Grouping of amendments; scope of debate

<div class="DecisionMain" role="main"> <p class="decision-chapter"> Amendments to the Content of Bills / Report Stage </p> <p class="d-DecisionDate"> <time>June 7, 1983</time> </p> <p class="e-Debates">Debates <a href="https://parl.canadiana.ca/view/oop.debates_HOC3201_23/198?r=0&amp;s=1">p. 26118</a></p> <div> <h2 class="f-ContextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">Background</h2> </div> <p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">During consideration, at report stage of Bill C‑85, An Act to establish a corporation called Canagrex, Mr. Neil (Moose Jaw) rose on a point of order to denounce the fact that, since the motions in amendment were grouped for discussion purposes and since the first of those motions in amendment touched on the principle of the bill, a whole series of questions would need to be dealt with during that debate. After hearing comments from Members, the Acting Speaker (Mr. Corbin) ruled.</p> <h2 class="f-ContextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">Issue</h2> <p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">Can debate at the report stage focus on the general provisions of the bill?</p> <h2 class="f-ContextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">Decision</h2> <p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">No. Only the motions in amendment presently under consideration may be debated.</p> <h2 class="f-ContextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">Reasons given by the Acting Speaker</h2> <p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">The purpose of report stage is to consider motions which seek to amend, delete or reinstate a provision of a bill. This is why the Standing Orders allow the Speaker to select or combine motions in amendment in order to avoid needless repetition. In this manner, the Speaker exercises better control over the debate by appealing to the rule of relevance. The Standing Orders do not allow, at report stage, the discussion to be general in scope as is the case when undertaking consideration of clause 1, at the committee stage.</p> <h2 class="f-ContextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">Sources cited</h2> <p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">Rules Respecting Repetition and Relevance in Debate, Table Research Branch, House of Commons, 1st edition, December 1982.</p> <h2 class="f-ContextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">References</h2> <p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">Debates, June 7, 1983, <a href="https://parl.canadiana.ca/view/oop.debates_HOC3201_23/196">pp. 26116-8</a>.</p> </div>