Point of Order
March 28, 1969
Beyond scope of clause and bill; infringing on financial initiative of the Crown
Hon. Lucien Lamoureux
Speaker of the House
Ruling Text
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<p class="decision-chapter">Amendments to the Content of Bills / Report Stage</p>
<p class="d-DecisionDate">
<time>March 28, 1969</time>
</p>
<p class="e-Debates">Journals <a href="https://parl.canadiana.ca/view/oop.HOC_2801_115_01/807">pp. 863-4</a></p>
<p class="e-Debates">Debates <a href="https://parl.canadiana.ca/view/oop.debates_HOC2801_07/385?r=0&s=1">p. 7265</a></p>
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<h2 class="f-ContextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">Background</h2>
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<p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">During report stage consideration of Bill C-102, an Act to amend the Patent Act, the Trade Marks Act and the Food and Drugs Act, a motion in amendment was proposed by Mr. Saltsman (Waterloo) to establish a Crown corporation empowered to manufacture, sell, distribute and promote drugs offered for sale in Canada. The Deputy Speaker expressed certain misgivings about the motion, but refrained from making his decision until after hearing comments from Members.</p>
<h2 class="f-ContextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">Issue</h2>
<p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">Is a motion in amendment acceptable if it treats matters in addition to the subject of the clause it seeks to amend?</p>
<h2 class="f-ContextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">Decision</h2>
<p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">No. The motion in amendment is not in order.</p>
<h2 class="f-ContextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">Reasons given by the Deputy Speaker</h2>
<p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">The clause to be affected by the motion in amendment "deals only with the making of regulations respecting imported drugs. The amendment, if adopted, would necessitate the setting up of a Crown corporation for the purpose, among other things, of manufacturing drugs in Canada, and in doing so goes well beyond the purpose of the bill and would have the effect of creating a public charge."</p>
<h2 class="f-ContextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">Sources cited</h2>
<p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">May, 17th ed., pp. 549, 551.</p>
<h2 class="f-ContextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">References</h2>
<p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">Debates, March 28, 1969, <a href="https://parl.canadiana.ca/view/oop.debates_HOC2801_07/384">pp. 7264-5</a>.</p>
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Edit Metadata
Holding
"An amendment is procedurally inadmissible if it goes beyond the scope of the bill it seeks to amend or if it infringes upon the financial prerogative of the Crown."
AI Summary
The Speaker ruled an amendment inadmissible as it was beyond the bill's scope and infringed on the Crown's financial initiative.
AI Analysis
- Outcome
- Sustained
- Tone
- Educational
- Procedural Stage
- Committee of the Whole
- Significance
Low
High