Questions Related to Content of Bills / Estimates

Votes and statutory item; grants

Debates pp. 26079-80

Background

On April 27, Mr. Blenkam (Mississauga South) raised a point of order with reference to the Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1984 to question the alleged irregularity of two votes and one statutory item. In his view, Vote 40 which provides for a payment of $35 million to the Export Development Corporation, is superfluous, because no loss is shown in the Corporation's financial statement; the statutory item of $164 million to be transferred to the Corporation should be an Estimate item; and finally, Vote 25 under Industry, Trade and Commerce is out of order, because it provides for the payment of sums of money by virtue of an act which expires April 1, 1983. The Speaker took the matter under consideration and ruled a few weeks later.

Issue

Are the votes and the statutory item in question in accordance with established procedure as to form?

Decision

Yes. These items are therefore proper.

Reasons given by the Speaker

The Speaker cannot give an opinion on the matter of the Corporation's losses or on the propriety to ask Parliament for money to cover unexpected losses. The function of the Chair is only to ensure that the correct procedure is followed in dealing with Estimates. Insofar as the statutory item is concerned, it is included in the Estimates for information purposes and may be amended only by the introduction of amending legislation. As for Vote 25, the date of April 1, 1983 refers to the fact that the Minister may make grants only for debt obligations incurred prior to April 1, 1983.

Sources cited

Beauchesne, 5th ed., p. 169, c. 484; p. 171, c. 498.

Small Business Investment Grants Act, S.C. 1980-81-82-83, c. 147, s. 3(3).

Appropriation Act No. 2, 1982-83, S.C. 1980-81-82-83, c. 103.

References

Debates, April 27, 1983, p. 24905.