Amendments and Subamendments to Motions / Relevance

Beyond scope of motion

Journals pp. 347-8

Debates pp. 2767-8

Background

On an allotted day, Mrs. MacInnis (Vancouver-Kingsway) moved that the question of steadily rising food prices and supermarket profits be referred to a special committee of the House for investigation and report. Mr. McGrath (St. John's East) then moved an amendment that the Prices and Incomes Commission be required to investigate and report to the House on food price stability. The Deputy Speaker doubted the acceptability of the amendment, and heard Members' comments before ruling.

Issue

Is the amendment relevant the main motion?

Decision

No. The amendment is out of order.

Reasons given by the Speaker

The proposed amendment would change the substance of the main motion because it proposes referral to the Prices and Incomes Commission, whereas the motion specifies referral to a special committee of the House. The mover of the motion has a right to choose the forum to which the subject should be referred. Furthermore, if the amendment were accepted, an important part of the main motion would disappear, and it would be changed to a greater extent than is permissible. The amendment thus bears on a question that is foreign to the proposition contained in the main motion.

Sources cited

Beauchesne, 4th ed., p. 171, c. 203(3).

References

Debates, June 1, 1972, pp. 2763-7.