Ruling
June 18, 1973
Concurrence in committee reports
Hon. Lucien Lamoureux
Speaker of the House
Ruling Text
"Prior to 1968 the Committee of Supply could consider, reject, reduce and adopt Estimates, but the ultimate concurrence in the Estimates rested in the House after report from Committee of Supply. In like fashion, standing committees may now consider, adopt, reject, reduce and report to the House on Estimates, but... the ultimate concurrence in the Estimates still rests with the House... There is no enlargement of powers of standing committees on Estimates by virtue of the new Standing Order 58... There can be no doubt that standing committees are empowered to make reports in relation to their study of Estimates." Nonetheless, the role of the House remains paramount:"... it cannot be contended that the committees have powers which exceed those of the House... It could be said that the 'report of a committee, both in its form and as to its substance, ought to correspond with the authority with which the committee is invested'."
Edit Metadata
Holding
"Standing committees are empowered to study and report on Estimates, but the final authority for concurrence rests solely with the House of Commons."
AI Summary
A ruling clarifying that the House of Commons, not standing committees, holds the ultimate power of concurrence for government Estimates.
AI Analysis
- Outcome
- Other
- Tone
- Educational
- Procedural Stage
- Government Orders
- Significance
Low
High