Rules of Debate / Repetition

Similar motions

Debates p. 2547

Background

During Private Members' Business (Notices of Motions), Mr. Orlikow (Winnipeg North) proposed a motion to create a special committee of the House to examine the role of the Senate and to recommend whether it should be maintained, reformed or abolished. Before allowing debate, the Deputy Speaker drew to the attention of the House the fact that a decision had recently been taken with respect to the question of Senate abolition.

Issue

Can a motion be proposed when the House has already decided one of its provisions?

Decision

No; however, debate in this case may proceed.

Reasons given by the Deputy Speaker

A decision has already been made with respect to one of the provisions in the proposed motion. In the words of one authority, ''A motion or amendment cannot be brought forward which is the same in substance as a question which has already been decided, because a proposition being once submitted and carried in the affirmative or negative cannot be questioned again but must stand as the judgment of the House." However, as part of the motion goes beyond the question previously decided, debate on the motion may continue.

Sources cited

Beauchesne, 4th ed., pp. 164-5, c. 194.

References

Debates, December 16, 1969, pp. 2038-9.