Ruling
July 20, 1973
Opposing principle of bill
Hon. Lucien Lamoureux
Speaker of the House
Ruling Text
The purpose of the bill is to provide for the reinstatement of the law relating to capital punishment. The effect of these motions, however, is to remove those provisions from the bill. "In other words, the amendments proposed are negative of the principle of the bill as approved on second reading." Despite serious reservations as to the procedural admissibility of some of the amendments made in committee, the Chair is reluctant "to exercise the initiative required to refuse to accept a bill as it has come to this House... and ask that it be returned to the committee for further consideration". There is no recent precedent for the Chair taking such a bold step. Such an action could lead to appeals from rulings of committee chairman, thus placing the Chair in a very difficult position. Moreover, the Chair is restrained from taking bolder action in view of the cross-section of sentiments on both sides of the House, the character of the bill, and the discussions that have taken place here and in committee.
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Holding
"The Chair will not unilaterally refuse to accept a bill from a committee, even if its amendments are negative to the principle of the bill approved at second reading, due to a lack of precedent and other contextual factors."
AI Summary
The Speaker reluctantly allows a bill to proceed from committee even though its amendments negate the bill's original principle.
AI Analysis
- Outcome
- Other
- Tone
- Conciliatory
- Procedural Stage
- Government Orders
- Significance
Low
High