Amendments to Motions on Progress of Bills / Third Reading

Recommittal; beyond scope of bill

Journals pp. 937-8

Debates pp. 7737-8

Background

During debate on the motion for third reading of Bill C-144, an Act to provide for the management of the water resources of Canada, Mr. Harding (Kootenay West) moved that the bill be not now read a third time but be referred back to the Standing Committee on National Resources and Public Works with instruction to insert a new clause making offenders under the Act financially responsible. Having doubts as to. the admissibility of the amendment, the Deputy Speaker invited the Members to express their views before he handed down his decision.

Issue

Can an amendment be moved at third reading to insert a new clause into a bill?

Decision

No. The amendment is out of order.

Reasons given by the Deputy Speaker

"... the proposition put forward by way of an amendment is a new proposition and cannot be allowed at this stage."

Sources cited

Beauchesne, 4th ed., p. 288, c. 418.

May, 17th ed., pp. 571-2.

References

Debates, June 4, 1970, pp. 7730-7.