House of Commons.

• Author: Sokolyk, Gary
• Position: Legislative Reports

The Second Session of the Forty-First Parliament continued through the early months of 2015. The information below covers the period from February 1, 2014, to April 30, 2015.

Legislation

The Legislation Section of the Department of Justice recommends, in consultation with the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights and as part of the Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment (MSLA) Program, periodic legislative initiatives to correct anomalies, inconsistencies, outdated terminology or errors that are contained in the statutes. A singular example of this was Bill C-47 (An Act to correct certain anomalies, inconsistencies and errors and to deal with other matters of a non-controversial and uncomplicated nature in the Statutes of Canada and to repeal certain provisions that have expired, lapsed or otherwise ceased to have effect) which, by unanimous consent, was passed at all stages on December 8, 2014. The Bill was passed by the Senate on February 25,2015 and received Royal Assent the following day. It is worthy of note that this was the first time since 2001 that Parliament has adopted a Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act.

Financial Procedures

On April 21, 2015, the Minister of Finance, Joe Oliver, delivered the 2015 budget.

Points of Order, Questions of Privilege and Procedure

Points of Order

On February 19, 2015, Royal Galipeau (Ottawa--Orleans) rose on a point of order to question the validity of a vote by Pat Martin (Winnipeg Centre) who had left his seat during the vote and then returned to it in order to vote. Mr. Martin attributed his action to ill-fitting underwear. The Deputy Speaker (Joe Comartin) ruled that since Mr. Martin had been in his seat at the time the motion was read and at the time he voted, the Chair would allow his vote to stand. Later in the proceedings, John Duncan (Minister of State and Chief Government Whip), rising on a point of order, asked the Chair whether this represented a change in the procedure for voting. The Speaker ruled on March 10, 2015, that from the time the Speaker begins to put the question until the results of the vote are announced, Members are not to enter, leave or cross the House and Members must be in their assigned seats in the Chamber and have heard the motion read in order for their votes to be recorded. However, given Mr. Martin's particular circumstances, the Speaker evoked the use of Standing Order 1.1, which allows the Chair to alter the application of any Standing or special Order...