Amendments to the Content of Bills / Report Stage

Motion in amendment, irrelevant to a clause and beyond its scope

Journals p. 1154

Debates p. 6827

Background

During consideration at the report stage of Bill C-27, an Act to establish the Department of Employment and Immigration, the Canada Employment and Immigration Commission and the Canada Employment and Immigration Advisory Council, to amend the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1971 and to amend certain other statutes in consequence thereof, Mr. Alexander (Hamilton West) moved that Clause 5 be amended so that the Minister would be compelled to consult the provinces and would be enabled, with the approval of the Governor in Council, to enter into agreements with the provinces regarding the implementation of unemployment insurance and manpower policies and programs.

Issue

Is the motion in amendment relevant to the clause it seeks to amend?

Decision

The motion is out of order.

Reasons given by the Speaker

"An amendment to a particular clause must have relevance to the clause it seeks to amend as well as to the bill in general."

"The amendment would seek to introduce into that clause, not the powers of the Minister but an obligation to consult with the provinces...This amendment introduces into the general authority section of the Minister an entirely new concept." The motion thus goes beyond the scope of Clause 5.

Authority cited

May, 19th ed., p. 521.

References

Debates, June 20, 1977, pp. 6823-7.