Amendments to Motions on Progress of Bills / Third Reading

Recommittal; beyond scope of bill and ways and means resolution preceding it

Journals p. 1479

Debates p. 13658

Background

During debate on the motion for third reading of Bill C-268, an Act to amend the Excise Tax Act and the Old Age Security Act, Mr. Winkler (Grey-Bruce) proposed that the bill be not now read a third time, but be referred back to the Committee of the Whole with instructions to amend the bill to provide that all moneys raised by the increased excise tax be paid into the Old Age Security Fund rather than the Consolidated Revenue Fund. The Deputy Speaker invited comments from Members before ruling.

Issue

Can a bill at third reading be referred back to committee with instructions to amend it so that moneys raised by a particular tax are set aside for a specific purpose other than that already contained in the ways and means resolution preceding that bill?

Decision

No. The amendment is out of order.

Reasons given by the Deputy Speaker

"... the amendment deals with the disposition or re-routing of moneys. As such, it is a financial proposal which would have to be contained in the resolution preceding a money bill." In addition, the proposed amendment introduces a new principle and deals with a matter not contained in the bill.

Sources cited

Beauchesne, 4th ed., p. 288, c. 418.

References

Debates, March 2, 1967, pp. 13653-8.