Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario

View the Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario (PDF)

April 2024

Previous Edition — April 8, 2024.

The current edition includes amendments adopted on April 8, 2024, effective on April 26, 2024.

ISSN: 1183-9376

Published under the authority of the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly

STANDING ORDERS

I. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
Business of House conducted according to Standing Orders
1(a)		The proceedings in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and in all Committees of the Assembly shall be conducted according to the following Standing Orders.
Purpose
(b)		The purpose of these Standing Orders is to ensure that proceedings are conducted in a manner that respects the democratic rights of Members,
	(i)		to submit motions, resolutions and bills for the consideration of the Assembly and its Committees, and to have them determined by democratic vote;
	(ii)		to debate, speak to, and vote on motions, resolutions and bills;
	(iii)		to hold the Government accountable for its policies; and
	(iv)		collectively, to decide matters submitted to the Assembly or a committee.
Contingencies unprovided for
(c)		In all contingencies not provided for in the Standing Orders the question shall be decided by the Speaker or Chair and, in making the ruling, the Speaker or Chair shall base the decision on the democratic rights of Members referred to in clause (b). In doing so the Speaker shall have regard to any applicable usages and precedents of the Legislature and Parliamentary tradition.
Participation of Members with disabilities
2		The Speaker may alter the application of any Standing or Special Order or practice of the House, other than those that deal with the number of times or duration of time a Member may speak, the timing of proceedings or the time allotted to proceedings, in order to permit the full participation in the proceedings of the House of any Member with a disability.
Definitions
3		For the purpose of these Standing Orders,
		“Board of Internal Economy” means the Board of Internal Economy established by the Legislative Assembly Act. (“Commission de régie interne”)
		“Orders and Notices Paper” means the paper printed and distributed on any one sessional day. (“Feuilleton et Avis”)
		“Recognized Party” means a party that has a recognized membership of at least 10 per cent of the total number of seats in the Assembly. For the purpose of this Standing Order, if the party’s percentage of the total number of seats is not a whole number, it shall be rounded to,
	(i)		the next lowest whole number, in the case of a percentage that ends in less than .5; or
	(ii)		the next highest whole number, in the case of a percentage that ends in .5 or more. (“parti reconnu”)
		“Routine motion” means any motion, including motions under Standing Order 7, made for the purpose of fixing the days or times of the meetings or adjournments of the House, or its committees; establishing or revising the membership of committees, and the meeting schedule thereof; arranging the proceedings of the House; or any other motion relating strictly to the technical procedure of the House or its committees and the management of the business thereof. (“motion d’affaire courante”)
		“Sessional day” means any day on which the House meets. (“jour de session”)
		“Substantive motion” means a motion that is not incidental or supplementary to any other business of the House, but is a self-contained proposal capable of expressing a decision of the House. Examples of such motions are: the motion for an Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne, the Budget motion, Want of Confidence motions on allotted days, resolutions and motions for returns or addresses. Such motions require notice and must be submitted to the Speaker in writing when moved, before being put to the House for debate. No motion shall be prefaced by recitals or preambles. (“motion de fond”)
II. PRESIDING OFFICERS
Election of Speaker
4		The election of the Speaker shall be conducted in the following manner:
Nomination of Member
(a)		At the opening of the first Session of a Parliament, or whenever the office of the Speaker becomes vacant, a Member, other than a Leader of a recognized party in the House or a Minister of the Crown, addressing the Clerk, shall propose some Member to the House to be Speaker and shall move that such Member “Do take the chair of the House as Speaker”.
Member informs House if nomination accepted
(b)		A Member when nominated and seconded shall inform the House whether he or she accepts the nomination.
Procedure if only one Member nominated
(c)		The Clerk shall then ask “Are there any further nominations?”, and if there are no further nominations, the Clerk shall say “I declare the nominations closed”. The Clerk shall then, without question put, declare the Member so proposed and seconded to be elected as Speaker. Such Member shall be conducted to the chair by the proposer and seconder of the motion, and shall take the chair of the House as Speaker.
Procedure if more than one Member nominated
(d)		If more than one Member is proposed as Speaker, the Clerk shall, after the second nomination and after each subsequent nomination, if any, is made and seconded, ask “Are there any further nominations?”, and if there are no further nominations, the Clerk shall say “I declare the nominations closed”.
Ballot papers provided to Members
(e)		Members present in the Chamber shall be provided with ballot papers by the Clerk.
Procedure if 2 Members nominate
(f)		When only 2 Members are nominated and seconded as Speaker, the election shall be conducted as follows:
Balloting procedure
	(i)		Each Member wishing to do so shall deposit in a ballot box on the Table a ballot paper on which is printed the name of the candidate for whom the Member votes.
Counting of votes
	(ii)		Once all Members wishing to vote have deposited their ballot papers, the votes shall be counted by the Clerks at the Table in the presence of one Member of each of the recognized parties in the House. The results of the vote shall be kept in confidence by all those persons present. The Clerk Assistant shall provide the Clerk with the name of the Member who has received the greater number of votes.
Member elected
	(iii)		The Clerk shall then declare such Member to be elected as Speaker.
Procedure if more than 2 Members nominated
(g)		When more than 2 Members are nominated and seconded as Speaker, the votes shall be conducted in the manner prescribed in clauses (e) and (f) and the Member who has received a majority of the votes cast shall be Speaker. In the event of no Member having received a majority of the votes cast, the name of the candidate having the smallest number of votes shall be excluded from subsequent ballots, and a further ballot shall take place. This balloting shall continue until one candidate is declared to be elected as Speaker by such majority.
Equality of votes
(h)		In the event of an equality of votes, the Clerk shall cause a further ballot to be taken.
Candidate withdraws name
Only one candidate remains
(i)		At any time after the result of the first ballot is declared, but before the commencement of a second or subsequent ballot, a candidate may withdraw his or her name from the election, which shall then proceed as if such Member had not been nominated. Whenever at any stage a withdrawal leaves only one candidate remaining, such candidate shall, without further voting, be declared elected as Speaker.
No debate or questions of privilege
(j)		During the election of a Speaker there shall be no debate, and no questions of privilege may be raised.
Eligibility for office
(k)		No Leader of a recognized party in the House or Minister of the Crown shall be eligible to be nominated to the office of Speaker.
Election takes precedence over other business
(l)		The election of Speaker shall take precedence over all other business and no motion for adjournment nor any other motion shall be accepted while it is proceeding and the House shall continue to meet if necessary beyond its ordinary daily time of adjournment, notwithstanding any Standing or Special Order, until a Speaker is declared elected, provided that if the House has continued to meet beyond its ordinary daily time of adjournment, the Speaker shall thereupon adjourn the House until the next sessional day.
Appointment of Deputy Speaker and Chair of the Committee of the Whole House
5(a)		At the commencement of the first Session of a Parliament, or from time to time as may be required, a Member shall be appointed by the House to be Deputy Speaker and Chair of the Committee of the Whole House.
Deputy Speaker’s duties
(b)		The Deputy Speaker shall, whenever the Speaker is absent or otherwise unable to act, perform the duties and exercise the authority of the Speaker and shall otherwise assist and relieve the Speaker as directed by the Speaker.
Appointment of Deputy Chairs of the Committee of the Whole House
Deputy Chairs’ duties
(c)		At the commencement of every Parliament, or from time to time as may be required, the House shall appoint 3 Deputy Chairs of the Committee of the Whole House, to be known respectively as the First, Second and Third Deputy Chair of the Committee of the Whole House, any of whom shall, in order of precedence, whenever the Chair of the Committee of the Whole House is absent or otherwise unable to act, be entitled to exercise all the powers vested in the Chair of the Committee of the Whole House, including those powers as Deputy Speaker.
Appointment procedure for Presiding Officers
6		On the advice of the House Leader of each of the recognized Opposition parties in the House given to the Government House Leader, up to 3 of the 5 Presiding Officers of the House shall be chosen from recognized Opposition parties.
III. MEETINGS OF THE HOUSE
Parliamentary calendar
7(a)		During a Parliament, the House shall meet:
Spring Meeting Period
	(i)		In a Spring Meeting Period from the Tuesday following Family Day to the first Thursday in June, except that when an election is to be held pursuant to subsection 9(2) of the Election Act, the Spring Meeting Period shall end on the fifth Wednesday preceding the first Thursday in June.
Fall Meeting Period
	(ii)		In a Fall Meeting Period from the Monday following Labour Day to the second Thursday in December.
Constituency weeks
(b)		During these Meeting Periods, the House shall not meet during the following Constituency weeks:
	(i)		The week prescribed by the regulations made under the Education Act for the school holiday in March;
	(ii)		The week in which Easter Monday falls;
	(iii)		The week in which Victoria Day falls;
	(iv)		The week in which Thanksgiving Day falls;
	(v)		The week in which Remembrance Day falls, except that if Remembrance Day falls on a Saturday or a Sunday, the House shall instead not meet the week preceding Remembrance Day, nor on the Monday immediately following Remembrance Day.
Motion to extend hours of meeting towards the end of Spring and Fall Meeting Periods
(c)		With notice, the Government House Leader may propose a motion to extend the hours of meeting during the last 18 sessional days in the Spring and Fall Meeting Periods provided for in clause (a), and during any extension thereof.
Evening meeting period
(d)		Such motion may stipulate that the House shall continue to meet to a specified time not later than midnight. Such a motion may apply to one day or to more than one day and, in the latter case, shall specify whether a different specified time applies to different days. The question on such a motion shall be put forthwith and without amendment or debate. If a recorded vote is requested by 5 Members, the division bell shall be limited to 5 minutes.
Evening meeting period cancelled
(e)		At any time prior to the commencement of an evening meeting scheduled pursuant to this Standing Order, the Government House Leader may indicate to the House that the evening meeting is no longer required, and it shall thereupon be cancelled.
Clerk to publish calendar
(f)		As soon as possible after New Year’s Day, the Clerk of the House shall publish a calendar which shows the days on which the House shall meet according to the Standing Orders.
Date to meet after recess
8		Before a Session is prorogued, the Government House Leader shall announce the approximate date upon which the Assembly will be reconvened.

Meeting schedule
9(a)	The weekly meeting schedule for the House when it is in session shall be:

DAY	TIME	PROCEEDING

Monday	10:15 a.m.	Morning Routine: Members’ Statements Introduction of Visitors Question Period Deferred Votes
	10:15 a.m.		Following Morning Routine	Recess
	1:00 p.m.	Afternoon Routine: Introduction of Visitors Reports by Committees Introduction of Government Bills Introduction of Bills Statements by the Ministry and Responses Motions Petitions
	Following Afternoon Routine	Orders of the Day
	6:00 p.m.	Adjournment
Tuesday	9:00 a.m.	Orders of the Day
	10:15 a.m.	Morning Routine: Members’ Statements Introduction of Visitors Question Period Deferred Votes
	Following Morning Routine	Recess
	3:00 p.m.	Afternoon Routine: Introduction of Visitors Reports by Committees Introduction of Government Bills Introduction of Bills Statements by the Ministry and Responses Motions Petitions
	Following Afternoon Routine	Orders of the Day
	6:00 p.m.	Private Members’ Public Business
	Following Private Members’ Public Business	Adjournment
Wednesday	9:00 a.m.	Orders of the Day
	10:15 a.m.	Morning Routine: Members’ Statements Introduction of Visitors Question Period Deferred Votes
	Following Morning Routine	Recess
	3:00 p.m.	Afternoon Routine: Introduction of Visitors Reports by Committees Introduction of Government Bills Introduction of Bills Statements by the Ministry and Responses Motions Petitions
	Following Afternoon Routine	Orders of the Day
	6:00 p.m.	Private Members’ Public Business
	Following Private Members’ Public Business	Adjournment
Thursday	9:00 a.m.	Orders of the Day
	10:15 a.m.	Morning Routine: Members’ Statements Introduction of Visitors Question Period Deferred Votes
	Following Morning Routine	Recess
	1:00 p.m.	Afternoon Routine: Introduction of Visitors Reports by Committees Introduction of Government Bills Introduction of Bills Statements by the Ministry and Responses Motions Petitions
	Following Afternoon Routine	Orders of the Day
	6:00 p.m.	Private Members’ Public Business
	Following Private Members’ Public Business	Adjournment

