Motions Without Notice Proposed Under Standing Order 43

Introduction

Under Standing Order 43, it was possible for a Member to present without notice a motion which was felt to be urgent and important if the House granted unanimous consent. The rule dated back to 1867 but was not used frequently until after the reforms of 1968. The request to waive the usual notice required for presenting a motion did not eliminate the Speaker's obligation to assess the motion from a procedural point of view. Rulings were made disallowing a motion if the Speaker felt that it raised a matter which could more appropriately be treated in another way, particularly when a question of privilege seemed to be involved.

Over the years it became common for Members to propose motions under this Standing Order without any expectation of consent, in order to gain the floor and make a statement. The provisional rule changes of 1982 eliminated the use of Standing Order 43 and substituted for it a 15-minute period known as Statements by Members.