Questions Related to Content of Bills / Discrepancy

Royal Recommendation, requirement for notice Ways and Means motion; concurrence

Debates p. 526

Background

On January 18, 1984, at the beginning of Routine Proceedings, Mr. Speaker advised the House of a problem with respect to Bill C-8, the Special Import Measures Act. At the previous sitting on January 17, 1984, the House had concurred in a Ways and Means motion and under the provisions of Standing Order 64(11), Bill C-8 was read a first time. It was later brought to the attention of the Chair that there was a Royal Recommendation attached to the bill, notice of which had not been printed in the Notice Paper prior to first reading of the bill as required by Standing Order 66(2). The Chair had placed the Recommendation on notice, but was faced with a dilemma. Unless the House was willing to allow the Recommendation to remain on notice for 48 hours and then have it printed in the Votes and Proceedings, the Chair had no alternative but to order that the order for second reading be discharged and the bill withdrawn. The Ways and Means motion concurred in by the Ho use remained unaffected. By unanimous consent the issue was postponed to the next sitting to give the Opposition time to consider the matter.

Issue

Is it necessary to give notice of a Royal Recommendation even if the bill to which it is attached is based on a Ways and Means motion?

Decision

Yes. Appropriate notice must be given. [On January 19, 1984, with the consent of the Opposition, the Royal Recommendation was allowed to remain on the Notice Paper for the required 48 hours and the text of the Recommendation was printed in the Votes and Proceedings.]

Reasons Given by the Speaker

In normal circumstances if a Bill based on a Ways and Means motion with spending clauses requires a Royal Recommendation, the bill should be placed on the Notice Paper with the Recommendation and then transferred to the Order Paper under Routine Proceedings where it can be introduced in the House and given first reading under our usual practice. Standing Order 66(2) requires that the Royal Recommendation be placed on notice and by allowing the Recommendation to remain on the Notice Paper for 48 hours the requirements of the Standing Order are met.

Sources cited

Standing Orders 64(11), 66(1) and (2).

References

Debates, January 17, 1984, p. 485; January 19, 1984, p. 564.