Time Allocation in the Legislative Process

Time allocation has been used fairly frequently by modern Canadian governments. For example, the Chretien government made the following uses of time allocation in debates on its bills in the House of Commons:

2011-2015: -- used at least 108 times for 50 of 106 bills that completed third reading.

1993-2003: --- 83 uses of time allocation - including:

1997-98: --- used 16 times for 7 bills

1996-97: --- used 22 times for 10 separate bills

Previous use of closure:

1988 to 1993: --- used 15 times

1913-1980: --- used 15 times

What is Time Allocation And How Does It Work in the House of Commons?

The following explanation is an extract from the Precis of Procedure, 5th ed.

"The three conditions under which the Government may move to allocate time are specified in Standing Order 78. Although time allocation contains certain elements of closure, it allows the Government to negotiate with the opposition parties to establish in advance a timetable for the consideration of a public bill at one or more legislative stages. Under Standing Order 78(1), the Government must have obtained an accord among representatives of all the parties for an allocation of time; under Standing Order 78(2), a majority of the party representatives must have agreed. In either of these cases, the Minister may then move the motion for time allocation without notice, setting forth the terms of the accord. 

A motion under Standing Order 78(1) may outline a timetable for a bill through one or more stages, and is not debatable. A motion under Standing Order 78(2) may outline a timetable for only one stage, but may include the report and third reading stages if consistent with Standing Order 76.1(10). The motion is not subject to debate or amendment, and the Speaker puts the question on the motion immediately. 

In the event that an agreement to allocate time cannot be reached under Standing Order 78(1) or 78(2), Standing Order 78(3) provides that the Government may propose its own timetable, with the same restrictions as apply under Standing Order 78(2). Motions based on Standing Order 78(3) are subject to the following limitations: (a) notice that an agreement cannot be reached and that the Government intends to move time allocation must be given orally at a previous sitting; (b) time allocated for any stage must be consistent with Standing Order 76.1(10) and may not be less than one sitting day, though the day on which the motion is adopted is counted as one sitting day if moved and carried at the beginning of Government Orders as is the case with Standing Order 78(2); and (c) as with Standing Order 78(2), the motion is not debatable or amendable and the Speaker puts the question on the motion immediately."