Adjournment Motion Proposed Under Standing Order 26 / Application Not Accepted

Matter not urgent

Debates p. 7112

Background

Mrs. MacInnis (Vancouver-Kingsway) sought leave to move the adjournment of the House, under the provisions of Standing Order 26, in order to discuss "the mounting evidence that the present abortion legislation is quite inadequate to deal with the need for therapeutic abortions and with the growing number of illegal abortions throughout Canada".

Issue

Does the application meet the requirements of Standing Order 26?

Decision

No. The application is not accepted.

Reasons given by the Speaker

The Member questions the adequacy of current legislation with respect to abortion. It would be a questionable practice to initiate the consideration of amendments to statutes by way of debate under Standing Order 26. The proposed motion, therefore, cannot be put to the House at this time.