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Government Business No. 9—Changes to the Standing Orders

A motion to change the Standing Orders so that House of Commons committees reflect the party composition of the House, which would give the Liberal government a majority on committees now that it has gained seats mid-mandate, with the government moving closure to end debate on it. The government said a majority in the House should be reflected in its committees, per Westminster tradition, and that this lets it move quickly on issues like trade and building projects; it noted no precedent exists for this unusual mid-mandate seat change. Conservatives said voters did not elect a Liberal majority, called the closure motion an attempt to shut down scrutiny, and asked why the government rejected their amendments protecting opposition oversight roles. Bloc Québécois members said the government was using its new numbers to gain an unfair edge on committees despite low public trust in Parliament, and the Greens asked why the government was rushing to end debate.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

1 statement

Elizabeth May

Green
“The government is changing the rules for House committees in an unusual way. Why is it in such a rush to end this debate?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I am speaking now from a spot that has a chair with no arms, which means I can stand up and address the hon. government House leader. The purpose of this debate is to bring closure on the debate on Motion No. 9. I hope I will have a chance to speak more substantively to Motion No. 9 later this day. On an unprecedented matter and doing something unusual, which is taking the matter of changing House committees from their normal process to a motion debated in the House that will be carried by what we now know is a majority of Liberal members, would the hon. government House leader explain why it is urgent that we close down debate?

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