House of Commons.

• Author: Nickel, Sophia
• Position: Legislative Reports

This account covers the period from July to September 2022. The House adjourned on June 23, 2022 for the summer break and planned to sit again on September 19, 2022.

Passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

On September 8, 2022, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II passed away. His Majesty King Charles III automatically became Sovereign of Canada on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. Members of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada assembled at Rideau Hall on Saturday, September 10, to proclaim the accession of the new sovereign.

Pursuant to the Parliament of Canada Act, the sovereign's death does not have the effect of dissolving or proroguing Parliament. Furthermore, members of the House of Commons are not required to swear a new oath of allegiance. Provisions included in the Interpretation Act ensure that allegiance is automatically extended to the new sovereign.

The Speaker recalled the House of Commons on September 15 so that members could offer speeches of condolence. Accordingly, pursuant to Standing Order 28(3), the House met on September 15, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. At that time, Mark Holland (Ajax, LIB), Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, moved that the House set aside its usual Thursday agenda and meet on this day and on September 16, 2022, if necessary, for the sole purpose of paying tribute and making statements on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the accession to the throne of His Majesty King Charles III. The motion included provisions for a member of each recognized party and a member of the Green Party to make statements, followed by any member who wished to speak. Under the terms of the motion, the House was to adjourn to September 20, 2022, at the end of the statements, although it is deemed to have sat on September 19, for the purposes of Standing Order 28. Furthermore, the motion specified that the sittings on September 15 and 16 would not be counted for the purposes of Standing Orders 34(1), 36(8)(b), 37(3), 39(5)(b), 81(10)(c), 93(2) and 97.1, provided that answers to written questions and petitions that would otherwise be due on those days were tabled on September 20. Mr. Holland's motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

Once tributes had been made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Papineau, LIB), Leader of the Opposition Pierre Poilievre (Carleton, CPC), Yves-Francois Blanchet (Beloeil--Chambly, BQ), Jagmeet Singh (Burnaby South, NDP) and Mike...