Bells summoning Members
(b)		The bells shall be rung for 5 minutes before the time appointed for the meeting of the House to summon the Members, and otherwise at the discretion of the Speaker.
Prayers
(c)		The Speaker shall take the chair at the time appointed on every day fixed for the meeting of the House and shall read the Prayers.
Anthems
(d)		Following Introduction of Visitors during the Morning Routine on the first sitting Monday of each month, the Canadian National Anthem and the Royal Anthem shall be sung in the Chamber.
Where no business, or no further business, is called during Orders of the Day
(e)		When the Speaker calls Orders of the Day the Government House Leader may indicate that no business, or no further business, as the case may be, is to be called, whereupon the Speaker shall recess the House to the next daily proceeding, or adjourn the House to the next sessional day, as the case may be.
Where no business is to be called during the morning of the next day’s Orders of the Day
(f)		No later than 6:00 p.m. on any day that the House meets, the Government House Leader may indicate in the House that no business is to be called during Orders of the Day on the next sitting day’s morning meeting, and in such case the House shall meet at 10:15 a.m. on that next sitting day.
Wednesday Afternoon Routine to commence earlier with notice
(g)		No later than 12:00 noon on any Tuesday that the House meets, the Government House Leader may indicate in the House, or may deposit written notice with the Clerk of the Assembly, that a temporary change in the weekly meeting schedule of the House is required, and in such case the Afternoon Routine on the Wednesday of that week shall commence at 1:00 p.m.
Monday meeting schedule to commence earlier with notice
(h)		No later than 12:00 noon on any Thursday that the House meets, the Government House Leader may indicate in the House, or may deposit written notice with the Clerk of the Assembly, that a temporary change in the weekly meeting schedule of the House is required, and in such case the House shall commence at 9:00 a.m. the next sitting Monday with the proceeding “Orders of the Day”.
House not to meet
(i)		The House shall not meet on the day on which there is a general election of Members to serve in the Canadian House of Commons, or on New Year’s Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, the day fixed for a civic holiday in August, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. When Canada Day falls on a Tuesday, the House shall not meet the preceding day.
Daily adjournment
10(a)		Except as provided in Standing Order 7(d) and in Standing Order 36, at the points each day when the House arrives at a recess or adjournment, as set out in Standing Order 9(a), such recess or adjournment shall, without motion, be ordered from the chair.
Transition between proceedings
(b)		At the points each day when the House arrives at a transition from one proceeding to another, as set out in Standing Order 9(a), the Speaker shall interrupt and call the next proceeding and, if applicable, the matter under consideration at the point of interruption shall be deemed to be adjourned.
Members seated while Speaker retires
(c)		When the House adjourns, the Members shall keep their seats until the Speaker has left the Chamber.
Recall of House during an adjournment
11(a)		Whenever the House stands adjourned, if the Government advises the Speaker that the public interest requires the House to meet at an earlier time, the Speaker shall give notice that the House shall meet at such time, and thereupon the House shall meet to transact its business as if it had been duly adjourned to that time and the period referred to in Standing Order 7(a)(i) or (ii) had been extended accordingly.
Speaker may vary recall time
(b)		The Speaker shall have the authority to vary the time of any recall made under this Standing Order to such extent as is, in his or her opinion, necessary to ensure that reasonable notice of the recall is conveyed to each Member and to permit all other arrangements to be made for the House to meet. However, no variance may be made if the time specified in the notice of recall for the House to meet is at least 24 hours later than the time the Speaker receives the notice.
Quorum
12(a)		The presence of at least 12 Members of the House, including the Speaker, is necessary to constitute a meeting of the House for the exercise of its powers.
Adjournment for lack of quorum
(b)		If at any time after Prayers the Speaker’s attention is directed to the apparent lack of a quorum, the Speaker shall, upon determining that a quorum is not present, cause the bells to be rung until a quorum is present and, in any case, for no longer than 10 minutes. If a quorum is not present after the expiration of 10 minutes, the Speaker shall adjourn the House without question put until the next sessional day. The matter under consideration prior to the adjournment is deemed to be adjourned to a future sessional day.
Same
(c)		When the House is meeting as a committee, if the Chair’s attention is directed to the apparent lack of a quorum, the Chair shall proceed as provided in clause (b); however, if after making a count, there is still not a quorum, the Chair shall report the matter to the Speaker, who shall repeat the same procedure. If on the Speaker’s count a quorum is present, the House shall again resolve itself into a committee, otherwise the Speaker shall adjourn the House until the next sessional day.
Same
(d)		Whenever the Speaker adjourns the House for want of a quorum, the names of the Members then present shall be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings.
IV. ORDER AND DECORUM AND CONDUCT OF MEMBERS
Speaker not to take part in debate
Casting vote in tie
13		The Speaker shall not take part in any debate before the House and shall not vote except in case of a tie, when the Speaker shall give a casting vote.
Speaker to preserve order
14(a)		The Speaker shall preserve order and decorum, and shall decide questions of privilege and points of order. In making a decision on a question of privilege or point of order or explaining a practice, the Speaker may state the applicable Standing Order or authority.
No debate on or appeal from decision of Speaker
(b)		No debate shall be permitted on any such decision, and no such decision shall be subject to an appeal to the House.
Discussion
(c)		The Speaker may rule on a point of privilege or point of order when it is raised without allowing any discussion apart from the Member raising the point.
Same
(d)		A Member raising a point of order or point of privilege, and any Member permitted by the Speaker to speak to it, must put the point tersely and speak only to the point raised. A point of order or privilege is heard in silence by the House.
No motion may reflect on decision of Speaker
(e)		No motion may be moved which reflects on any such decision by the Speaker.
Speaker to disallow out of order motions
15		Whenever the Speaker is of the opinion that a motion offered to the House is contrary to the rules and privileges of Parliament, the Speaker shall rule it out of order, and may quote the rule or authority applicable.
Naming a Member
16(a)		If a Member on being called to order for an offence against any Standing Order persists in the offence, the Speaker may direct the Member to discontinue, and if such Member refuses to comply, the Speaker shall name the Member to the House.
Suspension after naming
(b)		When a Member is named by the Speaker, if the offence is a minor one, the Speaker may order the Member to withdraw for the balance of the sessional day; but if the matter appears to the Speaker to be of a more serious nature, the Speaker shall put the question on the motion being made, no amendment, adjournment or debate being allowed, “that such Member be suspended from the service of the House”, such suspension being for any time stated in the motion not exceeding 8 sessional days.
Suspension for Session when force necessary
(c)		If any Member on being named and directed to withdraw from the House refuses to obey the direction of the Speaker when summoned under the Speaker’s Order by the Sergeant-at-Arms, the Speaker shall call to the attention of the House that force is necessary in order to compel obedience and such Member shall thereupon, without motion, be suspended from the service of the House for the remainder of the Session.
Adjournment for disorder
17		In the case of grave disorder in the House, the Speaker or the Chair may adjourn the House or a committee without motion, or suspend any meeting for a time to be named by him or her.
Expulsion of strangers for misbehaviour
18		Any stranger admitted to any part of the House or Gallery who misconducts himself or herself, or does not withdraw when strangers are directed to withdraw, while the House or a Committee of the Whole House is meeting, may be expelled from the precincts of the House by the Sergeant-at-Arms, or anyone acting under the direction of the Sergeant-at-Arms.
Strangers excluded on motion
19		All strangers may be excluded from the House or any committee thereof on a motion properly moved and adopted by the House or the Committee, as the case may be.
No strangers on floor, etc., during meetings
20		Except as provided in Standing Order 109, no Member of the House shall bring any stranger into any part of the House appropriated to the Members of the House while the House, or the Committee of the Whole House, is meeting.
Members not to interrupt Speaker
21(a)		Members shall remain in their places and refrain from interrupting the Speaker when he or she has risen to speak, make a ruling, or put a question to the House.
Member not to interrupt other Member
(b)		When a Member is speaking, no other Member shall interrupt such Member, except on a question of order.
Member not to pass between chair and Mace
(c)		Members shall take care not to pass between a Member who is speaking and the chair, or between the chair and the Mace.
Electronic devices
22		The use of laptops, tablets and smartphones is permitted in the Chamber and committee rooms provided they are operated silently, do not impair decorum and are not used as a telephone, recording device, camera or prop.
V. PRIVILEGE
Privileges
23(a)		Privileges are the rights enjoyed by the House collectively and by the Members of the House individually conferred by the Legislative Assembly Act and other statutes, or by practice, precedent, usage and custom.
Taken up immediately
(b)		Once the Speaker finds that a prima facie case of privilege exists, it shall be taken into consideration immediately.
Notice to Speaker
(c)		Any Member proposing to raise a point of privilege, other than one arising out of proceedings in the Chamber during the course of a sessional day, shall give to the Speaker a written statement of the point at least 1 hour prior to raising the question in the House.
Discussion
(d)		The Speaker may rule that a prima facie case of privilege does not exist on the basis of the written statement referred to in clause (c) and, despite Standing Order 14(c), may do so without allowing discussion from any Member.
VI. RULES OF DEBATE
Rising to speak in English, French, or an Indigenous language
24(a)		Every Member desiring to speak must rise in his or her place and address the Speaker, in either English, French, or an Indigenous language spoken in Canada. If a Member wishes to address the House in an Indigenous language, they shall, prior to taking their seat for the first time, notify the Clerk of the House of the language in which they intend to speak so the Speaker may arrange appropriate interpretation and translation capabilities.
Order of speaking
(b)		When 2 or more Members rise to speak, the Speaker shall call upon the Member who, in the Speaker’s opinion, rose first in his or her place.
Members called to order
(c)		A Member called to order shall sit down, but may afterwards explain. The Speaker shall decide on the case, without debate, and the decision of the Speaker shall be final.
Recognition of independent Member
(d)		Subject to the Standing Orders and any other Order of the House, nothing prevents the Speaker or Chair of the Committee of the Whole House from recognizing an independent Member to speak.
Matters out of order in debate
25		In debate, a Member shall be called to order by the Speaker if he or she:
Member speaks twice to question
(a)		Speaks twice to a question, except in explanation of a material part of his or her speech in which he or she may have been misunderstood, in which case the Member may not introduce a new matter.
Directs speech to other matters
(b)		Directs his or her speech to matters other than,
	(i)			the question under discussion; or
	(ii)			a motion or amendment he or she intends to move; or
	(iii)			a point of order.
Repetition
(c)		Persists in needless repetition or raises matters that have been decided during the current Session.
Reading from Hansard
(d)		In the opinion of the Speaker, refers at length to debates of the current Session, or reads unnecessarily from verbatim reports of the legislative debates or any other document.
Anticipation
(e)		Anticipates any matter already on the Orders and Notices Paper for consideration.
Reflects on previous vote
(f)		Reflects upon any previous vote of the House unless it is the Member’s intention to move that it be rescinded.
Matters sub judice
(g)		Refers to any matter that is the subject of a proceeding,
	(i)			that is pending in a court or before a judge for judicial determination; or
	(ii)			that is before any quasi-judicial body constituted by the House or by or under the authority of an Act of the Legislature,
		where it is shown to the satisfaction of the Speaker that further reference would create a real and substantial danger of prejudice to the proceeding.
Allegations against Member
(h)		Makes allegations against another Member.
Imputes false or unavowed motive
(i)		Imputes false or unavowed motives to another Member.
Deliberate falsehood
(j)		Charges another Member with uttering a deliberate falsehood.
Abusive or insulting language
(k)		Uses abusive or insulting language of a nature likely to create disorder.
Disrespect to Royal Family, etc.
(l)		Speaks disrespectfully of His Majesty or any of the Royal Family, or the Governor General, or the Administrator of Canada, or the Lieutenant Governor, or the Administrator of the Province.
Offensive matter
(m)		Introduces any matter in debate that in the opinion of the Speaker offends the practices and precedents of the House.
20-minute time limit
26(a)		Except where otherwise expressly provided by the Standing Orders, or by unanimous consent, no Member shall speak in the House for more than 20 minutes.
60-minute time limit
(b)		Notwithstanding clause (a), the first speaker for any recognized party in the House may speak for not more than 60 minutes in the following circumstances:
	(i)			debate on Second Reading of a Government Bill;
	(ii)			debate on Third Reading of a Government Bill;
	(iii)			debate on the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne;
	(iv)			debate on the Budget motion;
	(v)			debate on any other substantive government motion.
Time limit after 7 hours
(c)		Notwithstanding clause (a), no Member shall speak for more than 10 minutes after 7 hours of debate on Second or Third Reading of a Government Bill.
Division of time
(d)		At any time during a debate governed by this Standing Order, a Member then speaking may divide his or her time among a Member or Members of his or her party. Such speeches shall be given consecutively without rotation among the parties and shall be deemed to be a single speech for the purposes of Standing Order 27.
Speaking time limits not applicable when debate time apportioned equally
(e)		In any debate where the available time is apportioned equally among the recognized parties, the speaking time limits on individual Members shall not apply.
Questions on speeches
Time for
27		Following the speech of each Member, 10 minutes will be allotted for Members to ask questions on matters relevant to the speech. This time will be reduced to 5 minutes for speeches of less than 10 minutes. A Member may ask a question for up to 1 minute and the Member originally speaking will then have up to 1 minute to reply, in the following circumstances:
Second Reading of Government Bill
(a)		Debate on Second Reading of a Government Bill, but no such questions shall be allowed following the reply allowed to the Minister or Parliamentary Assistant who has moved Second Reading of the Bill.
Third Reading of Government Bill
(b)		Debate on Third Reading of a Government Bill, but no such questions shall be allowed following the reply allowed to the Minister or Parliamentary Assistant who has moved Third Reading of the Bill.
Debate on Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne
(c)		Debate on the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne, but no such questions shall be allowed following the speeches of the mover and the seconder of the motion for the Address, or the speeches of the Members speaking first on behalf of the Official Opposition and the other recognized Opposition parties.
Budget debate
(d)		Debate on the Budget motion, but no such questions shall be allowed following the presentation of the Budget by the Minister of Finance, the speeches of the Members speaking first on behalf of the Official Opposition and the other recognized Opposition parties, and the speeches of the Members winding up the Budget Debate for each recognized party.
May require question read when not printed
28		When the question under discussion does not appear on the Orders and Notices Paper, or has not been printed and distributed, any Member may require it to be read at any time of the debate, but not so as to interrupt a Member while speaking.
Member with pecuniary interest may not vote
29		No Member is entitled to vote upon any question in which he or she has a direct pecuniary interest, and the vote of any Member who has such an interest shall be disallowed.
VII. DIVISIONS
Deferral of requested division
30(a)		When a voice vote has been taken on any question, a division may be required by 5 Members standing in their places, in which case the Speaker shall then defer the taking of the vote to the next instance of the proceeding “Deferred Votes”, at which time the bells shall be rung for 5 minutes.
Exceptions
(b)		Notwithstanding clause (a), the following divisions shall not be deferred:
	(i)			Divisions arising out of any routine proceeding;
	(ii)			Divisions requested on motions to adjourn the House or the debate;
	(iii)			Divisions where a Standing Order or other Order specifies the time of the vote;
	(iv)			Divisions on motions that the Chair of a Committee of the Whole House report progress and ask for leave to meet again or leave the chair.
No further debate
(c)			When Members have been called in for a division, there shall be no further debate.
