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Historical information
This a previous edition. For the latest publication, consult
House of Commons Procedure and Practice
, Third Edition, 2017
.
Table of Contents
Home Page
Introductory Pages
Parliamentary Institutions
Parliaments and Ministries
Privileges and Immunities
The House of Commons and Its Members
Parliamentary Procedure
The Physical and Administrative Setting
The Speaker and Other Presiding Officers of the House
The Parliamentary Cycle
Sittings of the House
The Daily Program
Questions
The Process of Debate
Rules of Order and Decorum
The Curtailment of Debate
Special Debates
The Legislative Process
Introduction
Historical Perspective
Types of Bills
Form of Bills
Structure of Bills
Stages in the Legislative Process
Notes 1-50
Notes 51-100
Notes 101-150
Notes 151-200
Notes 201-250
Notes 251-300
Notes 301-400
Notes 351-400
Notes 401-450
Notes 451-500
Notes 501-526
Delegated Legislation
Financial Procedures
Committees of the Whole House
Committees
Private Members’ Business
Public Petitions
Private Bills Practice
The Parliamentary Record
Appendices
House of Commons Procedure and Practice
Edited by Robert Marleau and Camille Montpetit
2000 Edition
—
More information …
16. The Legislative Process
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Open/print full chapter
[301]
May
, 22
nd
ed., p. 522.
[302]
May
, 22
nd
ed., p. 346.
[303]
Beauchesne
, 5
th
ed., p. 232.
[304]
May
, 22
nd
ed., pp. 524-5.
[305]
See, for example, Standing Committee on Transport,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, May 14, 1985, Issue No. 12, p. 6.
[306]
May
, 22
nd
ed., p. 524. See, for example, Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights,
Minutes of Proceedings
, March 26, 1998, Meeting No. 47.
[307]
Standing Order 114.
[308]
Standing Order 119. See, for example, Legislative Committee on Bill C-6,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, October 29, 1986, Issue No. 1, p. 95; Standing Committee on Transport,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, March 18, 1993, Issue No. 33, pp. 18-9.
[309]
Standing Order 9.
[310]
See, for example, Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development,
Minutes of Proceedings
, March 16, 1999, Meeting No. 109. For further information regarding the casting vote, see
Chapter 7, “The Speaker and Other Presiding Officers of the House”
.
[311]
Standing Order 141(3).
[312]
Standing Order 116.
[313]
Beauchesne
, 5
th
ed., p. 232. See also
May
, 22
nd
ed., p. 522.
[314]
See, for example, Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development,
Minutes of Proceedings
, November 26, 1998, Meeting No. 86. The Chair of the committee may also simply urge timely submission of amendments (see, for example, Legislative Committee on Bill C-126,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, May 27, 1993, Issue No. 3, p. 29).
[315]
May
, 22
nd
ed., p. 345.
[316]
Beauchesne
, 5
th
ed., p. 232.
[317]
Beauchesne
, 5
th
ed., p. 232. See, for example, Legislative Committee on Bill C-55,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, September 11, 1987, Issue No. 10, p. 24.
[318]
Standing Order 10.
[319]
Standing Order 117. For examples of decisions regarding the admissibility of amendments that have been appealed, see Standing Committee on Human Resources and the Status of Persons with Disabilities,
Minutes of Proceedings
, April 30, 1998, Meeting No. 33; Standing Committee on National Resources and Government Operations,
Minutes of Proceedings
, November 24, 1998, Meeting No. 47.
[320]
See, for example, Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, May 18, 1995, Issue No. 47, p. 7.
[321]
May
, 22
nd
ed., p. 529.
[322]
For more information regarding report stage, see the section below entitled “Report Stage”.
[323]
May
, 22
nd
ed., pp. 525-6; see, for example, the decision of the Chair: Legislative Committee on Bill C-144,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, September 9, 1988, Issue No. 7, pp. 8, 10.
[324]
May
, 22
nd
ed., p. 526; see, for example, decisions of the Chair: Standing Committee on Health, Welfare and Social Affairs,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, December 13, 1982, Issue No. 52, pp. 5, 82-3; Standing Committee on Transport,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, August 31, 1983, Issue No. 124, pp. 8-9; September 14, 1983, Issue No. 134, p. 5; September 19, 1983, Issue No. 138, pp. 3-4.
