Amendments and Subamendments to Motions / Relevance

Reference to committee; beyond scope of motion

Debates p. 25014

Background

During consideration of a non-confidence motion regarding the business of supply moved by Mr. Epp (Provencher), which sought to have property rights recognized in the Canadian Constitution, Mr. Murphy (Churchill) proposed an amendment to the effect that this issue be submitted for consideration to a committee of the House. Having indicated reservations with respect to the admissibility of the proposed amendment, the Acting Speaker (Mr. Blaker) ruled later.

Issue

Is an amendment referring a question to a committee relevant to the main motion?

Decision

No. The amendment is therefore out of order.

Reasons given by the Acting Speaker

"It is not an amendment to a motion to move that the question go to a committee." In the present case, therefore, the amendment "is not logically cohesive to the main motion, nor is it philosophically so". Moreover, according to one authority, an amendment which raises a new question can only be considered as a distinct motion after proper notice.

Sources cited

Journals, May 13, 1977, p. 794.

Beauchesne, 5th ed., p. 154, c. 435(1); p. 155, c. 437(2).

References

Debates, April 29, 1983, pp. 25007-9.