Votes recorded
(d)			When the Members have been called in, the Speaker shall again put the question and, subject to Standing Order 13, every Member present at that time who wishes to vote shall rise and record his or her vote.
Abstentions
(e)			Members are not compelled to vote and those who wish to abstain should remain in their seats when asked to rise and record their vote. An abstention shall not be entered in the Votes and Proceedings or the Journals.
Recording divisions
(f)			The names of the Members voting on each side of the question shall be entered in the Votes and Proceedings and the Journals, except on dilatory motions when the numbers only shall be entered.
Pairs
(g)			Immediately after the vote, the pairs, if any, shall be declared and shall be entered in the Votes and Proceedings and the Journals.
Limited division bells
(h)			Except as otherwise provided in the Standing Orders, the division bells shall be limited to 30 minutes.
Divisions in Committee of the Whole House
31(a)			On division in Committee of the Whole House, Standing Order 30 applies except that the division shall not be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings or the Journals.
May be deferred
10-minute bell
(b)			With unanimous consent, divisions in Committee of the Whole House may be deferred. The Members may be called in once and all deferred divisions taken in succession, and in such cases the division bells shall be limited to 10 minutes.
VIII. DAILY ROUTINE
Order of Daily Routine
32(a)			The proceedings in the Morning and Afternoon Routine shall be conducted at the times and in the order set out in Standing Order 9(a).
Time limit on Afternoon Routine
(b)			The time allotted for the Afternoon Routine each day shall not exceed 90 minutes. At the end of that time the Speaker shall interrupt and shall put every question necessary to dispose of the proceeding currently occupying the House, and thereafter immediately call Orders of the Day.
Members’ Statements
Length
33(a)			A Member, other than a Leader of a recognized party in the House or a Minister of the Crown, may be recognized to make a statement for not more than 1½ minutes.
Number of statements
(b)			Up to 9 Members of recognized parties in the House may make a statement during the period for “Members’ Statements” and the statements shall be allocated in proportion to the number of private Members of each of the recognized parties in the House.
Independent Member
(c)			The Speaker has the discretion to permit an independent Member to make a statement for no longer than 1½ minutes. In exercising his or her discretion, the Speaker shall have regard to the opportunities that Members of recognized parties have to make such statements. An independent Member shall notify the Speaker of his or her intention to make a statement.
Introduction of Visitors
34			Up to 5 minutes shall be allotted during both the Morning and Afternoon Routine for Members to recognize guests. Members may introduce visitors by stating only their name, title, organization and/or riding. No Member shall seek to introduce a visitor at any time by way of a point of order.
Question Period
35(a)			Question Period shall be limited to 60 minutes, including supplementary questions. Questions on matters of urgent public importance may be addressed to the Ministers of the Crown but the Speaker shall disallow any question which he or she does not consider urgent or of public importance. If in the opinion of the Minister or the Speaker the question requires a lengthy answer, either the Minister or the Speaker may require it to be placed on the Orders and Notices Paper as a written enquiry of the Ministry. The Minister may take an oral question as notice to be answered orally on a future sessional day but where any reserved answer requires a lengthy statement, the statement shall be given under “Statements by the Ministry and Responses”.
May give notice
(b)			A Member who so wishes may give notice of an oral question directly to the Minister concerned.
Supplementary questions
(c)			In the discretion of the Speaker, a reasonable number of supplementary questions arising out of the Minister’s reply to an oral question may be asked by any Members.
No arguments or opinions
(d)			In putting an oral question, no argument or opinion is to be offered nor any facts stated, except so far as may be necessary to explain the same; and in answering any such question, the Member is not to debate the matter to which it refers.
Responses to questions
(e)			Any Member of the Executive Council or any Parliamentary Assistant may respond to any question during Question Period and may, in their discretion, decline to answer any question.
Questions from Parliamentary Assistants
(f)			Parliamentary Assistants may direct questions only to Ministers other than their own.
Independent Member
(g)			The Speaker has the discretion to permit an independent Member to place a question and one supplementary question during Question Period. In exercising his or her discretion, the Speaker shall have regard to the opportunities that Members of recognized parties, other than the Leaders of Opposition parties or Members who place questions instead of the Leaders, have to place such questions.
May not appeal rulings
Notice of questions for adjournment proceedings
36(a)			The Speaker’s rulings relating to oral questions are not debatable or subject to appeal. However, a Member who is not satisfied with the response to an oral question, or who has been told that his or her question is not urgent or of public importance, may give notice orally at the end of the Question Period that he or she intends to raise the subject-matter of the question and must give written notice to the Speaker and file reasons for dissatisfaction with the Clerk before 12:00 noon, and the Speaker shall, not later than 4:00 p.m., indicate the matter or matters to be raised.
Proceedings on adjournment
(b)			Where notice has been given and reasons filed, as provided in clause (a), following Private Members’ Public Business on any Tuesday or Wednesday, the Speaker shall call for the matter to be debated for not more than 10 minutes, 5 minutes to be allotted to the Member raising the matter and 5 minutes to a Minister or to a Parliamentary Assistant to reply if he or she so wishes.
Limitations on adjournment proceedings
(c)			No more than 3 such matters of which notice has been given and reasons filed shall be debated on any single sessional day. No motion may be moved and no other business may be conducted during the time provided for in this Standing Order. At the conclusion of such debate or debates the Speaker shall adjourn the House to the next sessional day or, pursuant to Standing Order 7(d) or 47, call Orders of the Day, as the case may be.
Selection of matters to be raised
(d)			When more than one notice has been given under this Standing Order, the Speaker shall decide the order in which the matters are to be raised, having regard to the order in which notices were given, to the urgency of the matters raised, and to the apportionment of the opportunities to debate the matters among Members of the various parties in the House.
Adjournment proceeding and evening meeting periods
(e)			When an evening meeting period has been scheduled on a government motion as provided in Standing Order 7(d), the evening meeting period shall begin following the conclusion of the adjournment proceeding under this Standing Order.
Deferred Votes
37			Any divisions deferred under the Standing Orders shall be disposed of consecutively during the proceeding “Deferred Votes” and the bells shall be rung for 5 minutes prior to each division.
Committee reports on bills
38(a)			The report of a Standing or Select Committee on any bill shall be taken into consideration immediately and the Speaker shall put the question on the motion for the adoption of the report forthwith, which question shall be decided without amendment.
Report-stage debate and time allotted
(b)			If 12 Members stand in their places when the Speaker puts the question on the motion for adoption of a report on a Government Bill, 30 minutes shall be allotted to an immediate report-stage debate on the motion. The time for the debate shall be allotted equally among the recognized parties, after first allotting 6 minutes to the independent Member(s) of the House, if any. Only one report-stage debate may be requested on any single sessional day.
Limit on bells for recorded vote
(c)			If a recorded vote is requested on the motion for the adoption of the report on any bill, the division bells shall be limited to 5 minutes.
Other reports
Procedure
(d)			Other Committee reports shall be presented to the House by the Chair with a brief statement from the Chair only, and where a report includes a request for consideration by the House, or where such consideration is requested by a petition of 12 Members filed with the Clerk, a Government Order shall be placed on the Orders and Notices Paper for consideration by the House.
Adjournment of motion for adoption
(e)			When presenting a report the Chair of a Standing or Select Committee may move the adoption of the report if it contains a substantive motion. After moving the adoption of the report, the Chair may make a brief statement and shall then move adjournment of the debate. The adjourned debate shall be carried on the Orders and Notices Paper daily to be called by the Government House Leader in the same manner as Government Orders.
Response to reports
(f)			Within 120 calendar days of the presentation of a committee report as provided in clauses (d) and (e), the Government shall, upon the request of the Committee, table a comprehensive response.
Introduction of bills
Motion for
39(a)			Every bill shall be introduced upon a motion for leave for introduction and First Reading, specifying the title of the Bill, no notice being required.
No amendment or debate on introduction
(b)			The motion for introduction and First Reading shall be decided without amendment or debate, but in the case of a public bill, the mover may make a brief explanation of its purposes.
Compendium
(c)			On the introduction of a Government Bill, a compendium of background information shall be delivered to the critics of the recognized Opposition parties.
Form
(d)			No bill may be introduced in blank or imperfect form.
5-minute bell
(e)			If a recorded vote is requested, the division bells shall be limited to 5 minutes.
30-minute time period on introduction
(f)			The period for “Introduction of Government Bills” and “Introduction of Bills” shall be limited to 30 minutes collectively.
Government Bills only
(g)			Only Government Bills may be introduced during the proceeding “Introduction of Government Bills”.
Introduction of Government Bills
(h)			Government Bills may be introduced during the proceeding “Introduction of Bills”.
Time limit for introduction of bills
(i)			No introduction of a single bill shall last more than 5 minutes.
Ministerial statements
Subject
40(a)			A Minister of the Crown may make a short factual statement relating to government policy, ministry action or other similar matters of which the House should be informed.
Duration
(b)			The time allotted to ministerial statements shall not exceed 20 minutes without the unanimous consent of the House.
Copies to Opposition
(c)			Copies of each ministerial statement shall be delivered to the Leaders of recognized Opposition parties, or their representatives, at or before the time the statement is made in the House.
Background information
(d)			After any policy statement the Minister shall table a compendium of background information.
Opposition comments
(e)			Following ministerial statements a representative or representatives of each of the recognized Opposition parties in the House may comment for up to a total of 5 minutes for each party commencing with the Official Opposition. [Suspended for the duration of the 43^rd Parliament]
Official Opposition and independent Member(s) comments
(e)			Following ministerial statements a representative or representatives of the Official Opposition and an independent Member or independent Members may comment for up to a total of 8 minutes, commencing with the Official Opposition. [In effect for the duration of the 43^rd Parliament]
Routine motions
Types
41			Under the proceeding “Motions”, the Government House Leader may move routine motions as set out in the definition thereof in Standing Order 3. Except as provided by Standing Orders 7(c) and 110, these routine motions do not require notice.
Petitions
Presentation by filing with Clerk
42(a)			A petition to the House may be presented at any time during the Session by a Member filing it with the Clerk of the House or in the manner set out in clause (b).
Presentation in House
Member to summarize contents
(b)			A Member may present a petition in the House during the Afternoon Routine “Petitions”. The Member may make a brief statement summarizing the contents of the petition and indicating the number of signatures attached thereto but shall not read the text of the petition.
Petitions to be certified as to form
(c)			No Member may seek to present a petition unless it has previously been given to the Clerk of the Assembly who has examined it and certified that it is correct as to form and content.
Same
(d)			In order to be certified by the Clerk, every petition shall,
Form of address
	(i)				be addressed to the Parliament, Legislature or Legislative Assembly of Ontario;
Request for action
	(ii)				contain a clear, proper and respectful request that the House take some action within its authority;
No erasures or insertions
	(iii)				be written, typewritten or printed, without erasures or insertions;
Contents
	(iv)				have its request appear at the top of every sheet, if it consists of more than 1 sheet of signatures; and
Petitioners
	(v)				contain the names, addresses and original signatures written directly on the face of the petition and not pasted thereon or otherwise transferred to it.
Members responsible for contents
(e)			Every Member presenting a petition shall ensure that the petition conforms with the Standing Orders.
Signature of Member required
(f)			The signature of every Member presenting a petition shall be affixed to the petition.
No debate on presentation
(g)			No debate shall be allowed on the presentation of a petition.
Duration
(h)			The period for “Petitions” shall be limited to 15 minutes.
Response by government
(i)			Within 24 sessional days of its presentation, the Government shall file a response to a petition with the Clerk of the House and shall provide a copy of the response to the Member who presented the petition.
IX. ANNUAL REPORTS AND OTHER SESSIONAL PAPERS
Method of presenting
43(a)			Reports, returns and other documents required to be laid before the House by any Act of the Assembly or under any Standing Order or resolution of the House, or that any Minister wishes to present to the House, may be deposited with the Clerk of the House, whether or not on a sessional day, and such report, return or other document shall be deemed for all purposes to have been presented to or laid before the House. A record of any such document shall be entered in the Votes and Proceedings on the day it is filed, except that where it is filed on a day that is not a sessional day, it shall be entered in the Votes and Proceedings of the next sessional day.
Distribution and background material
(b)			The Minister concerned shall distribute copies of all reports to all Members of the House and copies of any background material to the critics of the recognized Opposition parties, and such distribution may be done electronically.
X. SPECIAL DEBATES
Throne debate
12 hours allotted
44(a)			There shall be 12 hours allotted to the debate on the motion for an Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne and any amendments thereto, at the end of which time the Speaker shall without further debate or amendment put every question necessary to dispose of the motion.
Debate to be completed before Budget
(b)			The debate on the motion for an Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne shall be completed before the presentation of the Budget.
Amendments
(c)			Only an amendment and an amendment to the amendment may be moved to the motion for an Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne.
Opposition Days
45(a)			In each of the 2 periods provided for in Standing Order 7(a), there shall be 5 sessional days to be known as Opposition Days.
Limits and when held
(b)			Opposition Day debates:
	(i)				shall be limited to 1 per meeting week;
	(ii)				shall be designated to take place on either a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon;
	(iii)				shall be distributed among the recognized Opposition parties in proportion to their membership in the House;
	(iv)				shall be taken up upon the commencement of Orders of the Day in the afternoon on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, as the case may be, the time available being apportioned equally among the recognized parties in the House; the time for a reply by the mover of the motion shall be included in the time apportioned to the party of which the mover is a Member;
	(v)				shall be limited to 2 hours on any day that the Afternoon Routine is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.;
	(vi)				shall be prohibited during the last 8 sessional days in each of the 2 periods provided for in Standing Order 7(a), and during any extension thereof.
Format of Opposition Day motions
(c)			Opposition Day motions:
	(i)				shall be printed on the Orders and Notices Paper of the last sessional day of a week, and setting the day in the following week for its consideration;
	(ii)				shall contain the text of a non-amendable motion to be debated;
	(iii)				shall indicate the Minister of the Crown to whom it is addressed;
	(iv)				shall not be a motion for Second or Third Reading of a bill;
	(v)				shall not be considered on any day on which the Minister of Finance has given notice of his or her intention to present the Budget;
	(vi)				shall not be a motion of Want of Confidence in the Government.
If more than one notice of an Opposition Day is received
(d)			If more than one notice of an Opposition Day is filed on the same Wednesday, the Speaker shall select which one will be considered.
Vote and 10-minute bell
(e)			After 2 hours of debate on an Opposition Day held on a day that the Afternoon Routine is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m., or at 5:50 p.m. on an Opposition Day held on a day that the Afternoon Routine is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m., the Speaker shall interrupt the proceedings and put the question without further debate. If a recorded vote is requested, the division bells shall be limited to 10 minutes. Such vote may not be deferred.
Want of Confidence motions
