Amendments to the Content of Bills / Report Stage

Motion in amendment, beyond scope of clause

Journals p. 773

Debates p. 8290

Background

On June 10, the Speaker made a statement to the House on his assessment of the motions in amendment which had been filed for the report stage consideration of Bill C-2, an Act to amend the Combines Investigation Act and the Bank Act ... Concerning Motion 24 standing in the name of Mr. Rodriguez (Nickel Belt), the Chair found that the subject of the amendment, criminal penalties, had little to do with the subject matter of the clause it proposed to amend, Clause 22, which dealt with the collection of statistics. Despite these misgivings, the Speaker decided to withhold his decision until October 16 when arguments were heard on the matter.

Issue

ls a motion in amendment acceptable if it deals with a subject matter which is not germane to the clause it proposes to amend?

Decision

No, the amendment is not acceptable; it is beyond the scope of the clause.

Reasons given by the Speaker

"The fact is that Clause 22 of the bill deals with the collection of statistics and with various aspects of reporting facts and figures. It does not in any way deal with penalties."

References

Journals, June 10, 1975, pp. 618-9.

Debates, June 10, 1975, p. 6607; October 16, 1975, pp. 8289-90.