[325]
Beauchesne
, 5
th
ed., p. 233; see, for example, decisions of the Chair: Standing Committee on Transport,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, September 8, 1983, Issue No. 129, p. 4; Standing Committee on Communications and Culture,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, November 20, 1985, Issue No. 29, pp. 3-4, 29-30; Legislative Committee on Bill C-58,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, July 5, 1988, Issue No. 3, p. 9.
[326]
Beauchesne
, 5
th
ed., p. 233; see, for example, the decision of the Chair: Legislative Committee on Bill C-84,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, August 25, 1987, Issue No. 9, p. 9.
[327]
May
, 22
nd
ed., p. 526; see, for example, decisions of the Chair: Standing Committee on Communications and Culture,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, November 21, 1985, Issue No. 30, pp. 5-6; Standing Committee on Justice and Solicitor General,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, April 28, 1992, Issue No. 50, pp. 8-9.
[328]
May
, 22
nd
ed., p. 526; see, for example, decisions of the Chair: Legislative Committee on Bill C-62,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, January 23, 1986, Issue No. 13, pp. 3, 6-7; January 28, 1986, Issue No. 14, p. 7; Legislative Committee on Bill C-144,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, September 9, 1988, Issue No. 7, pp. 8, 11.
[329]
May
, 22
nd
ed., p. 526; see, for example, decisions of the Chair: Standing Committee on Regional Economic Expansion,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, April 17, 1985, Issue No. 24, pp. 15-6.
[330]
Beauchesne
, 5
th
ed., p. 233; see, for example, decisions of the Chair: Standing Committee on Transport,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, July 10, 1980, Issue No. 12, p. 11; Standing Committee on Health, Welfare and Social Affairs,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, March 13, 1984, Issue No. 20, p. 5; Standing Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, June 5, 1995, Issue No. 111, pp. 64-6; Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, October 8, 1996, Issue No. 36, p. 2; November 27, 1996, Issue No. 50, p. 3; December 12, 1996, Issue No. 6, p. 5; Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs,
Minutes of Proceedings
, February 18, 1999, Meeting No. 90.
[331]
See, for example, decisions of the Chair: Standing Committee on Labour, Manpower and Immigration,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, February 2, 1982, Issue No. 19, p. 6; Standing Committee on Transport,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, September 19, 1983, Issue No. 138, p. 4; Standing Committee on Health, Welfare and Social Affairs,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, March 13, 1984, Issue No. 19, p. 6; Standing Committee on Finance, Trade and Economic Affairs,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, April 18, 1985, Issue No. 27, pp. 3-4; Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, October 22, 1996, Issue No. 4, p. 10.
[332]
See
Chapter 18, “Financial Procedures”
.
[333]
May
, 22
nd
ed., p. 527. See, for example, decisions of the Chair: Standing Committee on Consumer and Corporate Affairs and Government Operations,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, December 3, 1991, Issue No. 29, pp. 4-6, 16-32.
[334]
May
, 22
nd
ed., pp. 526-7; see, for example, decisions of the Chair: Standing Committee on Transport,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, July 8, 1980, Issue No. 11, p. 8; Legislative Committee on Bill C-144,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, September 9, 1988, Issue No. 7, p. 20; Standing Committee on Justice and Solicitor General,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, November 7, 1991, Issue No. 12, pp. 18, 29-30; Standing Committee on Human Resources and the Status of Persons with Disabilities,
Minutes of Proceedings
, April 30, 1998, Meeting No. 33; Standing Committee on National Resources and Government Operations,
Minutes of Proceedings
, November 24, 1998, Meeting No. 47. See also the decision of the chairman: Standing Committee on Labour, Manpower and Immigration,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, December 13, 1978, Issue No. 20, pp. 5-6.
[335]
Beauchesne
, 5
th
ed., p. 233;
May
, 22
nd
ed., p. 527; see, for example, decisions of the Chair: Standing Committee on Transport,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, July 7, 1982, Issue No. 75, p. 4; Legislative Committee on Bill C-79,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, November 7, 1985, Issue No. 7, p. 4; Legislative Committee on Bill C-45,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, June 10, 1986, Issue No. 8, pp. 7-8.