Distribution
46(a)			In any Session, upon proper notice, the Official Opposition is entitled to not more than 3 motions of Want of Confidence in the Government; the recognized party having the third largest membership in the House is entitled to not more than 2 such motions, and any other recognized party to 1.
Time for debate
(b)			Debate on a motion under clause (a) shall be at a time allotted by agreement of the House Leaders of the recognized parties and restricted to 1 sessional day. The time available shall be apportioned equally among the recognized parties in the House. At 5:50 p.m. on that day, the Speaker shall interrupt the proceedings and put the question without further debate.
(c)			Deleted [April 8, 2024].
No amendment
(d)			No amendment may be made to a motion under this Standing Order.
Take-note debate
47(a)			A Minister of the Crown, following consultation with the House Leaders of the recognized parties, may place a substantive motion on the Orders and Notices Paper identifying an issue to be debated in a take-note debate.
Date and time scheduled
(b)			The motion in clause (a) shall set out the day and time for the take-note debate.
Same
(c)			The debate indicated in the notice shall be taken up
	(i)				upon the commencement of Orders of the Day in the afternoon of the designated day; or
	(ii)				at the ordinary hour of adjournment on a Monday; or
	(iii)				following Private Members’ Public Business on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday,
			whichever the notice in clause (a) specifies.
Restriction
Not held on Opposition Days
(d)			A take-note debate shall not be designated to be taken up during afternoon Orders of the Day on a day on which notice of an Opposition Day has already been given.
Limit on speech length
(e)			Notwithstanding Standing Order 26(a), no Member may speak for longer than 10 minutes.
Speaker shall interrupt at conclusion
(f)			The Speaker shall interrupt the proceedings and declare the debate concluded,
	(i)				At 6:00 p.m. for a debate that takes place pursuant to clause (c)(i), or
	(ii)				After no more than 4 hours for a debate that takes place pursuant to clauses (c)(ii) or (iii).
No motion to be moved
(g)			No motion may be moved during a take-note debate.
Supersedes adjournment debates
(h)			When a take-note debate is designated to be taken up at the ordinary hour of adjournment on a Tuesday or Wednesday, the adjournment proceedings under Standing Order 36 shall not apply.
Motion to discuss Sessional Paper
48(a)			A motion that the House discuss a Sessional Paper other than a committee report requires notice. No amendment may be made to such a motion.
Debate of motion
(b)			When a motion for discussion of a Sessional Paper is moved, one Member from each of the recognized parties in the House may state the position of his or her party with respect to the motion for not more than 5 minutes.
Order for discussion
(c)			If the motion passes, an Order shall be placed on the Orders and Notices Paper for discussion of the Sessional Paper by the House.
No motion
(d)			During the discussion, no motion relating to the Sessional Paper may be moved.
XI. MOTIONS
Motions to adjourn House or debate
49(a)			Motions to adjourn the House or the debate do not require notice, but a motion to adjourn the House may not be moved until following the Afternoon Routine, except upon unanimous consent of the House. If at 10:15 a.m. the division bells are ringing for a vote on a motion to adjourn the debate, the Speaker shall interrupt the bell, deem the debate to be adjourned and call the next proceeding pursuant to Standing Order 9(a).
Effect if motion is carried
(b)			When a motion to adjourn the House is carried, the matter under consideration prior to the adjournment is deemed to be adjourned to a future sessional day.
Limitation on adjournment motions
(c)			When a motion for the immediate adjournment of the House has been defeated, no other such motion shall be made unless some intermediate proceeding has taken place.
Same
(d)			When a motion for the immediate adjournment of the House and a motion for the immediate adjournment of the debate have been defeated, neither such motion shall again be made by the same Member in the course of the same debate nor shall such a motion be made more than once during a single speech, within the meaning of Standing Order 26(d).
Not debatable
(e)			A motion for the adjournment of a debate or of the House during any debate, or for the Chair of a committee to report progress, or to leave the chair, is not debatable.
Time allocation motion
50(a)			The Government House Leader may move a motion with notice providing for the allocation of time to any proceeding on a Government Bill or substantive government motion.
Division of time
(b)			2 hours of debate, apportioned equally among the recognized parties, shall be allotted to debate on the motion, at the end of which time the Speaker shall without further debate or amendment put every question necessary to dispose of the motion.
When time allocation motion may be moved
(c)			A time allocation motion may not be moved until Second Reading debate has been completed or 6½ hours of debate have taken place on Second Reading consideration of any Government Bill or on a substantive government motion. Upon completion of 6½ hours of debate, the Speaker shall deem the debate to be adjourned unless the Government House Leader directs the debate to continue.
Same
(d)			A bill, and a time allocation motion applying to that same bill, may not be considered on the same calendar day.
Motion for closure
51			A motion for closure, which may be moved without notice, until it is decided shall preclude all amendment of the main question, and shall be in the following words: “That this question be now put”. Unless it appears to the Speaker that such motion is an abuse of the Standing Orders of the House or an infringement of the rights of the minority, the question shall be put forthwith and decided without amendment or debate. If a motion for closure is resolved in the affirmative, the original question shall be put forthwith and decided without amendment or debate.
Order or address for returns does not lapse on prorogation
52			Prorogation of the House shall not have the effect of nullifying an Order or address of the House for returns or papers, but all papers and returns ordered at one Session, if not complied with during the Session, shall be brought down during the following Session without renewal of the Order.
Government motions
Reply
53			When a debate arises on any government substantive motion, the Minister or Parliamentary Assistant who moved it has a right of reply and the Speaker shall inform the House that such reply closes the debate.
Motions requiring seconder
54			Except in the case of a motion that a certain Member do take the chair of the House as Speaker, a motion for an Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne and the Budget motion, no motion or amendment shall be required to be seconded before the question thereon is proposed from the chair.
May not renew motion, etc., once decided
55			No motion, or amendment, the subject-matter of which has been decided upon, can be again proposed during the same Session.
Withdrawal
56			A Member who has given notice of or moved a motion may withdraw the same.
XII. NOTICE
Method of giving notice
57			All notices required by the Standing Orders of the House or otherwise shall be laid on the Table before 5:00 p.m. and printed on the Orders and Notices Paper for the following day. Notices of motion shall be distributed by the Clerk to the House Leaders of recognized parties in the Legislature at the time of tabling.
XIII. GOVERNMENT BUSINESS
Order of business
58			Except as otherwise provided in these Standing Orders, government business will be taken up in the discretion of the Government House Leader.
Business for ensuing week
59			Before the adjournment of the House on each Thursday during the Session, the Government House Leader shall announce the business for the following week.
XIV. FINANCIAL PROCEDURES
Money bills, etc., require message from Lieutenant Governor
60			Any bill, resolution, motion or address, the passage of which would impose a tax or specifically direct the allocation of public funds, shall not be passed by the House unless recommended by a message from the Lieutenant Governor, and shall be proposed only by a Minister of the Crown.
Budget motion and presentation
61(a)			The Budget motion, upon proper notice, shall be moved by the Minister of Finance following the completion of the debate on the motion for an Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne, and amendments, and in so doing the Minister of Finance shall present the Budget and Budget papers. Following the Budget speech, if requested by the Minister of Finance, the House shall revert to “Introduction of Government Bills” for the purpose of allowing the Minister of Finance to move the introduction of any bill or bills arising from the Budget.
Proceedings on Budget day
(b)			On the day designated for the presentation of the Budget, the Speaker shall recess the House immediately following the Afternoon Routine until 4:00 p.m., except that if the Afternoon Routine has not been completed by 4:00 p.m., the Speaker shall interrupt the proceedings and shall put every question necessary to dispose of the proceeding currently occupying the House and immediately call Orders of the Day.
Same
No Private Members’ Public Business on Budget day
(c)			Private Members’ Public Business will not take place on the day the Budget is presented.
Allotted debate time
(d)			There shall be 8 hours allotted to the debate on the Budget motion and any amendments thereto, at the end of which time the Speaker shall without further debate or amendment put every question necessary to dispose of the Budget motion.
Amendments
(e)			Only an amendment and an amendment to the amendment may be moved to the Budget motion.
Estimates presentation
62(a)			When a Budget has been presented, the main Estimates shall be tabled in the House no more than 12 sessional days later. During those 12 days the Budget debate shall be completed. If no Budget has been presented by the first sessional day following Victoria Day, the main Estimates shall be tabled at the next available sessional day.
Estimates deemed referred to Standing Committees
(b)			Upon tabling or upon the appointment of committees pursuant to Standing Order 109.1(a) and assignment of Ministries and Offices pursuant to Standing Order 113(b), the Estimates shall be deemed to be referred to the Standing Committees to which the respective Ministries and Offices were assigned.
Estimates or Supplementary Estimates deemed concurred in
(c)			Notwithstanding clause (b), upon tabling, any Estimates or Supplementary Estimates approved by the Board of Internal Economy shall be deemed to be concurred in.
Estimates consideration
63(a)			The consideration of Estimates shall not take precedence over consideration of a Government Bill.
Selection of Estimates to be considered
	(b)(i)				The order of consideration of the Estimates of the Ministries and Offices referred to each committee shall be determined by selection of Members of the Committee, such that the Members of the party forming the Official Opposition shall select first, followed by the Members of the other recognized parties in decreasing order of their membership in the House, and the Members of the party forming the Government shall select last.
Choice of the Estimates of 1 Ministry or Office
	(ii)				With each turn, the Members of each party may choose the Estimates of 1 Ministry or Office.
Exception
	(ii.1)				The Estimates of the Office of the Premier and the Estimates of the Cabinet Office shall constitute one selection and represent a single turn taken under sub-clause (ii).
Same
	(iii)				If, when their turn to select occurs, the Members of a party decline to make a selection, the selection process proceeds to the next party in rotation as provided in sub-clause (i).
Order of consideration
(c)			The Estimates of the Ministries and Offices shall be considered in the order in which they were selected. The Sub-committee on Committee Business of each committee may, by unanimous agreement, alter the order of consideration.
Time for consideration
(d)			The time for the consideration of the Estimates of each Ministry or Office shall be determined by the respective committee.
Exception for Estimates of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor
	(i)				The Estimates of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, if selected by a committee, shall have no time allotted to them, and when these Estimates are considered, the Chair shall put, without further amendment or debate, every question necessary to dispose of these Estimates.
Concurrent consideration of Estimates of the Office of the Premier and Cabinet Office
	(ii)				The Estimates of the Office of the Premier and the Estimates of the Cabinet Office shall be allotted time jointly and shall be considered concurrently.
Not considered in Committee if same policy field being considered in House
(e)			No Estimates shall be considered in a committee while any matter, including a procedural motion, relating to the same policy field is being considered in the House.
Estimates not selected deemed passed and reported
64(a)			All other Estimates not selected for consideration by each Committee shall be deemed to be passed by the Committee and shall be reported back to the House.
Committee report received and concurred in
(b)			The report of the Committee shall be deemed to be received and the Estimates for the Ministries and Offices named in the report shall be deemed to be concurred in.
Supplementary Estimates referred to Committee
65(a)			Upon tabling or upon the appointment of committees pursuant to Standing Order 109.1(a) and assignment of Ministries and Offices pursuant to Standing Order 113(b), all Supplementary Estimates shall be deemed referred to the Standing Committee to which their Ministry or Office has been assigned.
Consideration of Supplementary Estimates
(b)			Each Standing Committee shall consider Supplementary Estimates of the Ministries and Offices selected within the time allocated pursuant to Standing Order 63(d) for the consideration of the main Estimates.
Supplementary Estimates not considered reported
Report deemed received and concurred in
(c)			All other Supplementary Estimates shall be reported back to the House. The report of each Committee shall be deemed to be received and the Supplementary Estimates for the Ministries and Offices named in the report shall be deemed to be concurred in.
One report by each Committee
66(a)			Each Standing Committee shall present one report with respect to all of the Estimates and Supplementary Estimates considered pursuant to Standing Orders 63 and 65 no later than the third Thursday in November of each calendar year.
Procedure if Committee fails to report
(b)			In the event the Committee fails to report the said Estimates on the date provided for in clause (a), the Estimates and Supplementary Estimates shall be deemed to be passed by the Committee and shall be deemed to be reported to and received by the House.
Disposition of Supplementary Estimates
(c)			In the event that any Supplementary Estimates are not presented to the House until the third Thursday in November, or thereafter, then those Supplementary Estimates shall be deemed to be referred to the appropriate Committee as they are presented to the House, shall be deemed to be passed by that Committee and shall be deemed to be reported to and received by the House.
Concurrence debate
Equal division of time
(d)			There shall be an Order for Concurrence placed on the Orders and Notices Paper for each of the Estimates reported from each Committee. There shall be 2 hours, apportioned equally among the recognized parties, allotted to the debate on the Orders for Concurrence, at the end of which time the Speaker shall without further debate put every question necessary to dispose of the Order for Concurrence in Supply for each of the Ministries and Offices named in the Committees’ reports. No amendment to any question may be moved. If a recorded vote is requested by 5 Members, all divisions shall be stacked and disposed of in one single vote, and the division bell shall be limited to 10 minutes.
Supply Bill procedure
67			Adoption of Orders for Concurrence shall constitute an Order to bring in a Supply Bill founded on the resolutions contained therein, and founded on the resolutions contained in the deemed Concurrences made pursuant to Standing Orders 62, 64 and 65. Two hours, apportioned equally among the recognized parties, shall be allotted to the debate on the Second Reading stage of the Supply Bill, at the end of which time the Speaker shall without further debate or amendment put all questions necessary to dispose of this stage of the Bill. A Supply Bill given Second Reading shall be ordered for Third Reading, and the Order for Third Reading shall then immediately be called and the Speaker shall put the question forthwith without further debate or amendment, no deferral being permitted. In the case of any division under this Standing Order, the division bell shall be limited to 10 minutes.
Briefing material
68			The Minister or person answerable for the Estimates considered by the respective Standing Committees shall provide each Member of the Committee and the Clerk of the Committee with advance briefing material which shall include such information as growth rates, interim expenditures for the previous fiscal year, and an explanation of the programs and funding by particular item.
Conclusion of consideration or expiration of time
69			When the Committee has concluded its consideration of the Estimates of a Ministry or Office or the time established for the consideration of such Estimates has expired, the Chair shall put without further amendment or debate every question necessary to dispose of the Estimates.
Interim Supply
70(a)			A motion for Interim Supply requires notice and shall be for a period not exceeding 6 months.
Equal division of time
Time allotted for debate
(b)			2 hours, apportioned equally among the recognized parties, shall be allotted to debate on the Interim Supply motion, at the end of which time the Speaker shall without further debate or amendment put all questions necessary to dispose of the motion.
Treasury Board Orders and Special Warrants
71			Treasury Board Orders shall be printed in The Ontario Gazette with an explanation of significant variances from printed Estimates and a summary of Special Warrants shall be tabled on the first sessional day following the issue of the Warrants.
XV. PUBLIC BILLS
Co-sponsorship of private Members’ Public Bills
