Mr. Speaker, if the item "Reports of Standing and Special Committees" were moved up the order paper to follow "Members' Statements", or at the very least, precede "Oral Questions", the impact of committee statements and reports would be greater through the increased exposure that television coverage would provide. In this manner, the public, particularly residents of small communities, would be better served, Mr. Speaker.
Choosing this option may have implications for the House in terms of traditional television coverage of oral question period. Consideration might then need to be given to instituting a time limit on committee reports, which does not currently exist, to minimize the impact on providing a televised oral question period. However, committees have often found it necessary to provide quite lengthy reports to the House on important matters that they have examined and unanimous consent may then have to be required to conclude reporting.
Generally, Mr. Speaker, all parliamentary jurisdictions provide for reporting by their committees. It occurs only once a sitting day, at most, and there is no distinction between committee statements and committee reports.