The House of Commons explains that Private Members’ Business covers bills and motions brought by members who are not cabinet ministers or parliamentary secretaries; the Speaker and Deputy Speaker do not sponsor them (House of Commons, procedure). One hour each sitting day is set aside for these items.
Which bills get debated depends on a random draw. At the start of a Parliament, members’ names are drawn to make a list, and the order of precedence, which decides the order of debate, is then filled from that list (House of Commons, procedure). A bill can be introduced and read a first time while sitting outside the order of precedence, which means it is not yet scheduled for debate.
That is the status LEGISinfo shows for Bill C-286, the psilocybin bill introduced on 16 June 2026 (LEGISinfo, C-286). Items end when Parliament is dissolved (House of Commons, procedure). A private member’s bill becomes law only after passing both Houses and receiving Royal Assent.
General information, not legal advice.
Sources
Last checked .