Adjournment Motion Proposed Under Standing Order 26 / Application Not Accepted

Question debated previously during the session

Debates p. 5509

Background

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 Government's mishandling of the Montreal postal situation and the need for Parliament to consider alternative courses of action". [A similar application on the same subject had been accepted by the Chair on February 18, 1970.]

Issue

Does the application meet the requirements of Standing Order 26?

Decision

No. The application is not accepted.

Reasons given by the Speaker

The Standing Orders stipulate, and "it has been long established, that there can be only one emergency debate during the course of a session on one subject. . . [T]he circumstances would be very rare in which the Chair should place itself and the House in the position of having a second emergency debate [on] a situation which essentially has been considered by the House under the terms of Standing Order 26."

References

Debates, February 18, 1970, pp. 3746-7.