Amendments to the Content of Bills / Report Stage

Amendments to motion in amendment

Journals p. 959

Debates p. 8068

Background

During report stage consideration of Bill C-150, an Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Parole Act ..., the House considered a motion in amendment, standing in the name of Mr. McCleave (Halifax-East Hanis), which sought to prevent hospitals and medical practitioners from being forced to follow certain legal obligations concerning the procurement of miscarriages, to which Mr. Burton (Regina East) proposed an amendment. His amendment would extend the coverage of the motion in amendment to include "any member of a hospital staff". Mr. Turner (Minister of Justice) objected, arguing that, according to the new Standing Orders, any amendments going beyond the scope of those motions in amendment already accepted by the Speaker were inadmissible once the House had begun report stage. Mr. Woolliams (Calgary North) supported the objection, claiming that the amendment was substantive in nature because it sought to amend a clause of the bill.

Issue

Is an amendment to a motion in amendment admissible at report stage under the new Standing Orders?

Decision

Yes. Amendments can be proposed to motions in amendment during debate at report stage.

Reasons given by the Deputy Speaker

The language of the Standing Orders specifically allows debate and amendments on motions in amendment during report stage.

Sources cited

Standing Order 75.

References

Debates, April 28, 1969, pp. 8063-8.