Standing Order 28(3) states: "Whenever the House stands adjourned, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Government, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time, the Speaker may give notice that being so satisfied the House shall meet, and thereupon the House shall meet to transact its business as if it had been duly adjourned to that time. In the event of the Speaker being unable to act owing to illness or other cause, the Deputy Speaker, the Deputy Chairman of Committees or the Assistant Deputy Chairman of Committees shall act in the Speaker's stead for all the purposes of this section."
It is important to note that the Standing Order says nothing about urgent matters; the only criterion is "the public interest". A request to recall the House may be made at any time, whether during the weekend, the day after adjournment or the day before the session is to resume.
When the Speaker agrees to recall the House, he or she advises the Clerk of the House and requests that the necessary steps be taken for resumption of the session. The Journals Branch undertakes the logistical aspects of the recall, including informing the Members.
During Prorogation
Early recall of the House and Senate during a prorogation is done by the Governor General's proclamation on the advice of the Prime Minister. The new session would then commence and be conducted in the same manner as an ordinary session. It is also possible to prorogue during adjournment and then recall the House and Senate by proclamation.
Publication of a Special Order Paper and Notice Paper
Standing Order 55(1) states: "In the period prior to the first session of a Parliament, during a prorogation or when the House stands adjourned, and the government has represented to the Speaker that any government measure or measures should have immediate consideration by the House, the Speaker shall cause a notice of any such measure or measures to be published on a special Order Paper and the same shall be circulated prior to the opening or the resumption of such session. The publication and circulation of such notice shall meet the requirements of Standing Order 54 [respecting notice]".
If the Government wishes to give special notice of any measure it wishes to consider when the House re-opens, it must write to the Speaker to request publication of a special Order Paper and Notice Paper, since nothing may be considered without a 48 hour prior notice. The House uses the same order of business as in the regular session. Unless a motion for adjournment to a later date is moved and carried after consideration of the measure that led to the recall, or both Chambers are adjourned or prorogued again, the House continues to sit regularly on a day-to-day basis as if no adjournment or prorogation had taken place.
