Adjournment Motion Proposed under Standing Order 26 / Application Not Accepted

Issue not urgent; other opportunity for debate

Debates pp. 1288-9

Background

Messrs. Mazankowski (Vegreville) and Blackburn (Brant) sought leave to move the adjournment of the House, under the provisions of Standing Order 26, for the purpose of discussing the statement and Annual Report of the Auditor General on control of public expenditures. The Speaker decided to deal with them jointly.

Issue

Do these applications satisfy the provisions of Standing Order 26?

Decision

The applications are not accepted.

Reasons given by the Speaker

"[W]ith regard to the inherent nature of the matter my present view is that it is not evident that this urgent matter requires an extension of this evening's hours of sitting for discussion."

"[I]f I cannot entertain this motion under Standing Order 26 it is because for the moment the matter stands referred for study to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts and, unless nothing should come of that study, it at least provides an excellent opportunity to deal with the question in depth." Moreover "this particular subject is certainly one which ... lends itself very conveniently to discussion on opposition days."