ORDERS OF THE DAY

House Business

Hon. Jim Ernst (Government House Leader): Madam Speaker, in certain matters of House business, just so no one is more confused than they might already be, the revised Order Paper is the correct Order Paper with respect to Estimates in committee in Room 254.

Unfortunately, the sequence of Estimates tabled yesterday was not quite clear, and, as a result, someone got confused, so just to clarify, Room 254 for Rural Development, which will be followed by Agriculture, should they be completed this afternoon.

We have had a number of discussions between the opposition House leader and members of the Liberal caucus with respect to some extended sitting times and things related to the Estimates process, so, by leave, I move, seconded by the Minister of Finance (Mr. Stefanson),

THAT notwithstanding any other rule or practice of this House during those sittings of the first session of the Thirty-sixth Legislature held prior to the summer recess:

(a) effective today the portion of subrule 19.(2) which provides for the consideration of Private Members' Business from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday shall not apply;

(b) effective June 8, when the Committee of Supply is sitting on Wednesdays, it shall recess at 6 p.m. and reconvene at 9 a.m. on the following day (Thursday) and continue sitting until not later than 12 noon;

(c) effective June 1, when the House sits on Fridays, it shall adjourn at 2 p.m. without question put;

(d) when the Committee of Supply is sitting on Thursday mornings or on Fridays between the hours of 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m., the rules respecting votes after 10 p.m. shall apply; and

(e) when the Committee of Supply is sitting on Thursday mornings or on Fridays between the hours of 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m., the Estimates of new departments may be introduced.

Madam Speaker: Does the honourable government House leader have leave to move this motion?

An Honourable Member: Leave.

Madam Speaker: Leave has been granted.

Motion agreed to.

Mr. Ernst: By leave, Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Finance (Mr. Stefanson),

THAT when the first session of the Thirty-sixth Legislature resumes after the summer recess, notwithstanding the provisions of subrule 19.(2), Private Members' Business shall be considered from four o'clock p.m. to six o'clock p.m. on each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday until the Private Members' Business hours waived in June have been compensated for.

Motion agreed to.

Mr. Ernst: By leave, Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the Minister of Finance (Mr. Stefanson),

THAT subrule 64.(1) and 65.(3) be repealed and the following substituted:

64.(1) The rules shall be observed in Committee of the Whole House, insofar as they are applicable, except the rules requiring seconding of motions, limiting the number of times speaking and, in the case of the Committee of Supply, requiring members to rise to speak.

65.(3) While in Committee of Supply, the minister representing his or her Estimates and the critic or critics of that minister's department shall be permitted to speak from a place in the front row of the benches in the Chamber.

Motion presented.

Mr. Ernst: This, Madam Speaker, has been the practice for the last little while, but it requires the rule be changed to accommodate.

Motion agreed to.

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Mr. Ernst: I move, Madam Speaker, seconded by the Minister of Finance (Mr. Stefanson), that Madam Speaker do now leave the Chair and the House resolve itself into a committee to consider of the Supply to be granted to Her Majesty with Executive Council in the Chamber, Health in Room 255, and Rural Development in 254.

Motion agreed to, and the House resolved itself into a committee to consider of the Supply to be granted to Her Majesty, with the honourable member for La Verendrye (Mr. Sveinson) in the Chair for the Department of Rural Development; the honourable member for Sturgeon Creek (Mr. McAlpine) in the Chair for the Department of Health; and the honourable member for St. Norbert (Mr. Laurendeau) in the Chair for the Department of Executive Council.

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