Amendments to the Content of Bills / Report Stage

Amendment to motion in amendment

Debates pp. 6829-30

Background

During report stage consideration of Bill C-228, an Act to amend the Canada Labour (Standards) Code, and the debate on the motion in amendment of Mr. Alexander (Hamilton West) that the minimum wage be related to the "Consumer Price Index", Mr. Knowles (Winnipeg North Centre) proposed an amendment to relate the minimum wage to the "Earnings Index" as defined in the Canada Pension Plan. The Speaker suspected that the motion of Mr. Knowles was, in fact, a new question, but he invited comments from Members since there was some confusion regarding the sense of Mr. Alexander's motion: it was not clear whether the essence of his motion was that increases should be fixed in a particular way, or by some kind of formula.

Issue

Is the proposed amendment in fact a new question that must be treated as a separate motion?

Decision

As the object of the motion in amendment in this case is in doubt, the amendment to it will be allowed.

Reasons given by the Speaker

There is some doubt as to the essence of the matter before the House. Although it appears that the amendment to the motion in amendment is really a new question and might well be presented as a separate motion, the amendment may be put unless there are strong objections from Members.

References

Debates, June 17, 1971, pp. 6827-9, 6831.