Skip to content
Other November 3, 1982

Deletion and substitution of a clause

Hon. Jeanne Sauvé

Hon. Jeanne Sauvé

Speaker of the House

Ruling Text

<div class="DecisionMain" role="main"> <p class="decision-chapter"> Amendments to the Content of Bills / Committee Stage </p> <p class="d-DecisionDate"> <time>November 3, 1982</time> </p> <p class="e-Debates">Debates <a href="https://parl.canadiana.ca/view/oop.debates_HOC3201_18/304?r=0&amp;s=1">pp. 20366-70</a></p> <div> <h2 class="f-ContextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">Background</h2> </div> <p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">During consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bill C-137, An Act to provide for the resumption and continuation of longshoring and related operations at ports on the west coast of Canada, Mr. Crombie (Rosedale) moved an amendment to delete clause 4 of the bill and replace it with another clause. The Deputy Chairman (Mr. Blaker) expressed doubts as to the acceptability of the proposed amendment, and before rendering a decision, heard Members' comments.</p> <h2 class="f-ContextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">Issue</h2> <p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">Is an amendment whose effect would be to delete a clause in a bill and substitute another one, in order?</p> <h2 class="f-ContextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">Decision</h2> <p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">No. The amendment is out of order.</p> <h2 class="f-ContextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">Reasons given by the Deputy Chairman of Committees of the Whole</h2> <p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">An amendment is out of order if it is irrelevant to the subject-matter of the clause or beyond its scope. However, there is nothing to prevent a Member from amending the bill by moving amendments that are relevant to the subject-matter of the bill, in the form of new clauses.</p> <h2 class="f-ContextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">Sources cited</h2> <p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">Debates, October 31, 1963, <a href="https://parl.canadiana.ca/view/oop.debates_HOC2601_05/151">p. 4219</a>; December 3, 1963, <a href="https://parl.canadiana.ca/view/oop.debates_HOC2601_06/147">p. 5385</a>. </p> <p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">Beauchesne, 5th ed., p. 238, c. 773(1).</p> <p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">May, 17th ed., p. 549; 19th ed., p. 521.</p> <h2 class="f-ContextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">References</h2> <p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">Debates, November 3, 1982, <a href="https://parl.canadiana.ca/view/oop.debates_HOC3201_18/303">pp. 20365-70</a>.</p> </div>
Edit Metadata

AI Summary

A description of the parliamentary procedure for amending a bill by deleting and substituting a clause during committee stage.

AI Analysis

Holding
"The deletion and substitution of a clause is a standard form of amendment permissible during the clause-by-clause study of a bill, provided the new text is relevant to the bill's subject matter."
Outcome
Other
Tone
Neutral
Procedural Stage
Committee Stage
Significance
Low High

Cited Authorities

  • House of Commons Procedure and Practice (3rd Edition)

Tags & Keywords