Amendments to the Content of Bills / Report Stage

April 30, 1985

Debates p. 4232

When the House proceeded to report stage of Bill C-15 (Investment Canada Act) on April 23, 1985, the Speaker made a preliminary statement regarding the procedural acceptability of several motions, and invited comments from the Members before making a final ruling. In particular, the Speaker suggested that Motion No. 64, standing in the name of Mr. Axworthy (Winnipeg—Fort Garry), appeared to add to the scope and purpose of the bill, to infringe the Royal Recommendation, and to do indirectly what cannot be done directly, namely to amend the definition clause. Mr. Axworthy argued that the proposed amendment would not constitute a new definition, but would simply give additional direction under the clause by adding a way of calculating cost. He compared this to similar provisions in other clauses for calculating Canadian status and control, and maintained that no new principles were introduced into the bill. Mr. Hnatyshyn (President of the Privy Council) replied that the motion would add a definition of "net benefit" to the bill, which would be beyond the scope of the bill.

Issue

Is it in order to amend a bill so as to specify how to calculate or determine an expression used in the bill?

Decision

No. The proposed amendment is not in order.

Reasons given by the Speaker

The motion sought to introduce into the bill indirectly what cannot be done directly, namely a definition of the term "net benefit". Further, the motion went beyond the purpose and scope of the bill.