Second reading

<div class="DecisionMain" role="main"> <p class="decision-chapter">Amendments to Motions on Progress of Bills / Second Reading</p> <p class="d-DecisionDate"> <time>December 13, 1974</time> </p> <p class="e-Debates">Journals <a href="https://parl.canadiana.ca/view/oop.HOC_3001_121_01/178">p. 195</a></p> <p class="e-Debates">Debates <a href="https://parl.canadiana.ca/view/oop.debates_HOC3001_03/112?r=0&amp;s=1">pp. 2250-1</a></p> <div> <h2 class="f-ContextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">Background</h2> </div> <p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">During debate on the second reading of Bill C-25, an Act to protect human health and the environment from substances that contaminate the environment, Mr. Fraser (Vancouver South) proposed to move that all the words after "That" be replaced with the following:</p> <p class="k-speakerCitation" style="margin-left: 25px; margin-right:40px; text-align:left;">"Bill C-25 be not now read a second time but that the subject matter thereof, the protection of human health and the environment from the release of substances that contaminate the environment, be referred to the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Forestry in order to consider a more appropriate legislative mechanism to establish mandatory procedures whereby substances be reported to the Minister of Health and Welfare and the Minister of the Environment prior to manufacture or sale."</p> <p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">The Acting Speaker (Mr. Penner) reserved his decision until the following day.</p> <h2 class="f-ContextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">Issue</h2> <p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">Can an amendment proposing to refer the subject matter of a bill to a committee also direct the committee to undertake special studies which may or may not be covered by the provisions of the bill itself?</p> <h2 class="f-ContextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">Decision</h2> <p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">The amendment is out of order.</p> <h2 class="f-ContextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">Reasons given by the Acting Speaker</h2> <p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">The substantive proposals included in the amendment (that the committee consider "a more appropriate ... mechanism") require that a substantive motion be moved, after the giving of the usual notice.</p> <p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">An extensive search of the precedents dealing with reasoned amendments turned up no case where such an amendment had been allowed.</p> <h2 class="f-ContextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">Authorities and precedents cited</h2> <p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">Beauchesne, 4th ed., p. 278, c. 386.</p> <p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">Journals, May 14, 1971, <a href="https://parl.canadiana.ca/view/oop.HOC_2803_117_01/503">pp. 553-4</a>; May 20, 1971, <a href="https://parl.canadiana.ca/view/oop.HOC_2803_117_01/518">pp. 568-9</a>.</p> <p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">Debates, January 13, 1971, <a href="https://parl.canadiana.ca/view/oop.debates_HOC2803_03/134">p. 2378</a>.</p> <h2 class="f-ContextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">References </h2> <p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">Journals, December 12, 1974, <a href="https://parl.canadiana.ca/view/oop.HOC_3001_121_01/175">p. 192</a>.</p> <p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">Debates, December 12, 1974, <a href="https://parl.canadiana.ca/view/oop.debates_HOC3001_03/78">p. 2216</a>.</p> </div>