Civil Marriage Act  This is the first time the NDP has voted with the government in favour of closure and now today on time allocation. The Bloc is obsessed with the issue of same sex marriage as well. The Bloc members, who are generally democrats and would not support time allocation or closure, are so obsessed that in the last two days they have formed this unholy alliance with the government; the separatists, the government and the socialists.

Business of the House  I believe having had nothing back, I can only allow this one to proceed at this time, particularly so when the time allocated here is much more generous than would be the case under closure or under time allocation because of the minimum times that are permitted. Accordingly the motion appears to be in order.

Standing Orders and Procedure  The Leader of the Opposition can refer two sets of estimates to the committee of the whole for debate. The House can require a 30 minute debate with the responsible minister on motions of time allocation and closure. I would note that the government has used time allocation or closure only once since it was sworn in some 16 months ago. More take note debates are being held on matters of importance to members.

Reinstatement of Government Bills  The fresh approach that was promised to us, once again, will change nothing. We are already subject to time allocation. Parliament has been back for barely two weeks and already the government House leader is bringing in time allocation. I would like to remind the House that we in the Bloc Quebecois have always said we would oppose, and have always opposed, time allocation motions in a vote.

Canada Labour Code  It being 6:52 p.m., the time allocated for debate has expired. The question is on the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

Reinstatement of Government Bills  The hon. member I think raised an issue here as to this motion and why closure is the final disposition as opposed to time allocation. As you will know, Mr. Speaker, we cannot time allocate a motion. We can only time allocate a stage of the bill. There is only one remedy for a motion once people obstruct and cause an amendment and a subamendment.

Supply  It has significantly reduced late answers from the government. The government adopted one out of three time allocation proposals from that same package. The House has established a half hour question and answer period following the moving of the closure or time allocation motion. Questions are directed toward the minister who is sponsoring the bill under debate, or in exceptional circumstances, an acting minister.

Reinstatement of Government Bills  He used an extreme example that if the government time allocated every bill at every stage, the Speaker might intervene. My interpretation of what the clerk said is that there exists a limit to what a majority government can do with respect to closure and time allocation.

Specific Claims Resolution Act  I would address them in the following order. First, the fact that the government once again has used time allocation, a form of closure, to limit debate on what is a crucial issue for the first nations. I just looked up some numbers and we know this is not the first time the government has used time allocation.

Reinstatement of Government Bills  In this regard, the bill does not introduce the elements we might have expected. Today, a time allocation motion has been put forward. The government had months to decide on how to reinstate bills. It did not find a way to avoid a time allocation motion. It is pretty bad when in the first few days back in the House a time allocation motion has to be used.

Specific Claims Resolution Act  When the other ministers did likewise, I was doubly ashamed. When I saw most of the Liberal members vote in favour of time allocation, I was even more ashamed to see people deny history and misrepresent it like that. For the past two days, the Samson Cree community has performed the drum ceremony in front of Parliament.

Civil Marriage Act  Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Since the Liberal side has invoked time allocation or closure on this debate, I think it is important for us to at least remain on the topic that we are debating, namely the issue of marriage. That individual has drifted far from that topic and I urge you to bring him back onto the topic.

Civil Marriage Act  I am sure the hon. member is getting back to the topic, but I must say that in the debate tonight we have heard a lot about other bills and the application of time allocation on them. While I am sure the hon. parliamentary secretary has his mind on Bill C-38, he has wandered off briefly to describe something else and I know he will be back to the topic before the end of his remarks in one minute's time.

Extension of Sitting Period  If the opposition delays, and I am not saying this of everybody, but if the Conservative opposition delays the government in completing its work, then obviously the government has only one or two choices. It can either curtail debate, that is, move time allocation on individual bills, or it can extend the sitting in order to get the legislation through, or possibly both, which the government may well have to do now. That is not because the government House leader and the government were not totally efficient in their way of doing their business.

Extension of Sitting Period  It is always unfortunate of course when a minister has to move either closure under Standing Order 57 or time allocation under Standing Order 78 but the responsibility of the government is to provide good governance for the nation, which our Liberal government wants to do. Today the House has continued debating a motion to extend the sitting period beyond the planned adjournment date of June 23, that is beyond today.