House of Commons Debates – October 17, 1977

2nd Session—30th Parliament

The proceedings of the House of Commons are televised for the first time on this, the last day of the Second Session of the Thirtieth Parliament. The Speaker commemorates the introduction of television – the “electronic Hansard” – with a speech and the presentation of the fifth report of a special House committee on television broadcasting. Question Period is dominated by inquiries directed at Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau on the subject of job creation. John G. Diefenbaker proposes nominating Joe Clark (Leader of the Opposition), Tommy Douglas, and Stanley Knowles to the Queen’s Privy Council. Following the answering of Order Paper questions, the House is called to the Senate where the parliamentary session is prorogued with a speech by the Deputy Governor General.