Rules of the Legislative Assembly

EMERGENCY DEBATE

27 (1) Matter of urgent importance

At the conclusion of Oral Questions, a Member may move to set aside the ordinary business of the House to discuss a matter of urgent public importance requiring immediate consideration, subject to the following conditions:

 

a) the Member proposing the motion shall give written notice of the matter proposed to be discussed to the Speaker at least one hour before the sitting of the House;

 

b) no more than one matter shall be discussed on the same motion;

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c) the motion must not raise a matter of privilege; and

 

d) the motion must not raise any matter which can only be debated upon a motion with notice.

 

(2) Precedence of notices

On any day during which more than one notice is received under this Rule, the Speaker shall decide which notice shall receive precedence.

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(3) Short statement

The Member proposing the motion may make a statement of not more than five minutes explaining the matter to be discussed and the reason for urgency.

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(4) Debate regarding urgency

The Speaker may allow such debate as he or she considers necessary to decide the question of urgency of debate and shall then put the question. No Member may speak for more than five minutes in debate pursuant to the question of urgency.

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(5) Conclusion of debate

If the motion to set aside business is carried in the affirmative, the debate shall proceed. No Member shall speak for more than ten minutes in debate pursuant to this Rule, and the debate shall conclude:

 

a) when all Members wishing to speak have spoken; or

 

b) at the usual hour of adjournment, whichever occurs first.

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