Amendments to the Content of Bills / Report Stage

Relevance; amendment to motion in amendment

Journals p. 968

Debates pp. 8147-8

Background

During report stage consideration of Bill C-150, an Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Parole Act ..., the House considered the motion in amendment of Mr. Clermont (Gatineau) to eliminate a phrase in a clause of the bill. Mr. Laprise (Abitibi) proposed an amendment to the motion in amendment to substitute another phrase for the one the motion in amendment was seeking to eliminate. The Speaker expressed some doubts as to the admissibility of the amendment but heard comments from Members before making his final decision.

Issue

Is an amendment to a motion in amendment limited to the motion in amendment?

Decision

Yes. The amendment to a motion in amendment must relate strictly to the motion.

Reasons given by the Speaker

The amendment would have been allowed as a motion in amendment had notice of it been given with the other motions filed for report stage. At report stage, however, the House is limited to debating motions in amendment; amendments to the motions in amendment must relate strictly to them.

Sources cited

Standing Order 75.

References

Debates, April 29, 1969, pp. 8144-7.