Rules, Parliamentary Calendar, and Daily Routine

The Rules of the Legislative Assembly provide guidance and rules of practice and procedure for members as they perform their elected duties. The Rules outline how debate should be structured, how documents can be presented, and how meetings should be conducted.

What is the parliamentary calendar?

According to the Rules of the Legislative Assembly, PEI's legislature sits twice a year, once in the winter/spring and once in the fall. Sometimes this changes in special circumstances, such as following an election or if an urgent issue arises. The parliamentary calendar provides a general rule for when in the winter/spring and when in the fall the two legislative sittings will start:

• in the winter/spring, the House opens on the fourth Tuesday in February.
• in the fall, the House opens on the first Tuesday in November (the House sits Tuesday-Friday).

On sitting days, the Assembly follows the Ordinary Daily Routine and Order of Business, summarized below. The official version can be found in Chapter 8 of the Rules of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island.

The parliamentary calendar includes legislative planning weeks during which no meetings of the House or legislative committees are scheduled. These legislative planning weeks are scheduled as follows:

• the week prior to the winter/spring sitting;
• the week prior to the fall sitting; and
• the week of March Break.

What is the Speaker's Procession?

Each daily sitting begins with the Speaker's Procession. The Sergeant-at-Arms carries the Mace into the chamber, followed by the Speaker, the Clerks, and the Pages. Once they are inside, the door to the chamber are closed and the daily business begins. The first two items in the routine are carried out in private, then the Speaker asks the Sergeant-at-Arms to ring the bell and allow the public into the chamber to watch the rest of the proceedings.

Can I watch the debates in person?

The public is welcome to attend a sitting of the legislature, which traditionally sits twice a year beginning in February and again in October. During a sitting the legislature is in session on the following days and times:

• Tuesdays: 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
• Wednesdays: 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
• Thursdays: 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
• Fridays: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Visitors may watch proceedings from the public galleries inside the Chamber. Security measures are in place. Visitors may not record or interrupt proceedings in any way. Food, drink and use of handheld devices is not permitted in the public galleries.

What is the business agenda of the House?

Ordinary Daily Routine

(Behind closed doors)

•  Prayers
•  Consideration of the daily journal for the penultimate (next to the last) sitting day

(With Doors Opened)

• Matters of privilege and recognition of guests
• Statements by members
• Questions by members, starting with ministerial responses to questions taken as notice
• Statements by ministers
• Presenting and receiving petitions
• Tabling of documents, including responses to written questions
• Reports by committees
• Introduction of government bills

Order of Business

Following the Ordinary Daily Routine:

On Tuesday:

• Government Business until 4:00 p.m.
• Private Members Business from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

On Wednesday: 

• Private Members Business until 4:00 p.m.
• Government Business from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

On Thursday:

• Government Business until 4:00 p.m.
• Private Members Business from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

On Friday:

• Government business until 2:00 p.m.