Special Debates / Emergency Debates
Leave refused: decision by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to deny a fisheries quota; matter deemed to be of an exclusively local or regional interest related to a specific community
Debates, p. 9762
Context
On March 18, 2002, Peter MacKay (Pictou–Antigonish–Guysborough) rose in the House to request that an emergency debate be held, pursuant to Standing Order 52, on a decision of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to deny a fisheries quota to the town of Canso, Nova Scotia.[1] Mr. MacKay emphasized that the rejection of the fishing application had had a devastating impact on the citizens of Canso and the surrounding communities, and on their ability to reopen a fish plant.
Resolution
The Speaker ruled immediately. He pointed out that, since the matter was of an exclusively local interest and related to a specific community, the request did not meet the requirements of Standing Order 52. He concluded that he was not prepared to allow an emergency debate on the matter at that time.
Decision of the Chair
The Speaker: I thank the hon. Member for Pictou–Antigonish–Guysborough for his submissions both today and on Friday on this matter. I note that he raised the matter of Friday and then suggested at the end that in light of possible events over the weekend he might prefer to have the debate today. I suggested he defer his application until today. He was willingly compliant with that request and for that I thank him.
Notwithstanding his forbearance I am afraid the Chair has reason to feel the particular application is one that does not warrant the intervention of the Chair under the provisions of Standing Order 52.
The Chair does not normally give reasons for its opinion in these matters, but I would draw to the attention of the hon. Member for Pictou–Antigonish–Guysborough, who I know is an enthusiastic reader of Marleau and Montpetit, a particular citation on page 588 of that book which states as follows:
Chair occupants have established that the subject matter proposed should not normally be of an exclusively local or regional interest nor be related to only one specific group or industry, and should not involve the administration of a government department.
The last words are not appropriate but all the rest apply. His letter frames this in the sense that it is a matter of dealing with a situation in the community of Canso.
I am sure all hon. Members share his concern about the economic impacts of the recent decision in respect of that community, but not withstanding I am not sure it is one that fits the parameters of Standing Order 52. Accordingly I am not prepared to allow the debate at this time.
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