Amendments to the Content of Bills / Report Stage

Not a reading stage

Journals pp. 906-7

Debates pp. 7601-2

Background

As the House was beginning the report stage consideration of Bill C-150, an Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Parole Act ..., the Speaker made a statement on the acceptability; of 11 motions in amendment and declared that two motions, standing in the name of Mr. Laprise (Abitibi), appeared to be out of order. The first proposed that the bill be not now read and that the different subjects of the committee report be regrouped. The second motion also proposed that the bill not be read until the committee had established a definition for an "act of gross indecency". Comments on the merits of the two motions were heard separately and the Speaker rendered his decision on them individually.

Issue

Can motions in amendment propose that a bill be not now read at report stage?

Decision

No. The proposed motions in amendment do not meet the requirements for amendments allowed at report stage.

Reasons given by the Speaker

Both motions in amendment are reasoned amendments since they provide that the bill be not now read. Such amendments, while appropriate at the second or third reading stage, cannot be put at the report stage. Acceptable report stage motions in amendment must seek to amend, delete, insert or restore a clause of a bill.

Sources cited

Standing Order 75(5).

References

Debates, April 16, 1969, pp. 7599-601.