Elie Beauregard (Speaker of the Senate)
Liberal
Mr. Speaker:
May I be permitted to present the first report of the select committee appointed on October 9, 1951, to consider with Mr. Speaker the procedure of this house for the purpose of suggesting any changes that may be desirable to assure the more expeditious dispatch of public business.
The report is as follows:
Your committee held a meeting on Thursday, the 11th instant, and after consideration of the various proposals advanced with respect to changes in house procedure, more particularly those relating to the hours of sitting, recommends as follows:
1. That the following new hours of sitting be given a trial on an experimental basis during the next two weeks:
(a) For the week commencing on Monday, the 15th of October, Mr. Speaker take the chair at 1.30 o'clock, p.m., on each sitting day and adjourn the house at 7 o'clock, p.m., without question put, unless the closure rule (standing order 39) be then in operation: and, unless otherwise ordered, the hour set aside for private and public bills under standing order 15 be from 6 o'clock, p.m. to 7 o'clock, p.m., on Tuesday and Friday, instead of the present hour of 8 o'clock, p.m. to 9 o'clock, p.m.
(b) For the week commencing on Monday, the 22nd of October, Mr. Speaker take the chair at 2 o'clock, p.m. on each sitting day, and adjourn the house at 10 o'clock, p.m., without question put, unless the closure rule (standing order 39) be then in operation; except on Wednesday when the hour of adjournment will be 6 o'clock, p.m.; with provision for the usual intermission from 6 o'clock, p.m. to 8 o'clock, p.m.; and, unless otherwise ordered, the hour set aside for private and public bills under standing order 15 remain as at present.
2. That toward the end of the second week your committee consider the results of the two weeks' experiment and bring in further recommendations based thereon.