Parliamentary Procedures

Parliamentary procedure refers to the manner in which the House of Assembly conducts its business based on the Standing Orders, statutes, regulations, authoritative procedural works, precedents and tradition. Procedure in the House is similar in principle to the rules by which most meetings are conducted. It is designed to ensure that all who wish to speak have the opportunity to do so in such a way as to make the most efficient use of the time available. In a Legislative Assembly, the Speaker must always keep in mind the balance that must be struck between the right of the minority to be heard and the right of the majority to govern.

Standing Orders

Standing Orders are the official rules of procedure in the House of Assembly.

Parliamentary Authorities

In the conduct of its business, the House is governed first by the Standing Orders; then by its usages, customs and precedents; then by the customs and usages of the Canadian House of Commons and other Canadian jurisdictions. If none of these is useful in a particular case, the House looks to the usages, customs and precedents of the United Kingdom House of Commons.

Parliamentary authorities include:

• Bosc & Gagnon, House of Commons Procedure and Practice, 3rd edition, 2017
• O'Brien & Bosc, House of Commons Procedure and Practice, 2nd edition, 2010.
• Marleau & Montpetit, House of Commons Procedure and Practice, 2000
• Beauchesne, Parliamentary Rules and Forms of the House of Commons of Canada, 6th edition, 1989
• Maingot, Parliamentary Privilege in Canada;
• Parliamentary Practice in British Columbia;
• Parliamentary Procedure in Québec; and
• Sir Erskine May, Parliamentary Practice.