Routine Proceedings / Committee Reports

Recommendation to instruct another committee

Debates pp. 1242-3

Background

On December 13, 1984, the Second Report of the Standing Committee on Finance, Trade and Economic Affairs was presented to the House. The report concerned the Committee's study of the Annual Report of the Economic Council of Canada, but in addition contained a recommendation that the Special Committee on the Reform of the House of Commons be instructed by the House to examine the question of broadcasting committee proceedings. The following day the Speaker made a statement to the House regarding the acceptability of the report.

Issue

Can one committee recommend that another committee be instructed to do something?

Decision

No. The report is out of order.

Reasons given by the Speaker

A committee may only consider those matters which have been referred to it by the House, and must report to the House in order to seek a broadening of its order of reference. It is certain that the Finance Committee was not empowered to consider the question of broadcasting proceedings, which is not re levant to the Annual Report of the Economic Council. One committee cannot direct another, even indirectly, since each can do only what the Ho use instructs it to do: they have no relation one to another.

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Sources cited

Standing Order 69.

Debates, June 29, 1983, p. 26943; June 13, 1984, p. 4624.

Beauchesne, 5th ed., pp. 197-8, c. 620-1.

Bourinot, 4th ed., p. 469.

May, 20th ed., p. 644. 44

References

Debates, December 13, 1984, p. 1203.