Precedence and Sequence of Business / Miscellaneous

Bill of Attainder

Debates pp. 3683-4

Background

Mr. Taylor (Bow River) moved for leave to introduce a bill entitled “An Act respecting the Execution of Clifford Robert Olson". The Speaker ruled on the admissibility of the bill.

Issue

Does a bill for the execution of an individual fall within the definition of either a Private or a Public Bill?

Decision

No. The bill is therefore inadmissible.

Reasons given by the Speaker

The nature of the bill in question is that of a Bill of Attainder, a type of bill which was at one time employed in the British Parliament as “the highest form of parliamentary jurisprudence.” It is obsolete in the United Kingdom, having not been used since the 18th century, and is non-existent in Canadian practice.

Sources cited

Beauchesne, 5th ed., p.217, c.700.

May, 20th ed., p.69.