The committee considered this issue at its meetings of June 6 and November 1, 2000. Specifically, the issue deals with the question raised by a Member as to whether it is possible to "extend" or "return" to oral question period after being granted unanimous consent for a specified time period less than one hour.
In its consideration of this matter, the Rules Committee noted that Rule 38(5) of the Rules of the Legislative Assembly prescribes oral question period to be one hour. However, as in all jurisdictions, any rule may be waived with the unanimous consent of the Members in attendance. Therefore it has become an accepted practice to seek unanimous consent to either "extend" question period before it ends or "return" to question period if it has concluded. In most instances, unanimous consent is sought in the interest of allowing the completion of a Member's, or some Members', lines of questioning. In rare instances it may be related to a matter of some import or urgency, where it may not be in the public interest to wait another day to ask certain questions.
However, upon being granted unanimous consent, the question period clock is reset in both cases for one hour, in accordance with Rule 38(5).
With regard to the possibility of returning to, or extending question period for a shorter duration, the committee agreed that a time limit or a condition cannot be placed on a request for unanimous consent. Setting aside or waiving a rule by the unanimous consent of Members must be unconditional. The rule or procedure is either set aside or "waived", or it is not. There can exist no middle ground, or "qualified waiving" of a rule.
It is therefore the position of the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures that no change to this provision be contemplated, and that current rules and procedures in this regard continue.