Adjournment Motion / Proposed under Standing Order 26 - Application not Accepted

Debate not urgent; question debated previously during the session

Debates p. 18025

Background

Mr. Broadbent (Oshawa) and Mr. Clark (Leader of the Opposition) in turn sought leave to move the adjournment of the House, under the provisions of Standing Order 26, in order to discuss "the crisis in the Canadian dollar". In Mr. Clark's opinion, the debate was urgent because the dollar had fallen to a record low and because the following day, the Prime Minister (Mr. Trudeau) and the Minister of Finance (Mr. MacEachen) were leaving for the economic summit at Versailles. The Speaker ruled immediately.

Issue

Does the application meet the requirements of Standing Order 26?

Decision

No. The application is not accepted.

Reasons given by the Speaker

The report that the Canadian dollar has reached an historic low in comparison to the American dollar does not alter the fact that the problem is of a continuing nature and not in the nature of a genuine emergency calling for an immediate debate. Moreover, the Chair has already allowed a request to discuss a similar matter under the provisions of Standing Order 26.

Sources cited

Debates, December 18, 1980, pp. 5888-9.

References

Debates, June 2, 1982, pp. 18024-5.