Statement on Private Members' Business concerning its continuity from one session to the next with the same Parliament

The Speaker: Order. While we are waiting for the Black Rod, I would like to make a statement concerning Private Members' Business. As members know, the Standing Orders guarantee the continuity of Private Members' Business from one session to the next within the same parliament. [Translation] In practical terms, this means that, notwithstanding prorogation, the list for the consideration of Private Members' Business established at the beginning of the 43rd Parliament shall continue for the duration of this Parliament. As a result, in accordance with Standing Order 86.1, all items of Private Members' Business originating in the House of Commons that were listed on the Order Paper during the previous session shall be deemed to have been considered and approved at all stages completed at the time of prorogation. [English] All items will keep the same number as in the first session of the 43rd Parliament. More specifically, all bills and motions standing on the list of items outside the order of precedence shall continue to stand. Bills that had met the notice requirements and were published in the Order Paper but had not yet been introduced will be republished on the Order Paper under the heading "Introduction of Private Members' Bills" in the order of business, and bills that had not yet been published on the Order Paper need to be recertified by the Office of the Law Clerk and parliamentary counsel and resubmitted for publication on the Notice Paper. Of course, the 30 items listed in the order of precedence at the time of prorogation shall continue to stand. [Translation] At the end of the first session of this Parliament and prorogation, the House had not had the opportunity to debate the Private Members' Business in the order of precedence. With the opening of the second session this fall, the next step in the process will be to hold a meeting of the subcommittee on Private Members' Business so that they can study each item in the order of precedence. Debate of Private Members' Business will then be able to begin shortly after the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs has presented the report of the subcommittee on votable items of Private Members' Business. [English] In the hope that this information will provide members with a greater understanding of the process for Private Members' Business during the second session of this Parliament, I invite any members who wish to obtain further information to consult the table officers, who will be happy to answer their questions. (1430) [Translation] I thank the members for their attention.