The Chair thanks the hon. member for Berthier-Montcalm, the Reform Party whip and the hon. member for St. Albert for their interventions in respect of this matter.
Standing Order 26(1) provides that except during Private Members' Business when the Speaker is in the chair, a member may propose a motion without notice to continue a sitting. I do not need to go into all the details. However, the motion must be proposed under Standing Order 26(1)(b), as the hon. member has pointed out, in the hour preceding the time at which the business under consideration should be interrupted by dinner hour, private members' hour or the ordinary hour of daily adjournment.
The question that arises here is whether the motion was proposed within the hour prior to the ordinary hour of daily adjournment.
As the hon. member pointed out, the proceedings today were extended by reason of ministerial statements. It appears that the motion made by the chief government whip which resulted in the extension of time was made six minutes before the last hour before the ordinary hour of daily adjournment. The motion at the time was accepted by the Chair and was put to the House. Fewer than the requisite number of members rose to object and the motion was deemed carried.
In view of the fact that the matter was a procedural motion and that it was proposed at a time contrary to the standing orders, the Chair is of the view that the motion is indeed out of order and has not been adopted.