Mr. Speaker, the hon. member says that is not the appropriate threshold or some such. I did not design that rule. This House in its wisdom provided that rule with that number in it. I am not here to question the wisdom of the size. It is there. I am only here to argue that it is appropriate to use the rule as it was designed.
The member is alleging that this device is being utilized to pass supply. That is factually inaccurate. The hon. member knows that this particular device today is a reference to the amendments that were put on supply. I do not know if it makes a major difference but it still makes his point incorrect.
Finally, the motions regulating business of routine proceedings of the House clearly include the management of the House business, debatable motions for instance, such as those in Standing Order 67.
The point I want to make is that the application for the motion was made in consultation with many members in the House and it was moved appropriately. Unanimous consent was sought previously, thereby notifying the entire House of my intent to use it later in the day. Several minutes passed, perhaps 15 or 20. Bills were moved, private members' bills of all and sundry in between, explanations thereof and only then did I move the actual motion pursuant to Standing Order 56(1) under motions. At the time that I did so, the House was certainly fully aware that it was my intention to do just that.
The hon. member cannot claim that he was unaware. I do not think anyone else in the House would claim that they were unaware or unwilling. The usage was done in proper form pursuant to what we have done before. Certainly the allegation that the motion was used in a way that is unprecedented just does not hold water. It was done in a way to manage the business of the House in a quite legitimate and appropriate way.