Amendments to the Content of Bills / Report Stage

Report stage, motion in amendment, acceptability of amendments

Journals p. 430

Debates p. 4704

Background

During debate at the report stage on Bill C-13, an Act to amend the Northern Canada Power Commission Act, Mr. Nielsen (Yukon) had proposed a motion to substitute the word "Commissioner" for the word "Governor" in the clause calling for rates to be set by the Governor in Council. Mr. Dinsdale (Brandon—Souris) proposed that this motion be amended so that the rate would be made subject to the approval of the Yukon Public Utilities Board or the Northwest Territories Utilities Board, as the case might be.

Issue

Is the amendment relevant to the motion to which it is addressed, and can it be proposed without notice?

Decision

The proposed amendment cannot be received.

Reasons given by the Deputy Speaker

The amendment "takes out the meat of the point that was put forward in the change" proposed by the Member for the Yukon and thus fails to observe the rule of relevance. It is basically a new proposition, which in accordance with Standing Order 75(5) requires the giving of 24 hours' notice.

Authority cited

Standing Order 75(5).

References

Debates, April 10, 1975, p. 4687.