Precedence and Sequence / Estimates

Concurrence in committee reports

Journals pp. 725-6

Debates pp. 8462-4

Background

At the commencement of the sitting, Mr. Knowles (Winnipeg North Centre) rose on a point of order to question the position assigned to two motions on the Order Paper. These two motions, one by Mr. Broadbent (Oshawa-Whitby) and the other by Mr. Woolliams (Calgary North), sought concurrence in the sixth report of the Standing Committee on Miscellaneous Estimates, and were listed under motions made pursuant to Standing Order 58(4)(a) concerning supply days. Mr. Knowles maintained that "since these two identical motions relate to the adoption of a report of a standing committee, they should appear on the Order Paper under Routine Proceedings ... " Acknowledging that the sixth report was based on Estimates, Mr. Knowles nonetheless contended that the report contained certain recommendations arising from consideration of the Estimates, and should be treated, therefore, as any other substantive report from a standing committee.

Issue

Can a standing committee report that makes recommendations based on Estimates be considered under Motions during Routine Proceedings?

Decision

No. The report must be considered as supply business on an allotted day.

Reasons given by the Speaker

The Chair would be remiss if it allowed a report on Estimates to be considered as part of the business of supply at any time other than an allotted day. If the report "has any validity at all, it must be as a report of the committee on Estimates, and therefore it should be considered as required by Standing Order".

Sources cited

Standing Order 58.

Journals, June 18, 1973, pp. 419-20.

Debates, June 18, 1973, pp. 4827-8.

References

Debates, December 6, 1973, p, p. 8461-2.