Point of Order
June 22, 1976
Estimates
Hon. James Jerome
Speaker of the House
Ruling Text
The legislative authority which allows the government to establish a corporation such as Loto Canada already exists and is separate from the item in the estimates. Consequently, the government is only coming to Parliament for the money to fund it.
Addressing the matter of desirability in proceeding this way when a question of principle is involved, it is preferable to bring the matter before the House in the form of a bill. But the issue of desirability does not provide sufficient grounds to reject the motion of the government.
Edit Metadata
Holding
"It is procedurally acceptable for the government to seek funding for a corporation through the estimates, provided the legislative authority for that corporation already exists, even if a bill would be a more desirable vehicle for debating the principle."
AI Summary
The Speaker ruled that using the estimates to fund a corporation is procedurally acceptable if the legislative authority already exists, even if a bill is preferable for matters of principle.
AI Analysis
- Outcome
- Denied
- Tone
- Neutral
- Procedural Stage
- Government Orders
- Significance
Low
High