Translate Politics Parliament in plain language.

Government Business No. 9—Changes to the Standing Orders

This is a government motion to change the Standing Orders so that a party with a majority of seats in the House of Commons would also hold a majority of seats on committees. The Liberals argued that this reflects longstanding parliamentary tradition in Canada and the Commonwealth, where majority governments have majority representation on committees, and that the change is straightforward. Conservative and Bloc Québécois members opposed it, arguing it would reduce the opposition’s ability to hold the government accountable through committee oversight, and pointing to recent disruptions of committee work. Some Conservative members also raised concerns about floor crossings, saying the government had sought to recruit opposition members to switch parties and that this, along with the committee changes, was eroding public trust in Parliament; one Conservative member said the government had tried to recruit her and she declined, and a Green member asked her to confirm this. A Bloc member also objected that the debate was taking place under time allocation, which limited speaking time.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

No matching statements

No statements match this filter

Choose another party or return to all statements.

Discussion

No comments yet

See the full discussion

Comment rules

More from sitting 111

All 35 items ·
  1. Private Members' Business An Act to Amend the Criminal Code 6 statements
  2. Government Orders Government Business No. 9—Changes to the Standing Orders 35 statements
  3. Government Orders Government Orders 29 statements
  4. Oral Questions Finance 13 statements
  5. Oral Questions The Economy 6 statements
  6. Oral Questions Finance 14 statements
  7. Oral Questions Finance 4 statements
  8. Oral Questions Seniors 6 statements
  9. Oral Questions Natural Resources 2 statements
  10. Oral Questions Finance 18 statements
  11. Oral Questions Sport 2 statements
  12. Oral Questions Health 6 statements
  13. Oral Questions Seniors 2 statements
  14. Oral Questions Fisheries and Oceans 3 statements
  15. Oral Questions Taxation 2 statements
  16. Government Orders Government Business No. 9—Changes to the Standing Orders 17 statements
  17. Oral Questions Oil and Gas Industry 4 statements
  18. Government Orders Business of Supply 2 statements
  19. Government Orders Government Business No. 9—Changes to the Standing Orders 130 statements