72(a)			Private Members’ Public Bills may be co-sponsored by up to 4 private Members of the House. It shall be the responsibility of the co-sponsors to select which among them will move the motion for introduction and First Reading of the Bill. Any of the co-sponsors shall be entitled to move the motions for second or Third Reading of the Bill. The names of the co-sponsors shall be indicated on the introduction copy of the Bill and shall thereafter be printed on the face of the Bill.
Co-sponsor who designates bill has charge of bill
Co-sponsor may speak to bill
(b)			Any one of the co-sponsors of such a bill may designate the Bill as his or her item of business for Private Members’ Public Business, and any or all of the co-sponsors may speak during the time allotted by Standing Order 100(a)(i). The Member designating the Bill for the purposes of Private Members’ Public Business shall have charge of the Bill in any committee.
Co-sponsor withdraws as sponsor
(c)			A co-sponsor may withdraw as a sponsor of the Bill at any time by providing written notice to the Clerk of the House. His or her name shall be removed from the Bill entry on the Orders and Notices Paper, and shall be removed from the face of the Bill at any subsequent re-printing of the Bill.
Notice required for Reasoned Amendment
Ancillary motions
73			No notice is required for motions for Second or Third Reading of Bills or for Hoist motions, such motions being ancillary; but a motion for a Reasoned Amendment to a motion for Second or Third Reading does require notice.
Printed before Second Reading
74(a)			The Order of the Day for Second Reading of a bill shall not be called until the Bill has been printed.
Not considered in Committee if same policy field in House
(b)			No bill shall be considered in any Standing or Select Committee while any matter, including a procedural motion, relating to the same policy field is being considered in the House.
Question on Reasoned Amendment or Hoist motion
75(a)			If a Reasoned Amendment or a Hoist motion is offered to a motion for Second or Third Reading, the first question proposed by the Speaker is whether the Bill will NOW be read a second or third time, as the case may be. If this question is decided in the affirmative, the Bill shall immediately be read the second or third time.
When amendment put
(b)			If the question in clause (a) is decided in the negative, the Speaker shall then put the proposed amendment to the House and at that time, but not before, an amendment to the amendment may be offered.
Reply closes debate
76			A reply is allowed to the Minister or Parliamentary Assistant who has moved Second or Third Reading of a bill, after all Members wishing to speak to the motion, and any amendments thereto, have spoken and the Speaker shall inform the House that the reply closes the debate.
Referral of public bill to Committee
77(a)			At any time before the commencement of Second Reading debate on a public bill, during “Motions”, the Government House Leader may move the following motion, no debate or amendment being permitted, “That the Order for Second Reading of Bill [insert bill title] be discharged and the Bill be referred to the Standing Committee on [insert committee name]”.
Ordered for Second Reading
(b)			Notwithstanding Standing Order 82(a), a bill referred under this Standing Order, when reported from the Committee, shall be ordered for Second Reading.
Ordered for Third Reading by unanimous consent
(c)			When a bill has received Second Reading it may, by unanimous consent, be ordered for Third Reading.
Committal
(d)			If such unanimous consent is refused, the Bill will be referred to the Committee of the Whole House or to a Standing or Select Committee, as the Government House Leader, the Minister or Parliamentary Assistant designates; but if 8 Members stand in their places, such references shall be to a Standing or Select Committee.
Time limit on recommittal debate
78			If a motion to recommit a bill is opposed, no Member shall speak thereon for a period longer than 10 minutes.
When to be considered in Committee
79			When a bill is referred to a Standing or Select Committee after Second Reading, it shall not be considered in Committee until at least the 5^th calendar day after the referral, unless a waiver of this interval has been granted on the request of the Minister or Parliamentary Assistant; but no such waiver shall be granted if 12 Members register their objection by standing in their places.
Amendments in Committee
80(a)			When time permits, amendments proposed to be moved to bills in any committee shall be filed with the Clerk of the House at least 2 hours before the Bill is to be considered, and copies of such proposed amendments shall be distributed to all recognized parties.
Chair’s discretion respecting multiple amendments
(b)			The Chair of a committee, including the Chair of the Committee of the Whole House, may take such reasonable steps as he or she considers necessary to facilitate the Committee’s consideration and disposition of multiple amendments.
Chair may set filing deadlines
(c)			The Chair of a committee, including the Chair of the Committee of the Whole House, may establish deadlines for tabling amendments or for filing them with the Clerk of the Committee.
Bills initialled and signed by Chair
81(a)			The Chair of a committee considering a bill shall initial each section of the Bill as it is passed and sign the Bill.
Amendments initialled by Chair
(b)			Amendments shall be clearly indicated in the signed copy, and the amendments or additions shall be initialled by the Chair.
Bills reported by Committees
82(a)			Bills reported from the Committee of the Whole House shall stand ordered for Third Reading. Bills reported from Standing or Select Committees shall be ordered for Third Reading unless the Minister or Parliamentary Assistant directs that they be referred to the Committee of the Whole House.
Amended bill reprinted
(b)			When a bill has been amended in any committee it shall be reprinted as the Clerk of the House directs, amendments being indicated, and shall not be further proceeded with until it has been reprinted.
Committee of Whole House consideration after Standing or Select Committee report
(c)			When a bill that is reported from a Standing or Select Committee is referred to the Committee of the Whole House, it shall not be taken up earlier than the second calendar day after the referral.
Procedure in Committee
83			When a bill is considered in a committee, the Chair shall enquire whether any comments, questions or amendments are to be offered and to which sections and will call only such sections. If no sections are so designated, the Bill shall be reported as a whole.
Three readings for all bills
Readings certified by Clerk
84(a)			No bill shall pass unless it receives three readings, and the date of each reading shall be certified on the Bill by the Clerk of the House.
Not more than one stage per day if opposed by 12 Members
(b)			A bill shall not pass more than one stage on one day if opposed by 12 Members standing in their places.
Restriction on consideration of a Government Bill during evening meeting
(c)			Without unanimous consent, no Government Bill shall be considered during Orders of the Day during an evening meeting of the House if that same Bill has been considered on both the morning and afternoon meetings of the House on that same sessional day.
XVI. PRIVATE BILLS
Application requirements
85(a)			Any person, group or corporation may make an application for a Private Bill by filing with the Clerk of the House,
	(i)				a copy of the Bill;
	(ii)				a fee in an amount prescribed by the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, which may be amended by that Committee from time to time; and
	(iii)				a declaration proving publication of the notices referred to in clause (e).
Printing costs
(b)			Every applicant for a Private Bill shall pay the cost of printing the Bill at all of its stages, including reprinting if it is amended.
Suspension charges
(c)			Where, at the request of the applicant, a Standing Order is suspended with reference to a Private Bill, a charge shall be levied in an amount which shall be prescribed by the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, and which may be amended by that Committee from time to time.
Fees for the duration of the 43^rd Parliament
(c.1)			Until the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs has set new fees pursuant to Standing Orders 85(a)(ii) and 85(c), the fees shall remain at the amounts indicated in the Standing Orders as they were on the first day of the 43^rd Parliament. [In effect for the duration of the 43^rd Parliament]
Remission of fees
Waiver of printing costs
(d)			Where a Private Bill relates to a charitable organization within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada), the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs may recommend that the fee paid under clause (a) be remitted and, if the recommendation is approved by the House, the remitted fee shall be applied to reduce any costs payable under clause (b) and the Committee may, having regard to the circumstances, recommend that all or part of the costs payable under clause (b) be waived and, if the recommendation is approved by the House, the costs shall be waived.
Notice published
(e)			Notice of an application for a Private Bill shall be given before it is read a first time by publishing the notice once a week for at least 4 weeks in each of The Ontario Gazette and 1 newspaper circulated in the municipality most affected and the notice shall,
	(i)				be signed by or on behalf of the applicant;
	(ii)				clearly state the nature and object of the application;
	(iii)				when the application refers to any proposed work, indicate generally the location of the work;
	(iv)				where the application is by a municipal corporation for authority to issue debentures, set out the particulars of the existing debenture debt and the amount of the rateable property of the municipality according to the last revised assessment roll of the corporation and in brief and general terms, the object for which the new issue of debentures is required; and
	(v)				state that any person who has an interest in the application and who wishes to make submissions for or against the application if it is considered by the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs should notify the Clerk of the House in writing.
Period notice valid
(f)			Notice of an application for a Private Bill is valid for the calendar year in which the last notice is published and until the first day of July in the next following calendar year.
Continued in next Session
(g)			Where,
	(i)				an application for a Private Bill is made during a Session but the Bill is not read a first time; or
	(ii)				a Private Bill is read a first time but is not given further consideration by the House or considered by the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs before dissolution or prorogation,
			the application shall be considered during the next regular Session of the House without publishing further notice of the application and without payment of additional fees under clause (a).
Reference of application to Procedure and House Affairs Committee
86			The Clerk of the House shall refer to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs any application that, in his or her opinion, does not comply with the Standing Orders.
Letters patent, etc.
87			When any Private Bill confirming any letters patent or agreement is presented to the House, a copy of the letters patent or agreement shall be included in the Bill.
Certificate of Minister of Finance
88			No Private Bill relating to the status of a corporation shall be given First Reading until there has been deposited with the Clerk of the House a certificate of the Minister of Finance showing that all taxes payable under the Corporations Tax Act in respect of the corporation have been paid.
Ordered for Second Reading
Request for Referral
89(a)			Subject to Standing Orders 90 and 91, every Private Bill when read a first time shall remain ordered for Second Reading, unless a request is filed in writing to refer the Bill to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs with the Clerk of the House by,
	(i)				a permanent Member of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs; or
	(ii)				5 Members of the Assembly not of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs,
			in which case the Order for Second Reading of the Bill shall be discharged and the Bill shall be deemed to be referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.
Second and Third Reading of Private Bill
(b)			If no such request is received within 16 sessional days of the Bill being read a first time, the Order for Second Reading of the Bill may be called at the discretion of the Government House Leader. When such Order is called, the Speaker shall without debate or amendment put all questions necessary to dispose of this stage of the Bill. A Private Bill given Second Reading shall be ordered for Third Reading, and the Order for Third Reading shall then immediately be called and the Speaker shall put the question forthwith without debate or amendment.
Compendium
(c)			No Private Bill shall be given First Reading unless a compendium of background information has been deposited with the Clerk of the House by the applicant.
Same
(d)			The compendium required under clause (c) shall cite the precedents, if any, used in drafting the Private Bill and shall contain an up-to-date consolidation of existing legislation that is amended by the Bill.
Compendium guidelines
(e)			The Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs may adopt guidelines related to the form and content of the compendium required by clause (c).
Amendment of existing Private Act
(f)			Where the purpose of a Private Bill application is to amend a section of an existing Private Act or the Private Bill would have the effect of amending a section of an existing Private Act, the Private Bill shall re-enact the section in its entirety.
Certain municipal applications referred to O.L.T.
90(a)			Every Private Bill or part of a bill of a municipal corporation providing for the consolidation of a floating debt, or the consolidation or renewal of debentures, other than local improvement debentures, stands referred to the Ontario Land Tribunal after First Reading.
Report
(b)			The Tribunal, after due enquiry, shall report to the House whether or not it is reasonable that the Bill, or that part thereof relating to the matters referred to in clause (a), should pass and what, if any, alterations are necessary.
O.L.T. report sent to Clerk
(c)			A report of the Ontario Land Tribunal shall be transmitted to the Clerk of the House.
Bill and report to Committee
(d)			The Bill and report shall stand referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.
Estate bills referred
91(a)			Every Estate Bill or part of a bill that contains an Estate Bill provision stands referred to the Commissioners of Estate Bills after First Reading.
Report of Commissioners
(b)			The Commissioners of Estate Bills, or any 2 of them, shall report their opinion on the Bill or the part thereof that has been submitted to them, and whether, presuming the allegations contained in the preamble to be proven to the satisfaction of the House, it is reasonable for the Bill or the part thereof to pass and what, if any, alterations are necessary.
Report sent to Clerk
(c)			A report of the Commissioners of Estate Bills shall be transmitted to the Clerk of the House.
Effect of adverse report
(d)			Where the Commissioners of Estate Bills report that, in their opinion, it is not reasonable that the Bill or the part thereof submitted to them pass into law, the Bill or the part thereof shall not be further considered.
Bill and report to Committee
(e)			Where the Bill or the part thereof submitted to the Commissioners of Estate Bills is reported favourably by the Commissioners, the Bill and the report shall stand referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs and where only part of a bill is submitted to the Commissioners and the Commissioners report that, in their opinion, it is not reasonable that the part pass into law, the Bill shall stand referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs and the Committee shall amend the Bill by deleting therefrom the part to which the report relates.
Notice of Committee hearings regarding Private Bills
92			The Clerk of the House shall publish 5 calendar days’ notice of the date on which any Private Bill is to be considered by the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.
Announcement of notices received
93(a)			The Speaker shall advise the House of any notices received by the Clerk of the House pursuant to Standing Order 85(e)(v) and all submissions related to the Bill shall stand referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.
Consent of interested person
(b)			Any person whose interest or property may be affected by a Private Bill, when required, shall appear before the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs to express his or her consent or objection, or may consent in writing, proof of which may be demanded by the Committee.
On Orders and Notices Paper after report
94			Private Bills when reported by the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs shall be placed on the Orders and Notices Paper for Second Reading, which Orders may then be called by the Government House Leader, and the provisions of Standing Order 89(b) shall then apply.
Reprinting of amended bills
95			Private Bills amended by a committee may be reprinted before further consideration, as the Clerk of the House may direct.
Notice required to dispense with Standing Order
96			Except when waived by unanimous consent of the House, notice is required for a motion to dispense with any Standing Order relating to Private Bills.
Private Bill Register
97			A Private Bill Register shall be kept in the office of the Clerk of the House, in which shall be entered the name, description, and place of residence of the parties applying for the Bill, or of their agent, and all the proceedings thereon, such Register to be open to public inspection daily, during office hours.
Parliamentary agents
98(a)			Every parliamentary agent conducting proceedings before the House is personally responsible to the House and to the Speaker for the observance of the Standing Orders and practices of Parliament, and also for the payment of all fees and charges.
Misconduct of agents
(b)			Any parliamentary agent who wilfully acts in violation of the Standing Orders and practices of Parliament, or who wilfully misconducts himself or herself in prosecuting any proceedings before the House, is liable to an absolute or temporary prohibition to practise as a parliamentary agent, at the pleasure of the Speaker.
Notice published
99			The Clerk of the House shall publish weekly in The Ontario Gazette the following notice:

