TEN O'CLOCK A.M.

Mr. Campbell asked leave, pursuant to Standing Order 35, to move adjournment of the House to discuss a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the deaths of 49 children in the care of the Ministry of Social Services or known to the Ministry of Social Services.

The Hon. J. MacPhail made representations.

The Speaker stated that he would take the matter under advisement.

The House proceeded to "Orders of the Day."

Order called for "Private Member's Statements."

Order for Committee of Supply called.

Pursuant to Sessional Order, order called for Section A of Committee of Supply (estimates of the Ministry of Transportation and Highways).

Section A of Committee of Supply having reported the last vote of the Estimates of the Ministry of Women's Equality, debate on those Estimates was summarized, pursuant to Sessional Order of July 10, 1996.

Section A of Committee of Supply having reported the last vote of the Estimates of the Ministry of Attorney General, debate on those Estimates was summarized, pursuant to Sessional Order of July 10, 1996.

Section A of Committee of Supply having reported the last vote of the Estimates of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, debate on those Estimates was summarized, pursuant to Sessional Order of July 10, 1996.

Section A of Committee of Supply having reported the last vote of the Estimates of the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, debate on those Estimates was summarized, pursuant to Sessional Order of July 10, 1996.

The Speaker delivered his reserved opinion as follows:

Honourable Members:

Earlier this morning the Honourable Leader of the Official Opposition sought to raise a matter under Standing Order 35, namely, the information received yesterday with respect to the death of 49 children in the care of the Ministry of Social Services or known to the Ministry of Social Services.

Firstly, with respect to this matter, I wish to acknowledge that the Member gave me written notice of his intention to raise the matter, a courtesy which complies with Practice Recommendation No. 8.

Standing Order 35 provides an opportunity to set aside the normal business of the House for the consideration of a matter of urgency. In his application, the Member indicated that this matter has been discussed on other occasions and the Government House Leader also pointed out that on a number of occasions the matter has been previously discussed. I note from the record that during the last two weeks, the House spent some 15 hours in consideration of the estimates of the Ministry of Social Services and a considerable portion of that time was devoted to discussion of the Gove Commission Report, the Matthew Vaudreuil case and numerous other issues in connection with child deaths. In additon, I note from the record that during the past two days a considerable amount of time was devoted to discussion of the same matters in connection with Bills before the House. I note also that yesterday, the bulk of Question Period was concerned with this issue, and that a Ministerial Statement and responses were received by the House on the issue. This matter is clearly of an on-going nature.

I wish to make it abundantly clear that from the Chair's viewpoint, the subject matter of the application is of a most serious nature and that the Chair views it in that light. As I said at the conclusion of the submissions of the Member and of the Government House Leader, it is, however, not the urgency of the matter but rather the urgency of debate which must be considered in applying the rule.

Erskine May's Parliamentary Practice, 17th Edition, page 365, indicates that the matter must be urgent, of recent occurrence and raised without delay.

"The fact that a grievance is continuing is not sufficient if it is not of recent occurrence.

"The fact that new information has been received regarding a matter that has been continuing for some time does not in itself make the matter one of urgency."

For examples of Speaker's Decisions in this House which have applied the foregoing principle, I would refer Members to the Journals 1982, at page 18, and 1992, at page 194.

Accordingly, Standing Order 35 cannot be applied in this particular case.

DALE LOVICK, Speaker.

And then the House adjourned at 12.20 p.m.

DALE LOVICK, Speaker

Tuesday, July 30

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