Amendments to Motions on Progress of Bills / Third Reading

Third reading

Journals pp. 1108-9

Debates p. 6460

Background

During the third reading debate on Bill C-23, an Act to facilitate the conversion to metric system of measurement, Mr. Hamilton (Qu'Appelle—Moose Mountain) sought to move an amendment and have the bill referred back to the Standing Committee on Finance, Trade and Economic Affairs for the purpose of reconsidering certain clauses "in the light of further evidence which may be heard from the grain industry, and especially the farmers". The Deputy Speaker expressed reservations about the conditions attached to the amendment. He allowed the debate to continue without putting the amendment before the House.

Issue

Can an amendment to the third reading motion refer a bill back to a committee with a special instruction to reconsider certain clauses?

Decision

The amendment is not in order.

Reasons given by the Deputy Speaker

Though the Chair is not satisfied with the precedents it has found, there has been a tendency in recent years to resist this kind of limiting amendment. There is some doubt as to whether the proposed amendment "renders a service to the committee to suggest that it get the bill back for the purpose of hearing evidence only from the grain industry and especially farmers. This might leave the impression with the committee that other witnesses might not be welcome or might not be included in the instructions of the House".

Authority cited

Beauchesne, 4th ed., p. 288, c. 418.

References

Debates, June 9, 1977, pp. 6455-6.