House of Commons.

• Author: Sokolyk, Gary
• Position: Legislative Reports

The Second Session of the 41st Parliament continued as the House reconvened on September 15, 2014, having adjourned for the summer on June 20, 2014. The information below covers the period from August 1 to October 31, 2014.

Financial Procedures

On October 10, 2014, the Government tabled a Notice of a Ways and Means motion to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on February 11, 2014 and other measures (Ways and Means No. 14). The details of the proposed taxation measures had been mistakenly posted on the website of the Department of Finance prior to the tabling.

Procedure, Points of Order and Questions of Privilege

Procedure

On September 19, 2014, Yvon Godin (Acadie--Bathurst) moved for leave to introduce a bill entitled, An Act to amend the Navigable Waters Protection Act (Nepisiguit River). Pursuant to Standing Order 68(2), the motion was deemed adopted, but the Bill was not read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House since Mr. Godin immediately moved to proceed to the next rubric in Routine Proceedings, First Reading of Senate Public Bills. As the motion was agreed to, the Bill remains on the Order Paper awaiting first reading.

During Oral Questions on September 23, 2014, Thomas Mulcair (Leader of the Opposition), not satisfied with the answers from Paul Calandra (Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Intergovernmental Affairs) questioned the neutrality of the Speaker. The following day, the Speaker made a statement on the subject of the role of the Speaker during Question Period, emphasizing the long-standing tradition that the Speaker has no authority over the content of the answers to questions; he added that the rules governing repetition and relevance do not apply to Question Period. He reminded Members that reflections on the character or actions of the Speaker could be taken by the House as breaches of privilege.

Points of Order

Randall Garrison (Esquimalt--Juan de Fuca) rose on a point of order, urging the Speaker to select for debate his report stage amendment for Bill C-13, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Canada Evidence Act, the Competition Act and the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act on the ground that it was of exceptional significance. Although his amendment had been defeated in committee, he asserted that the Bill, as adopted by the Committee, would effectively override part of Bill C-279, An Act...