APPLICATIONS TO PARLIAMENT
PRIVATE BILLS
PUBLIC NOTICE

		The procedures related to applications for private bills are set out in the Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly and the costs of applications are set by the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs. Information is available at www.ola.org, or may be requested from:
		Procedural Services Branch Room 1405, Whitney Block Queen’s Park Toronto, Ontario M7A 1A2
		Telephone: (416) 325-3500 (Collect calls will be accepted.)
		Applicants should note that consideration of applications for private bills that are received after the first day of September in any calendar year may be postponed until the first regular Session in the next following calendar year.

XVII. PRIVATE MEMBERS’ PUBLIC BUSINESS
Time for
Only 1 item per day
Time allotment for items in Private Members’ Public Business debate
100(a)		Except on the 12 sessional days immediately following the Speech from the Throne, 1 item of Private Members’ Public Business shall be considered at the times as set out in Standing Order 9(a), and the time provided for each shall be allotted as follows:
	(i)		12 minutes for the Member moving a motion;
	(ii)		A period of 12 minutes to be allotted in rotation for a representative or representatives of each of the recognized parties in the House. The mover of the motion may speak a second time during the time provided for a representative or representatives of the party of which he or she is a Member;
	(iii)		2 minutes for a reply by the Member moving the motion;
	(iv)		The Speaker has the discretion to permit an independent Member to speak for up to 5 minutes on the motion of another private Member. In exercising his or her discretion, the Speaker shall have regard to the opportunities that Members of recognized parties have to participate in debate on other Members’ motions. An independent Member shall give the Speaker notice of his or her intention to participate in the debate.
Ballot
(b)		The order for consideration of the items of business shall be determined by a ballot conducted by the Clerk of the House prior to or at the commencement of each Session. All private Members, including independent Members, may enter their names for the draw, and names shall be drawn from a single box.
Exchanging places in the Order of Precedence
(c)		Subject to clause (e), Members may exchange places in the Order of Precedence on the ballot list by providing to the Clerk of the House written notice of their arrangement to this effect, such written notice to be duly signed by the House Leaders of the affected Members and to be provided by 5:00 p.m. 9 sessional days prior to the earlier of the two dates on the Order of Precedence determined in clause (b).
On Orders and Notices Paper daily after Second Reading
(d)		Private Members’ Public Bills given Second Reading shall be carried on the Orders and Notices Paper daily to be called by the Government House Leader in the same manner as Government Orders.
Notice
(e)		To be considered in Private Members’ time, the Order for Second Reading, or notice of a motion, must be designated on the Orders and Notices Paper 8 sessional days in advance of the date that is determined by the ballot conducted under clause (b). In the event that a Member fails to designate business for consideration by this deadline, the first eligible public bill to appear on the Orders and Notices Paper standing in that Member’s name shall be designated for consideration. Should that Member have no public bills standing in their name then the first eligible motion to appear on the Orders and Notices Paper standing in that Member’s name shall be designated for consideration. Should that Member have no business standing in their name on the Orders and Notices Paper by this deadline, the Member shall lose their place in the Order of Precedence and the House shall not conduct a Private Members’ Public Business proceeding on that date.
No adjournment of debate
(f)		There shall be no adjournment of the debate on any item of Private Members’ Public Business.
No amendment
(g)		No amendment may be made to a motion under this Standing Order.
Referral to Committee
(h)		Notwithstanding Standing Order 77(d), Private Members’ Public Bills given Second Reading shall stand referred to the Committee of the Whole House, unless referred to a Standing or Select Committee by a majority of the House.
XVIII. WRITTEN QUESTIONS
Subject notice
101(a)		Questions seeking information from the Ministry relating to the public affairs of the Province may be placed by notice on the Orders and Notices Paper.
Notices dated
(b)		Such notices shall be dated and, where a Member repeats an unanswered question in the ensuing Session, the date of the original notice shall be shown.
No arguments or opinions
(c)		In putting any written question, no argument or opinion shall be offered nor any facts stated, except so far as may be necessary to explain the question.
Answers
Delayed answers
Decline to answer
(d)		The Minister shall answer such written questions within 24 sessional days, unless he or she indicates that more time is required because the answer will be costly or time consuming or that he or she declines to answer, in which case a notation shall be made on the Orders and Notices Paper following the question indicating that the Minister has made an interim answer, the approximate date that the information will be available, or that the Minister has declined to answer, as the case may be.
Answers in writing
(e)		The answers to such written questions shall be given to the Member who asked the question and to the Clerk of the House who shall print a notation in the Votes and Proceedings that the question has been answered.
Motion for return may be ordered
(f)		If a Minister is of the opinion that any written question under this Standing Order requires by way of reply any statement of facts, or records, or statistics of a lengthy or a voluminous nature, the Minister may require it to be made a motion for a return.
Restriction on number of questions
(g)		No Member shall have more than 10 questions on the Orders and Notices Paper at any one time.
XIX. COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HOUSE
House in committee
102(a)		When an Order of the Day is read for the House to resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House, the Speaker shall leave the chair without a question put, and the House shall thereupon resolve itself into a committee.
Mace
(b)		When the Speaker has left the chair, the Mace shall be placed under the Table and the Chair of the Committee of the Whole House shall take the chair of the Committee at the Table.
Standing Orders observed
Exception
103		The Standing Orders of the House shall be observed in Committee of the Whole House so far as may be applicable, except the Standing Orders limiting the number of times of speaking. Unless expressly provided by the Standing Orders or by unanimous consent, no Member shall speak for more than 20 minutes at a time in Committee of the Whole House.
Chair maintains order
Appeal to Speaker
104(a)		The Chair shall maintain order in the Committee of the Whole House and decide all questions of order subject to an appeal by any Member to the Speaker. No debate shall be permitted on any decision of the Chair.
Procedure
Speaker confirms or varies decision
(b)		If an appeal of a decision of the Chair of the Committee of the Whole House is made to the Speaker, the Chair shall rise and report immediately thereon to the Speaker without any question being put to the Committee. On receiving a report from the Chair and reviewing the proceedings, the Speaker shall confirm or vary any decision of the Chair.
Disorder reported to House
(c)		Disorder in a Committee of the Whole House can only be censured by the House on receiving a report from the Committee.
May not adjourn
105		A Committee of the Whole House may not adjourn its own meeting or the consideration of any matter to a future date, but this Standing Order shall not affect the application of Standing Order 17.
Report progress
106		A motion may be moved during the proceedings of a Committee of the Whole House that the Chair report progress and ask for leave to meet again, and such question shall be put forthwith and decided without amendment or debate.
Motion for Chair to leave chair
107(a)		A motion that the Chair of a Committee of the Whole House leave the chair is always in order and shall be put forthwith and decided without amendment or debate.
Procedure if carried
(b)		If such a motion is carried, further proceedings of a Committee of the Whole House on the matter or bill then under consideration shall be superseded; but the matter or bill may, on motion with notice, be revived and the proceedings shall be resumed at the point where they were interrupted. Such a motion shall not prejudice or in any way affect any other matters or bills referred to the Committee of the Whole House.
Motion defeated
(c)		If such a motion is defeated, no other such motion shall be made unless some intermediate proceeding has taken place.
Amendments in Committee of the Whole House
108		It shall be an instruction to the Committee of the Whole House to which bills may be committed that it has the power to make such amendments therein as it thinks fit, if they are relevant to the subject-matter of the Bill, but if any such amendments are not within the title of the Bill it shall amend the title accordingly and shall report the Bill to the House.
Minister occupies front row seat
Staff on floor
109		When the House is meeting in Committee of the Whole House to consider bills, the Minister or Parliamentary Assistant in charge of a bill being considered by the Committee of the Whole House may occupy a seat in the front row of the House and may have up to 3 staff members seated in front of him or her to supply information to the Minister or Parliamentary Assistant as required.
XX. COMMITTEES
Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs
109.1		Within the first 10 sessional days following the commencement of a Parliament, the membership of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs shall be appointed, on motion with notice, for the duration of the Parliament, which committee is empowered:
(a)		at the beginning of a Parliament, and from time to time as may be required, to appoint or revise, for the duration of a Parliament, the membership of the Standing Committees referred to in Standing Order 110 and those Select Committees which the House has resolved should have their membership appointed under this Standing Order and shall make a report thereon to the House, which report shall be deemed to be adopted;
(b)		to review on its own initiative or at the request of the Speaker or the direction of the House and to report to the House its observations, opinions and recommendations on the Standing Orders of the House and the procedures in the House and its Committees;
(c)		to advise the Speaker and the Board of Internal Economy, and to report to the House its observations, opinions and recommendations on the administration of the House and the provision of services and facilities to Members;
(d)		to act as an advisory body to the Speaker and the House on the television broadcast system and to conduct reviews, at least on an annual basis, of the televising of the legislative proceedings and of the guidelines established by the House with respect to the television broadcast system;
(e)		to be the Committee which is empowered to review and consider from time to time the Reports of the Ombudsman as they become available; and, as the Committee deems necessary, pursuant to subsection 15(1) of the Ombudsman Act, to formulate general rules for the guidance of the Ombudsman in the exercise of his or her functions under the Act; and to report thereon to the Legislature and to make such recommendations as the Committee deems appropriate;
(f)		and to be the Committee provided for by section 33 of Part III (Regulations) of the Legislation Act, 2006, and having the terms of reference as set out in that section, namely: to be the Committee to which all regulations stand permanently referred; and to examine the regulations with particular reference to the scope and method of the exercise of delegated legislative power without reference to the merits of the policy or objectives to be effected by the regulations or enabling statutes, but in so doing regard shall be had to the following guidelines:
	(i)		Regulations should not contain provisions initiating new policy, but should be confined to details to give effect to the policy established by the statute;
	(ii)		Regulations should be in strict accord with the statute conferring of power, particularly concerning personal liberties;
	(iii)		Regulations should be expressed in precise and unambiguous language;
	(iv)		Regulations should not have retrospective effect unless clearly authorized by statute;
	(v)		Regulations should not exclude the jurisdiction of the courts;
	(vi)		Regulations should not impose a fine, imprisonment or other penalty;
	(vii)		Regulations should not shift the onus of proof of innocence to a person accused of an offence;
	(viii)		Regulations should not impose anything in the way of a tax (as distinct from fixing the amount of a licence fee, or the like); and
	(ix)		General powers should not be used to establish a judicial tribunal or an administrative tribunal,
		and the Committee shall from time to time report to the House its observations, opinions and recommendations as required by section 33 of Part III (Regulations) of the Legislation Act, 2006, but before drawing the attention of the House to a regulation or other statutory instrument, the Committee shall afford the ministry or agency concerned an opportunity to furnish orally or in writing to the Committee such explanation as the ministry or agency thinks fit;
(g)		to be the committee provided for in subsection 7(1) and section 12 of the Queen’s Park Restoration Secretariat Act, 2023 and subsection 108.3(1) and section 108.5 of the Legislative Assembly Act and, without limitation, to have the general mandate to inquire into and make recommendations respecting any project to restore the legislative building at Queen’s Park including any relocation of legislative operations to a temporary location throughout the project.
Standing Committees
110		The Standing Committees shall be:
(a)		Standing Committee on Justice Policy;
(b)		Standing Committee on Social Policy;
(c)		Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy;
(d)		Standing Committee on the Interior;
(e)		Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs which is empowered to consider and report to the House its observations, opinions and recommendations on the fiscal and economic policies of the Province and to which all related documents shall be deemed to have been referred immediately when the said documents are tabled;
(f)		Standing Committee on Government Agencies which is empowered to review and report to the House its observations, opinions and recommendations on the operation of all agencies, boards and commissions to which the Lieutenant Governor in Council makes some or all of the appointments, and all corporations to which the Crown in right of Ontario is a majority shareholder, such reviews to be made with a view to reducing possible redundancy and overlapping, improving the accountability of agencies, rationalizing the functions of the agencies, identifying those agencies or parts of agencies which could be subject to sunset provisions, and revising the mandates and roles of agencies, and to review the intended appointments of persons to agencies, boards and commissions and of directors to corporations in which the Crown in right of Ontario is a majority shareholder, excluding reappointments and appointments for a term of 1 year or less, according to the following procedures:
	1		A Minister of the Crown shall lay on the Table a certificate stating that the Lieutenant Governor in Council intends to appoint a person to an agency, board or commission or to the board of directors of a corporation, together with a copy of the position description and a summary of the person’s qualifications, which documents shall be deemed to be referred to the Committee.
	2		Upon receipt of a certificate as referred to in paragraph 1, the Clerk of the Committee shall distribute to each member of the Sub-committee on Committee Business a list of intended appointees in respect of whom a certificate has been received.
	3		The Sub-committee shall meet at its own initiative, at the request of the Committee, or at the request of any member of the Sub-committee, to select from among the intended appointees referred to in paragraph 1 those intended appointees the Committee will review. Each member of the Sub-committee, other than the Chair, may choose one or more of the intended appointees for review from the certificates provided by the Clerk of the Committee.
	4		The Sub-committee shall report to the Committee on the intended appointees for review. Upon receiving the report, the Committee shall determine a date for the review of the intended appointees as selected by the members of the Sub-committee. The report shall specify the amount of time allocated for the consideration of each intended appointee and the date on which each will be reviewed. An equal amount of time shall be allocated for review of each member’s selections, and where a member of the Sub-committee has selected more than one intended appointee the time available to review that member’s selections shall be allocated among his or her selections.
	5		Upon notice from the Clerk of the Committee that an intended appointee has been selected for review, the Minister shall ensure that the Committee receives a copy of the intended appointee’s résumé or biographical information and a description of the responsibilities of the position.
	6		A Sub-committee member may choose to defer the consideration of one or more of the intended appointees that the member has chosen until a future meeting of the Committee at which intended appointees are to be reviewed so long as the consideration of the intended appointee has not previously been deferred.
	7		In reviewing an intended appointee, the Committee shall not call as a witness any person other than the intended appointee.
	8		At the conclusion of the meeting held to review an intended appointment, the Committee shall determine whether or not it concurs in the intended appointment. Any member may request that the Committee defer its determination to the next meeting of the Committee, but in any event no later than 7 calendar days. In its report, the Committee shall state whether or not it concurs in the intended appointments and may state its reasons.
	9		Whether or not the House stands adjourned, the Committee shall release its report by depositing it the same day with the Clerk of the House and upon receipt of the report by the Clerk the report shall be deemed to be adopted by the House.
	10		A report that the Committee will not review an intended appointee shall be deemed to have been made by the Committee and adopted by the House in any of the following cases:
	(i)		a report respecting the intended appointee has not been made by the Committee within 30 calendar days following the day on which the Minister tables the certificate referred to in paragraph 1,
	(ii)		the Sub-committee does not at its first meeting following the day on which the Minister tables the certificate select the intended appointee for review, or
	(iii)		the intended appointee has not been selected for review by the Sub-committee within 14 days following the day on which the Minister tabled the certificate.
	11		The Committee by unanimous agreement may extend any of the deadlines in paragraph 10.
	12		The Clerk of the Committee shall give the Minister who tabled the certificate written notification of any decision respecting the appointment made by the Committee or the Sub-committee on Committee Business.
	13		During any adjournment of the House that exceeds 1 week, the Committee shall meet on such day or days as may be determined by the Sub-committee, but in any event not more than 3 times per month.
(g)		Deleted [April 8, 2024].
(h)		Standing Committee on Public Accounts which is empowered to review and report to the House its observations, opinions and recommendations on the Report of the Auditor General and the Public Accounts, which documents shall be deemed to have been permanently referred to the Committee as they become available.
Standing Orders observed
Exception
111		In any Standing or Select Committee, the Standing Orders of the House shall be observed so far as may be applicable, except the Standing Orders limiting the number of times of speaking. Unless expressly provided by the Standing Orders or by unanimous consent, no member shall speak for more than 20 minutes at a time in any Standing or Select Committee.
Authority
112(a)		Standing and Select Committees shall be severally empowered to examine, enquire into and report from time to time on all such matters as may be referred to them by the House.
Same
(b)		Except when the House otherwise orders, each Committee shall have power to send for persons, papers and things.
Same
(c)		A Standing or Select Committee to which a bill has been referred by the House shall be empowered to report the same with or without amendments or to report that the Bill be not reported.
Selected Committees may review Ministries, Offices and Agencies
113(a)		Standing Committees set out in Standing Orders 109.1 and 110(a), (b), (c), (d), and (e) shall, in addition to any other powers granted to them, be authorized to study and report on all matters relating to the mandate, management, organization or operation of the Ministries and Offices which are assigned to them from time to time, as well as the Agencies, Boards and Commissions reporting to such Ministries and Offices.
Ministries and Offices assigned to Committees by Procedure and House Affairs Committee
(b)		At the beginning of each Parliament and, if necessary, during the course of a Parliament, the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs shall prescribe the Ministries and Offices assigned to the Standing Committees for the purposes of this Standing Order and for the purpose of consideration of Estimates and shall make a report thereon to the House, which report shall be deemed to be adopted. The Office of the Premier and the Cabinet Office shall be assigned to the same Standing Committee.
