Commons deadlock could trigger government cash crunch, get in the way of other House deadlines [Video]

An ongoing debate in the House of Commons could push some government departments into a cash crunch and run up against other deadlines as the end of the fall sitting approaches.

On Thursday, Speaker Greg Fergus made a point of reminding MPs that House rules state certain business needs to be addressed in the coming weeks. He urged the parties to find a way to deal with those items despite the debate gridlock.

The House standing orders say that the both the government’s supplementary estimates — part of the legislative process for asking Parliament for more money to cover initiatives that haven’t already been funded, or require additional funding — and all opposition days (which allow opposition parties to put forward their own motions) must be dealt with by Dec. 10.

“As we get closer to the end of the current supply period, the chair wishes to encourage the House …