Ruling
September 7, 1966
Reference of subject-matter to committee
Hon. Lucien Lamoureux
Speaker of the House
Ruling Text
A bill cannot be referred to a committee before it has been read a second time. The phrase "without prejudice to further proceeding to the said bill later this session" is unclear. Since the subject-matter of a bill and the bill itself are two different things, it could be that the committee would be studying the subject-matter while the bill would be debated on second reading in the House. Further, the authorities state that the referral of the subject-matter of a bill to a committee is a declaration of policy. An amendment cannot approve the principle of a bill and also enunciate a declaration of policy.
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Holding
"An amendment is procedurally out of order if it attempts to both approve the principle of a bill at second reading and refer the subject-matter of that bill to a committee, as these are contradictory actions."
AI Summary
A ruling clarifying that an amendment cannot both approve a bill's principle at second reading and refer its subject-matter to a committee.
AI Analysis
- Outcome
- Sustained
- Tone
- Educational
- Procedural Stage
- Government Orders
- Significance
Low
High