Contingencies
(c)		If the Estimates are tabled in the House prior to the appointment of committee membership pursuant to Standing Order 109.1(a) or prior to the assignment of Ministries and Offices to committees pursuant to Standing Order 113(b), all Ministries and Offices shall stand assigned to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs until membership has been appointed and assignment has been completed.
Select Committees
114(a)		Select Committees of the House may be appointed for any purpose or to consider any matter referred to them.
Motion to appoint
(b)		The motion to appoint a Select Committee may contain the names of the Members proposed to be members of the Committee and such motion is subject to amendment.
Membership
115(a)		No Standing or Select Committee shall consist of more than 9 members and the membership of such Committees shall be in proportion to the representation of the recognized parties in the House.
Independent Member
(b)		Notwithstanding clause (a), each independent Member may deposit, with the Clerk of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, his or her request to be appointed to at least 1 Standing Committee. An independent Member may state his or her Committee preference but such statement of preference is not binding.
Same
(c)		The appointment of an independent Member to a Standing Committee shall be in addition to the Members of recognized parties referred to in clause (a). A recognized party with a majority of seats in the House is entitled to an additional member of the Committee for each independent Member appointed to the Committee.
(d)		Deleted [April 8, 2024].
Temporary substitution
(e)		At any time before or during a committee meeting, a temporary substitution in the membership of a Standing or Select Committee may be made provided a notification thereof, signed by the Member acting as the Whip of a recognized party, is filed with the Clerk of the Committee. If notice of a substitution is delivered while a committee meeting is in progress, the notification shall be delivered by hand to the Clerk of the Committee.
(f)		Deleted [April 8, 2024].
Publishing of Committee membership lists
116		The Clerk of the House shall publish a list of members serving on each Standing and Select Committee.
Election of Chair and Vice-Chair(s)
117		Within 10 sessional days following the appointment of the membership of the Standing Committees, the Clerk of the House shall convene a meeting of each Standing Committee for the purpose of electing a Chair and Vice-Chair(s).
Same
118		At the commencement of every Parliament, or from time to time as may be required, each Standing Committee shall elect a Chair and Vice-Chair(s).
Chairs
119(a)		The Chairs of the Standing Committees set out in Standing Order 109.1 and 110 shall be distributed in proportion to the representation of the recognized parties in the House.
Exceptions
(b)		The Chair of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs shall be a member of a recognized party in opposition to the Government, the Chair of the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs shall be a member of the party forming the Government and the Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts shall be a member of the party forming the Official Opposition.
Contingency selection procedure
(c)		Failing consensus on the distribution of the Chairs of these Standing Committees, the recognized parties in the House shall choose which Committees they wish to be chaired by one of their own members in rounds, through the House Leaders, as follows: the Government first, followed by the Official Opposition and then the other recognized Opposition parties in order of their membership in the House, and then in rotation until the distribution is completed according to the number of Chairs from each recognized party as determined in clause (a).
Distribution of Vice-Chair(s)
(d)		When there are two recognized parties, where the Chair of a Standing Committee is a member of the party forming the Government, the Vice-Chair shall be a member of a recognized party in opposition to the Government or an independent Member; and where the Chair is a member of a recognized party in opposition to the Government, the Vice-Chair shall be a member of the party forming the Government.
Same
(e)		When there are three or more recognized parties, there shall be 2 Vice-Chairs of each committee, chosen as follows: where the Chair of a Standing Committee is a member of the party forming the Government, the First Vice-Chair shall be a member of the Official Opposition and the Second Vice-Chair shall be a member of a recognized party in opposition to the Government other than the Official Opposition; and where the Chair is a member of the Official Opposition, the First Vice-Chair shall be a member of the party forming the Government and the Second Vice-Chair shall be a member of a recognized party in opposition to the Government other than the Official Opposition; and where the Chair of a Standing Committee is a member of a recognized party in opposition to the Government other than the Official Opposition, the First Vice-Chair shall be a member of the party forming the Government and the Second Vice-Chair shall be a member of the party forming the Official Opposition.
Contingency failing appointment of Vice-Chair(s)
(f)		Failing the appointment of a Vice-Chair, First Vice-Chair or Second Vice-Chair, as the case may be, pursuant to clauses (d) or (e), any other member of the Committee may be appointed.
Meeting convened upon request
120(a)		Upon a written request signed by a majority of the members of a Standing or Select Committee, the Chair of the Committee shall convene a meeting of the Committee within 7 calendar days following the receipt of such request by the Clerk of the Committee.
Request non-amendable
(b)		The meeting request shall contain the text of a non-amendable motion proposing the consideration by the Committee of a bill or other matter within the mandate of the Committee.
Time allotted for debate
(c)		If the motion is in order, 30 minutes shall be allotted to debate the motion, at the end of which time the Chair shall put the question.
May meet during any adjournment of the House
(d)		For the purpose of this Standing Order, the Committee may meet, and may continue to meet, during any adjournment of the House.
Clerk to attend meetings
121		The Clerk of each Standing and Select Committee shall attend each meeting of the Committee and shall record the names of the members of the Committee present at each meeting in the Minutes of Proceedings.
Quorum
122(a)		A majority of the members of a Standing or a Select Committee, including the Chair, shall constitute a quorum.
Meetings without quorum
(b)		Any committee may authorize the Chair to hold meetings to receive evidence when a quorum is not present.
Adjournment for lack of quorum
(c)		If at any time during a meeting of a Standing or Select Committee the Chair’s attention is directed to the apparent lack of quorum, the Chair shall, upon determining that a quorum is not present, suspend the proceedings of the Committee; if no quorum is present at the expiration of 10 minutes, the Chair shall adjourn the Committee to the next scheduled meeting of the Committee.
Same
(d)		Whenever the Chair of a Standing or Select Committee adjourns the Committee for want of a quorum, the Clerk of the Committee shall record the time of the adjournment and the names of the members then present in the Minutes of Proceedings.
Chair maintains order
Appeal to Speaker by majority
123(a)		The Chair of a Standing or Select Committee shall maintain order in the Committee and decide all questions of order subject to an appeal by the majority of the members of the Committee to the Speaker. No debate shall be permitted on any decision of the Chair.
Procedure if House meeting
Speaker confirms or varies decision
(b)		If the majority of the members of a Standing or Select Committee appeal the decision of the Chair of the Committee to the Speaker, the Chair shall at the next meeting of the House present a report which accurately states the matter on which the Chair decided, the arguments raised by members of the Committee and the decision made by the Chair, and the Speaker shall confirm or vary any decision of the Chair.
Procedure if House not meeting
Decision of Speaker
(c)		If the House is adjourned, in recess or is not otherwise meeting on a day on which a decision of the Chair of a Standing or Select Committee is appealed to the Speaker, the Chair shall deliver a copy of the report to the Speaker and shall file a copy of the report with the Clerk of the House. The decision of the Speaker shall be in writing, shall be delivered to the Chair and the Clerk of the Committee and shall be entered in the Votes and Proceedings on the first day on which the House next meets.
Disorder reported to House
(d)		Disorder in a Standing or Select Committee can only be censured by the House on receiving a report from the Committee.
Travel
124(a)		Standing and Select Committees may adjourn from place to place in Ontario.
Staff
(b)		Standing and Select Committees shall be severally empowered to retain the services of expert, professional, technical and clerical staff as may be deemed necessary.
Budget
(c)		Except with the written authorization of the Speaker, a Standing or Select Committee shall not incur any expenses related to matters referred to in clauses (a) and (b) until a budget for such expenditures has been approved in whole or in part by the Board of Internal Economy.
Annual budget
125(a)		At the beginning of each fiscal year or as soon as possible thereafter, the Clerk of the House shall prepare a budget for presentation to the Board of Internal Economy for its approval in whole or in part. The budget shall set forth in reasonable detail estimates of proposed expenditures of Standing and Select Committees for the fiscal year.
Supplementary budget
(b)		When the expenditures of any committee have reached the limits set forth in any such budget, the Chair of the Committee shall present to the Board of Internal Economy, for its approval in whole or in part, a supplementary budget or budgets.
Committee Clerk to administer
(c)		The Clerk of a Standing or Select Committee shall administer and monitor the expenditures of any such Committee and shall advise the Committee if expenditures are likely to exceed the budget approved by the Board of Internal Economy.
Sub-committees
126(a)		Unless otherwise ordered, Standing or Select Committees shall have the power to appoint Sub-committees which shall have power to report from time to time to the Committee.
Appointment
(b)		Every such Sub-committee shall be appointed by motion, such motion specifying the terms of reference, the membership of the Sub-committee and the number of members required to constitute a quorum.
Sub-committee on Committee Business
127		Following the election of a Chair and Vice-Chair(s) at its first meeting in each Parliament, a Standing Committee shall appoint a Sub-committee on Committee Business, consisting of the Chair of the Standing Committee as Chair and one member from each of the recognized parties on the Committee, to meet from time to time at the call of the Chair or at the request of any member thereof and to report to the Committee on the business of the Committee.
Members designate matters for consideration in Committee
128(a)		Once in each Session, for consideration in that Session, each permanent member of a committee set out in Standing Orders 109.1 and 110(a), (b), (c), (d), and (e) may propose that the Committee study and report on a matter or matters relating to the mandate, management, organization or operation of the Ministries and Offices which are assigned to the Committee, as well as the Agencies, Boards and Commissions reporting to such Ministries and Offices.
Notice of motion
Consideration of motion
(b)		Notice of a motion by a member under this Standing Order shall be filed with the Clerk of the Committee not less than 24 hours before the member intends to move it in a meeting of the Committee. The Clerk of the Committee shall distribute a copy of the motion to the members of the Committee as soon as it is received. Whenever a motion under this Standing Order is being considered in a committee, discussion of the motion shall not exceed 30 minutes, at the expiry of which the Chair shall put every question necessary to dispose of the motion and any amendments thereto.
Adoption of motion
Limitation on consideration
(c)		The proposal of a member for study and report must be adopted by at least two-thirds of the members of the Committee, excluding the Chair. Such study in the Committee shall not take precedence over consideration of a government public bill.
Report to House
Report may contain text of bill
(d)		Following its consideration of such a matter, the Committee may present a substantive report to the House and may adopt the text of a draft bill on the subject-matter. Where the text of a draft bill is adopted by the Committee, it shall be an instruction to the Chair to introduce such bill in his or her name, as the primary sponsor. The other Committee members who support the Bill may have their names printed on the face of the Bill as the secondary sponsors.
Time for debate
(e)		There shall be not less than 3 hours of debate in the House on such a bill, to take place at a time or times allotted by agreement of the House Leaders of the recognized parties.
Only members may vote or move motion
129		Any Member of the House who is not a member of a Standing or Select Committee may, unless the House or the Committee concerned otherwise orders, take part in the public proceedings of the Committee, but may not vote or move any motion, nor be part of any quorum.
Division in House
130		On a division being called in the House, the Chair of a Standing or Select Committee shall suspend the proceedings in the Committee for such time as will in his or her opinion enable members to vote in the division in the House and return to the Committee.
Time for divisions in Committees
131(a)		Immediately after the Chair of a Standing or Select Committee has put the question on any motion, there shall be, if requested by a member of the Committee, a wait of up to 20 minutes before the vote is recorded.
Show of hands unless recorded vote requested
(b)		Votes shall be taken by a show of hands unless a member of the Committee requests a recorded vote immediately after the question is put.
Vote recorded in Minutes of Proceedings
(c)		When a vote takes place in a Standing or Select Committee, the Clerk of the Committee shall record in the Minutes of Proceedings the question proposed, the name of the proposer and, if requested by a member of the Committee, the vote of each member present.
Chair’s casting vote in tie
132		The Chair of a Standing or Select Committee shall not vote except in the case of a tie, when the Chair shall give a casting vote.
Reports of Committees
133(a)		The report of a Standing or Select Committee is the report as determined by the Committee as a whole or a majority thereof.
Same
(b)		No minority report may be presented to or received by the House.
Dissenting opinion
(c)		Every member of the Committee, other than the Chair, shall be permitted to indicate that he or she dissents from a particular recommendation or comment. The Committee shall permit a member to express the reasons for such dissent in an appendix to the report.
Deadline for filing dissenting opinion
(d)		The Chair of a committee may establish a reasonable deadline for filing any dissenting opinion with the Clerk of the Committee.
Report signed by Chair
(e)		The report as agreed to shall be signed by the Chair, on behalf of the Committee, and shall be presented to the House by the Chair or by another member of the Committee authorized by the Chair or the Committee.
XXI. WITNESSES
Witness per diem and expenses
134(a)		The Speaker shall establish a reasonable sum per diem and a reasonable allowance for travelling expenses which may be paid, at the discretion of a committee or the Chair thereof, to a witness summoned by a Speaker’s Warrant or specifically invited to attend before any committee of the House.
Expense report
(b)		The claim of a witness for payment shall state the number of days during which he or she was in attendance, the days necessary to travel to and from the Committee meeting and the amount of his or her travelling expenses, and shall be supported by all necessary receipts. Before being paid, such a claim shall be certified by the Chair and Clerk of the Committee before which the witness attended.
XXII. HANSARD
Full Hansard service for proceedings in Legislative Chamber
135(a)		Except where all strangers have been excluded on a motion properly moved and adopted by the House or a Committee of the Whole House, a full Hansard service shall be provided for all meetings of the House or the Committee as the case may be.
Hansard service for proceedings in Committees
(b)		A full Hansard service shall be provided for all Standing and Select Committees, except as may be otherwise ordered by a committee.
XXIII. OFFICERS AND SERVANTS OF THE HOUSE
Duties of Clerk
136		The Clerk of the House shall have charge of all matters pertaining to the House and of legislation, under the direction of the Speaker. The Clerk shall be responsible for the safekeeping of all the papers and records of the House, and shall have direction and control of all the officers and Clerks and all other employees of the House subject to such orders as he or she may from time to time receive from the Speaker or the House.
Clerks at the Table
137		The Clerk of the House shall appoint a Clerk whose duty it shall be under the Clerk’s direction,
(a)		to call together all Standing and Select Committees of the House;
(b)		to certify whether petitions proposed to be presented by Members are correct as to form and content;
(c)		to keep the Private Bill Register;
(d)		to publish a notice of all Committee meetings for the following week and to send a copy of such notice to the Press Gallery;
(e)		to perform such matters of routine as may be assigned.
Orders and Notices Paper published daily
138(a)		Each morning, before the meeting of the House, the Clerk shall cause to be published the Orders and Notices Paper for the day.
Votes and Proceedings and Journals
(b)		The Clerk shall see to the printing of the Votes and Proceedings and the Journals of the House and is responsible for the proper indexing of the Journals.
Clerks Assistant
139(a)		The Clerks Assistant shall assist the Clerk of the House in his or her duties at the Table and elsewhere as may be directed by the Clerk.
Absence of Clerk
(b)		In the absence of the Clerk of the House, the Clerks Assistant shall, ex officio, perform the duties of the Clerk.
Duties of Legislative Counsel
140		The Office of Legislative Counsel shall,
(a)		prepare and advise upon such legislation as may be required by the Executive Council or any member thereof and assist and advise Members in all matters respecting the drafting of bills;
(b)		revise, print and put marginal notes on all Public and Private Bills and generally be responsible for the correctness of all such bills in their various stages;
(c)		report to the Lieutenant Governor in Council any provisions in such bills deserving of special attention or that appear to prejudicially affect the public interest or that require amendment;
(d)		be present when required on the floor of the House when a bill is in Committee of the Whole House and revise every such bill before the Third Reading;
(e)		provide assistance to Standing or Select Committees considering bills;
(f)		report to the Chair of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs considering a Private Bill any provisions in the Bill which are at variance with general Acts on the subjects to which the Bill relates or with the usual provisions of Private Acts on similar subjects and any provisions deserving of special attention;
(g)		report to the Clerk of the House any bill or part thereof that should be referred to the Ontario Land Tribunal or the Commissioners of Estate Bills under Standing Orders 90 and 91;
(h)		see to the preparation, printing and indexing of the annual statutes;
(i)		prepare and hand to the Clerk of the House messages respecting any sections of bills that impose a tax or specifically direct the allocation of public funds.
Sergeant-at-Arms
141		The Sergeant-at-Arms attending the House shall be responsible for the safekeeping of the Mace, furniture and fittings thereof.
Jurisdiction of Sergeant-at-Arms
142		The servants of the House and any security personnel within the precincts of the House shall be subject to the direction of the Sergeant-at-Arms.
143		Deleted [April 8, 2024].
Management of Legislative Library
144		The management of the Legislative Library, including the regulation of admission, hours of operation, maintenance of a catalogue of books, and security and preservation of the collection, is the responsibility of the Executive Director of the Legislative Library, subject to such orders as the Executive Director may receive from time to time from the Speaker or the House.
Officers complete work of Session
145		It is the duty of the permanent officers of the House to complete the work remaining at the close of the Session.
XXIV. OTHER
Government House Leader and designates
146		References in these Standing Orders to the Government House Leader shall be deemed also to refer to a Minister of the Crown, or the Deputy Government House Leader, or the Parliamentary Assistant to the Government House Leader, acting in place of the Government House Leader.
Proceedings of B.O.I.E. are proceedings in Parliament
147		For greater certainty, the proceedings of the Board of Internal Economy are proceedings in Parliament.
Former Clerks of the Assembly
148		Former Clerks of the Assembly, while entitled by Order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council made pursuant to Section 77.4 of the Legislative Assembly Act to use the honorific title “The Honourable” and after such Order is laid upon the Table, are permitted to attend the floor of the Chamber while it is in session and take an honourary seat at the Table at their pleasure.

