this abuse to continue. This pattern has consequences, not just for what happens here today or tomorrow, but in the days, weeks, months and years to come and the Parliaments to come. If we keep allowing for and not standing up in opposition to bad ideas and draconian measures, we in a sense condone them."
However, Van Loan accused Cullen of not raising a "single citation, historical example or reason in the rules why this motion is not in order.”
Here is the full motion:
That, notwithstanding any Standing or Special Order or usual practice of the House, commencing upon the adoption of this Order and concluding on Friday, June 21, 2013,
(a) the ordinary hour of daily adjournment shall be 12 midnight, except on Fridays;
(b) when a recorded division is demanded, in relation to a proceeding which has been interrupted pursuant to the provisions of an order made under Standing Order 78(3) or pursuant to Standing Orders 61(2) or 66(2),
(i) before 2 p.m. on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, it shall stand deferred until the conclusion of oral questions at that day’s sitting, or
(ii) after 2 p.m. on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, or at any time on a Friday, it shall stand deferred until the conclusion of oral questions at the next sitting day that is not a Friday;
(c) when a recorded division, which would have ordinarily been deemed deferred to immediately before the time provided for Private Members’ Business on a Wednesday, is demanded, the said division is deemed to have been deferred until the conclusion of oral questions on the same Wednesday;
(d) when a recorded division is to be held, except recorded divisions deferred to the conclusion of oral questions or to the ordinary hour of daily adjournment, the bells to call in the Members shall be sounded for not more than thirty minutes; and
(e) when a motion for the concurrence in a report from a standing, standing joint or special committee is moved, the debate shall be deemed to have been adjourned upon the conclusion of the period for questions and comments following the speech of the mover of the motion, provided that the debate shall be resumed in the manner ordinarily prescribed by Standing Order 66(2).
►MPs vote on Conservative Dean Allison's motion on anaphylaxis and a bill (C-463) to create tax deductions for non-business travel expenses across at least three different provincial boundaries.
►Debate also resumes on a motion from Liberal MP Gerry Byrne on the Qalipu Mik'Maq First Nation Band.
-Andrew Thomson
Latest Comments