Ruling
March 2, 1976
Infringing on financial initiative of the Crown (private Member's bill)
Hon. James Jerome
Speaker of the House
Ruling Text
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<p class="decision-chapter">Content of Bills / Infringing on Financial Initiative of the Crown</p>
<p class="d-DecisionDate">
<time>March 2, 1976</time>
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<p class="e-Debates">Journals <a href="https://parl.canadiana.ca/view/oop.HOC_3001_121_02/314">pp. 1080-1</a></p>
<p class="e-Debates">Debates <a href="https://parl.canadiana.ca/view/oop.debates_HOC3001_11/480?r=0&s=1">p. 11430</a></p>
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<h2 class="f-ContextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">Background</h2>
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<p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">On a motion for second reading of Bill C-272, the Canada-Alaska and Maine Corridors Authority Act, standing in the name of Mr. Watson (Laprairie), the Deputy Speaker expressed reservations about the procedural acceptability of the bill.</p>
<h2 class="f-ContextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">Issue</h2>
<p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">Can the House consider a bill involving an indirect expenditure of money if it is not accompanied by a Royal Recommendation?</p>
<h2 class="f-ContextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">Decision</h2>
<p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">Despite some hesitation as to the procedural acceptability of the bill, the Chair decided to let the bill come to a debate.</p>
<h2 class="f-ContextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">Reasons given by the Deputy Speaker</h2>
<p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">Because Members have already agreed to proceed with the bill, and also because similar bills have been debated in the House in the past, debate will be permitted.</p>
<p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">However, such borderline bills should be in the form of notices of motions and this case should not be taken as a precedent.</p>
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Edit Metadata
Holding
"A private Member's bill that involves a new charge on the public treasury is out of order as it infringes on the financial initiative of the Crown."
AI Summary
The Speaker ruled a private Member's bill out of order for violating the financial initiative of the Crown by proposing an expenditure of public funds.
AI Analysis
- Outcome
- Sustained
- Tone
- Educational
- Procedural Stage
- Private Members' Business
- Significance
Low
High