Amendments to Motions on Progress of Bills / Second Reading

Reference of private bill to Committee of the Whole

Debates p. 14085

Background

At the beginning of private Members' hour, Mr. Gendron (Riviere-du-Loup­ Temiscouata) requested unanimous consent for the House to give priority to Bill S-41, an Act respecting La Société des artisans, so that it could be considered at second reading, referred to Committee of the Whole, read a third time and passed. After a brief debate, the House agreed to proceed immediately to second reading. This was done, but the bill was referred instead to a standing committee. At that point, Mr. Gendron reminded the Speaker that he had requested unanimous consent to refer the bill to Committee of the Whole and to pass the motion for third reading. The Speaker expressed reservations about this procedure.

Issue

Can a private bill be referred to Committee of the Whole?

Decision

Yes, but only by unanimous consent to suspend the relevant Standing Orders or by way of a special reference. [Unanimous consent was not requested a second time, and the referral of the bill to a standing committee was upheld.]

Reasons given by the Speaker

No private bill shall be studied in Committee of the Whole without a special reference. The House may make whatever decisions it wishes, but it would be "abnormal" to proceed with the Member's suggestion that the House do precisely the opposite of what is stipulated in the Standing Orders.

Sources cited

Standing Order 102.

References

Journals, March 16, 1967, p. 1540.

Debates, March 16, 1967, pp. 14083-5.