Amendments to the Content of Bills / Report Stage

Relevance; introducing a new element; scope of the Royal Recommendation

Debates p. 9930

Background

As the House was about to begin report stage consideration of Bill C‑57, An Act to amend the Excise Tax, the Speaker expressed doubts as to the admissibility of a motion in amendment standing in the name of Mr. Riis (Kamloops—Shuswap), which sought to import a new proposition in the bill. The Speaker, however, invited Members to comment on the procedural admissibility of the motion the next time the bill came before the House for consideration.

Issue

Does the proposed amendment go beyond the scope of the Royal Recommendation?

Decision

Yes. Therefore, the motion in amendment is inadmissible.

Reasons given by the Speaker

A motion in amendment which seeks to introduce a question foreign to the proposition contained in the main motion cannot be moved. Moreover, the Speaker is prohibited from allowing a motion in amendment that widens the scope of the Royal Recommendation or which relaxes the conditions and qualifications as expressed in the Royal Recommendation.

Sources cited

Beauchesne, 5th ed., p. 155, c. 437(1); pp. 174-5, c. 516(2); p. 233, c. 773(7).