The Legislative Process / Stages

Introduction and first reading: admissibility; bill argued to be in imperfect shape; short title

February 14, 2012

Debates, p. 5273

On February 14, 2012, Elizabeth May (Saanich—Gulf Islands) rose on a point of order with regard to the introduction earlier that day of Bill C-30, An Act to enact the Investigating and Preventing Criminal Electronic Communications Act and to amend the Criminal Code and other Acts. Ms. May stated that the copies of the Bill distributed in the opposition lobbies contained a different short title than that which was provided during a departmental briefing earlier that day. Therefore, she suspected that the Bill may have been introduced in imperfect form, in contravention of the Standing Orders, and sought the guidance of the Chair on the matter.^[1]

Resolution

The Speaker ruled later that day. He stated that there had been an error in a limited number of courtesy copies of the Bill distributed to the House, but that the error had since been corrected. He confirmed that the Bill, as introduced, contained the correct short title and was presented in its proper form.

Decision of the Chair

The Speaker: Further to the point of order raised by the Member for Saanich—Gulf Islands, I would like to provide clarification concerning the introduction of the Government bill during this morning’s Routine Proceedings.

Following the introduction of Bill C-30, An Act to enact the Investigating and Preventing Criminal Electronic Communications Act and to amend the Criminal Code and other Acts, there was an error in a limited number of courtesy copies distributed to the House. These have since been replaced with the correct version. I want to reassure the House that the Bill, as introduced, was in its correct form and, therefore, is properly before the House.

I regret any inconvenience this may have caused Members.