Allotted day; priority of motions; selection

<div class="DecisionMain" role="main"> <p class="decision-chapter"> Precedence and Sequence of Business / Business of the House </p> <p class="d-DecisionDate"> <time>November 22, 1983</time> </p> <p class="e-Debates">Debates <a href="https://parl.canadiana.ca/view/oop.debates_HOC3201_25/921?r=0&amp;s=1">p. 29061</a></p> <div> <h2 class="f-ContextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">Background</h2> </div> <p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">As the House was about to proceed to the consideration of the business of supply under the heading of "Government Orders", the Acting Speaker (Mr. Corbin) indicated to the House that there were three motions on the Order Paper, and said that he intended to call the motion standing in the name of Mr. Riis (Kamloops—Shuswap) of the New Democratic Party. Mr. Nielsen (Yukon) raised a point of order and alleged that by virtue of a widely established practice, it was up to the Official Opposition to establish when the New Democratic Party would obtain its allotted days. Consequently, he asked the Speaker to call the motion standing in the name of Miss MacDonald (Kingston and the Islands). The Speaker heard Members' comments and ruled immediately. </p> <h2 class="f-ContextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">Issue</h2> <p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">When two or more opposition motions are listed on the Order Paper on an allotted day, is the Speaker obliged to put to call the first motion that was received? </p> <h2 class="f-ContextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">Decision</h2> <p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">No. The Speaker may exercise a discretionary power conferred upon him by the Standing Orders on this matter.</p> <h2 class="f-ContextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">Reasons given by the Acting Speaker</h2> <p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">When the Opposition Parties cannot agree amongst themselves, it is the Speaker who must make a choice, as stipulated by the Standing Order. Even if the Speaker must take into account the moment when the motions were filed, this is not a determining factor in this case. Since this is the fourth day of a five-day period, and considering that three of the days have been used by Members of the Official Opposition, it is the duty of the Speaker therefore to give special attention to the protection of minorities. </p> <h2 class="f-ContextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">Sources cited</h2> <p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">Standing Order 62(4)(c).</p> <h2 class="f-ContextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">References</h2> <p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">Debates, November 22, 1983, <a href="https://parl.canadiana.ca/view/oop.debates_HOC3201_25/917">pp. 29057-61</a>.</p> </div>