[336]
May
, 22
nd
ed., p. 526; see, for example, decisions of the Chair: Standing Committee on Health, Welfare and Social Affairs,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, March 13, 1984, Issue No. 19, pp. 4-5.
[337]
May
, 22
nd
ed., p. 527; see, for example, decisions of the Chair: Standing Committee on Communications and Culture,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, March 18, 1986, Issue No. 40, p. 7.
[338]
See Speaker Lamoureux’s ruling,
Journals
, May 21, 1970, pp. 835-7. See, for example, decisions of the Chair: Standing Committee on Transport,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, August 31, 1983, Issue No. 124, p. 5; September 21, 1983, Issue No. 143, pp. 14-5; Legislative Committee on Bill C-45,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, June 10, 1986, Issue No. 8, pp. 5-6; Legislative Committee on Bill C-37,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, March 24, 1987, Issue No. 10, p. 4; Legislative Committee on Bill C-55,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, September 10, 1987, Issue No. 9, pp. 3-4; Standing Committee on Industry,
Minutes of Proceedings
, December 4, 1997, Meeting No. 16.
[339]
See, for example, Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, November 28, 1996, Issue No. 51, p. 1.
[340]
May
, 22
nd
ed., p. 525;
Beauchesne
, 5
th
ed., p. 220;
Journals
, May 17, 1956, p. 568;
Debates
, July 13, 1981, p. 11463. See, for example, the decision of the Chair: Sub-committee (of the Standing Committee on Communications and Culture) on Bill C-62,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, May 12, 1993, Issue No. 9, pp. 51-3. Nonetheless, this kind of technical drafting change may be made in a subsequent reprinting of the bill, to reflect amendments to the bill and changes in the order of clauses and schedules (
May
, 22
nd
ed., p. 525). Editorial and technical amendments are not the responsibility of Parliament. That task falls instead to the legislative revisors who verify the accuracy of the marginal notes and headings before the statute is published.
[341]
See the ruling of the Acting Speaker,
Journals
, May 14, 1970, p. 807; the ruling of Speaker Jerome,
Journals
, October 16, 1975, pp. 772-3; the ruling of Speaker Fraser,
Debates
, August 15, 1988, p. 18308; the decision of the Chair, Standing Committee on Labour, Manpower and Immigration,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, December 13, 1978, Issue No. 20, pp. 5-6.
[342]
Beauchesne
, 5
th
ed., p. 232.
[343]
Beauchesne
, 5
th
ed., p. 235.
[344]
May
, 22
nd
ed., p. 533.
[345]
See Speaker Lamoureux’s ruling,
Journals
, January 19, 1970, pp. 322-3.
[346]
May
, 22
nd
ed., p. 533. See, for example, decisions of the Chair: Standing Committee on National Resources and Public Works,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, June 25, 1981, Issue No. 69, pp. 82-3; Legislative Committee on Bill C-18,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, December 14, 1989, Issue No. 11, pp. 4-5.
[347]
See, for example, Standing Committee on Transport,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, May 7, 1996, Issue No. 10, p. 14.
[348]
Beauchesne
, 6
th
ed., p. 193. See Speaker Lamoureux’s ruling,
Journals
, June 11, 1973, pp. 394-5, and the decision of the Chair, Standing Committee on Health, Welfare and Social Affairs,
Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence
, May 15, 1973, Issue No. 11, p. 3.
[349]
Standing Order 75(1). It was only in 1964 that the House adopted a rule providing that the question be called on the title at the end of the consideration of the bill (
Journals
, October 9, 1964, p. 780).
[350]
Beauchesne
, 6
th
ed., p. 209. See, for example,
Journals
, February 13, 1970, pp. 433-4. See also Speaker Sauvé’s rulings,
Debates
, July 30, 1982, p. 19866; August 3, 1982, pp. 19958-9; the ruling of the Chair,
Debates
, July 7, 1988, p. 17287; the decision of the Chair, Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage,
Minutes of Proceedings
, December 1, 1998, Meeting No. 57.