Questions Related to Content of Bills / Scope of Royal Recommendation

Scope of Royal Recommendation

Debates pp. 783-4

Background

During debate on the motion for second reading of Bill C-174, an Act respecting the Tax Review Board, Mr. Lambert (Edmonton West) raised a point of order with regard to the Royal Recommendation, which in his view was too vaguely worded and did not cover all the specific points in the bill.

Issue

Must a Royal Recommendation be so precise as to treat the various parts of a bill?

Decision

No. It is not necessary to enumerate all details of a bill in a recommendation.

Reasons given by the Speaker

It is unnecessary for the recommendation to cover all details of the bill; written advice from the Governor General to the effect that he or she has seen the bill and recommends it to the House is sufficient. If the recommendation is found to be defective, it can be remedied later.

References

Debates, November 2, 1970, pp. 782-3.