Routine Proceedings / Committee Reports

Recommendation to change the committee’s name

Debates p. 2603

Background

When Mr. Hawkes (Calgary West) presented the First Report of the Standing Committee on Labour, Manpower and Immigration, he explained that the report recommended a change in the name of the Committee and that he intended to ask for unanimous consent to move concurrence later that day. The Speaker advised the House that the report appeared to go beyond the Committee's order of reference, and that it would not be in order to proceed on a motion for concurrence. Mr. Hawkes then rose on a point of order to argue that the report could be concurred in by unanimous consent. The Speaker ruled immediately.

Issue

Is it in order to concur in a committee report recommending that the Standing Orders be amended so as to change the committee's name?

Decision

No. The report is out of order and cannot be concurred in.

Reasons given by the Speaker

The report exceeds the terms of the Committee's order of reference. It is not in order to move to concur in a report which cannot be presented to the House. Unanimous consent cannot make the report itself in order.

(Later that day Mr. Hawkes received unanimous consent to move that the Standing Orders be amended to reflect the proposed change in the name of the Committee. The motion was adopted.)

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References

Debates, February 28, 1985, pp. 2602-5.