Standing Committee on Estimates

Terms of Reference

Estimates presentation

62. 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. Upon tabling, the Estimates shall be deemed to be referred to the Standing Committee on Estimates.

Estimates considered by Standing Committee on Estimates

63. (a) The Standing Committee on Estimates shall select for consideration the Estimates of not fewer than 6 and not more than 12 ministries and offices.

Selection of Estimates to be considered

(b) (i) The Estimates of the ministries and offices to be considered by the Committee shall be selected by 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 order of their representation in the House, and the members of the Party forming the government shall select last.

Same

(ii) With each turn, the members of each Party may choose the Estimates of 1 or 2 ministries or offices to be considered.

Same

(iii) If, when their turn to select occurs, the members of one Party decline to make a selection, the selection passes to the members of the next party in the rotation as provided in (i).

Order of consideration

(c) The Estimates of the ministries and offices shall be considered in the order in which they were selected.

Time for consideration

(d) The time for the consideration of the Estimates of each ministry or office shall be determined by the members of the Committee who selected such Estimates for consideration. If the members of a recognized Party choose the Estimates of one ministry or office in a turn, not more than 15 hours shall be allocated to the consideration of the Estimates of that ministry or office, and if the members of a recognized Party choose 2 ministries or offices in a turn, not more than 15 hours shall be allocated to the consideration of the Estimates of both.

Not considered in Committee if same policy field being considered in House

(e) No Estimates shall be considered in the 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 the Standing Committee on Estimates 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) All Supplementary Estimates shall be deemed to be referred to the Standing Committee on Estimates as they are presented to the House.

Consideration of Supplementary Estimates

(b) The Committee shall consider the Supplementary Estimates of the ministries and offices selected within the time allocated pursuant to Standing Order 63 for the consideration of the main Estimates.

Supplementary Estimates not considered reported

Report received and concurred in

(c) All other Supplementary Estimates shall be reported back to the House. The report of the 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 Committee

66. (a) The Standing Committee on Estimates 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 Standing Committee on Estimates as they are presented to the House, shall be deemed to be passed by the 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 the 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 Committee's report. No amendment to any question may be moved. If a recorded vote is requested by 5 members, all divisions shall be stacked, and there shall be a single 10 minute division bell.

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 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 under Standing Order 30(h) 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 Standing Committee on Estimates 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.

Time allotment

Relevancy

69. (a) On the first Item of the first Vote of each set of Estimates, a representative of each recognized Party may speak for not more than 30 minutes and the minister or person answerable for the Estimates is allowed not more than 30 minutes for a right of reply. Thereafter, the Chair of the Standing Committee on Estimates shall ensure that the members adhere strictly to the Vote and Item under consideration and shall apportion the remaining time among the recognized Parties on the Committee. [suspended for the duration of the 42^nd Parliament ]

Conclusion of consideration or expiration of time

(b) 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.