Trevor Day
Clerk of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario

TABLE OF CONTENTS

STANDING ORDERS

I. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

Business of House conducted according to Standing Orders

Purpose

Contingencies unprovided for

Participation of Members with disabilities

Definitions

II. PRESIDING OFFICERS

Election of Speaker

Nomination of Member

Member informs House if nomination accepted

Procedure if only one Member nominated

Procedure if more than one Member nominated

Ballot papers provided to Members

Procedure if 2 Members nominate

Balloting procedure

Counting of votes

Member elected

Procedure if more than 2 Members nominated

Equality of votes

Candidate withdraws name

Only one candidate remains

No debate or questions of privilege

Eligibility for office

Election takes precedence over other business

Appointment of Deputy Speaker and Chair of the Committee of the Whole House

Deputy Speaker’s duties

Appointment of Deputy Chairs of the Committee of the Whole House

Deputy Chairs’ duties

Appointment procedure for Presiding Officers

III. MEETINGS OF THE HOUSE

Parliamentary calendar

Spring Meeting Period

Fall Meeting Period

Constituency weeks

Motion to extend hours of meeting towards the end of Spring and Fall Meeting Periods

Evening meeting period

Evening meeting period cancelled

Clerk to publish calendar

Date to meet after recess

Meeting schedule

Bells summoning Members

Prayers

Anthems

Where no business, or no further business, is called during Orders of the Day

Where no business is to be called during the morning of the next day’s Orders of the Day

Wednesday Afternoon Routine to commence earlier with notice

Monday meeting schedule to commence earlier with notice

House not to meet

Daily adjournment

Transition between proceedings

Members seated while Speaker retires

Recall of House during an adjournment

Speaker may vary recall time

Quorum

Adjournment for lack of quorum

Same

Same

IV. ORDER AND DECORUM AND CONDUCT OF MEMBERS

Speaker not to take part in debate

Casting vote in tie

Speaker to preserve order

No debate on or appeal from decision of Speaker

Discussion

Same

No motion may reflect on decision of Speaker

Speaker to disallow out of order motions

Naming a Member

Suspension after naming

Suspension for Session when force necessary

Adjournment for disorder

Expulsion of strangers for misbehaviour

Strangers excluded on motion

No strangers on floor, etc., during meetings

Members not to interrupt Speaker

Member not to interrupt other Member

Member not to pass between chair and Mace

Electronic devices