Amendments to the Content of Bills / Report Stage

Motions in amendment, beyond scope of bill

Journals p. 1418

Debates pp. 15213-4

Background

During consideration of the report stage of Bill C-84, an Act to amend the Criminal Code in relation to the punishment for murder and certain other serious offences, the Speaker considered the acceptability of certain motions standing in the names of Messrs. Fortin (Lotbiniere), Halliday (Oxford) and Lawrence (Northumberland-Durham). The motions related in some manner to motions dealing with the death penalty which the House, by a previous decision, had already excluded from the bill.

Issue

Can motions which are consequential to other proposed motions already defeated be considered for debate by the House?

Decision

No.

Reasons given by the Speaker

They are out of order because they are consequential to an issue which is no longer part of the bill. Thus, they have become irrelevant to the specific legislative measure presently before the House.

References

Journals, July 8, 1976, pp. 1410-5.