Amendments to the Content of Bills / Committee Stage

Amendment not relevant to clause; beyond scope of bill

Journals p. 1204

Debates pp. 11899-900

Background

During consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bill C-231, an Act to define and implement a national transportation policy for Canada ..., Mr. Fawcett (Nickel Belt) proposed an amendment to a clause. He sought to have included in the bill provisions for the compensation of employees who suffer financial loss as a result of any change, alteration or deviation in the railway. Following the objection of Mr. Pickersgill (Minister of Transport), the Chairman (Mr. Batten) ruled that the amendment was not relevant to the clause it sought to amend and went beyond the scope of the bill. Mr. Lewis (York South) appealed this decision to the Speaker, who heard argument and announced his decision.

Issue

Is the proposed amendment irrelevant to the clause and beyond the scope of the bill?

Decision

Yes. The amendment may not be put.

Reasons given by the Speaker

The Chairman of the Committee of the Whole has heard the arguments for both sides of this issue. In his view, the amendment proposed is beyond the purport of the clause and also of the bill. In this case, the Chair will not substitute its judgment for that of the Chairman.

References

Journals, January 17, 1967, p. 1203.

Debates, January 17, 1967, pp. 11886-99.