Amendments to the Content of Bills / Report Stage

Relevance; infringing on financial initiative of the Crown

Debates p. 4650

Background

During debate at the report stage on the motion in amendment of Mr. Woolliams (Calgary North.) relating to the interest rate prov1s1ons contained in Bill C-133, an Act to amend the National Housing Act, Mr. Gilbert (Broadview) proposed an amendment. The object of Mr. Gilbert's amendment was to reduce to one-quarter of one per cent, rather than one-half, the amount by which the CMHC lending rate might exceed the rate of return on Government of Canada bonds. Mr. Basford (Minister of State for Urban Affairs) objected that such a change would result in a charge on the public purse not covered by the Royal Recommendation.

Issue

Does the amendment to the motion in amendment infringe on the financial initiative of the Crown?

Decision

No, the amendment is in order.

Reasons given by the Deputy Speaker

The principle being considered is the spread between the cost of borrowing and lending, "and what is charged then becomes a detail". The Member for Calgary North is of the opinion that one-half of one percent is an appropriate figure. The Member for Broadview, on the other hand, believes that the spread should be only one-quarter of one percent. Such a difference is one of detail, not principle, and is in order.

References

Debates, June 11, 1973, pp. 4648-50.