Precedence and Sequence / Superseding Motion

Superseding motion (adjournment)

Journals p.271

Debates pp. 2494-5

Background

Following statements of Mr. Cardin (Minister of Justice) made in the House and reported in the press on the alleged misconduct of Ministers of the former Diefenbaker Government [Munsinger case], a number of questions of privilege were raised by Members calling for Mr. Cardin's resignation. The Speaker explained that he would need some time to consider two of those questions of privilege. Mr. Turner (St. Laurent-St. George) then rose on a point of order to ask the Speaker to hand down his decision immediately, and Mr. Lewis (York South) proposed to move "That the House now stand adjourned until 6 o'clock this day" so that the Speaker could examine the two questions of privilege.

Issue

Can a condition be attached to a superseding motion?

Decision

No. The motion as put forward is out of order.

Reasons given by the Speaker

The motion to adjourn is a superseding motion and it can only be moved when there is something before the House. At the moment, there is nothing before the House. Moreover, a Member cannot rise under the guise of a point of order to ask for the adjournment of the House. There is also another difficulty: by adding the words "until 6 o'clock this day" the Member has placed a condition on the standard motion, so that it cannot be moved in this way. It becomes a substantive motion, requiring notice.

References

Journals, March 10, 1966, pp. 269-71.

Debates, March 10, 1966, pp. 2493-4.