Speaker’s Statement – Parchment Error (Bill C-3)
Honourable senators, I would first like to read a statement just made by the Speaker of the House of Commons.
I wish to inform the House that a number of administrative errors occurred with respect to Bill C-3, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the financial year ending March 31, 2016.
Due to these administrative errors, the copy of the bill that was circulated at the opening of yesterday’s session did not contain the usual schedule that reflects how the global amount for the supplementary estimates is allocated amongst the various votes. As is the usual practice on the final supply day, the House considered and concurred in the supplementary estimates, followed by the supply bill based upon these estimates.
I have instructed the Acting Clerk and his officials to take the necessary steps to ensure that a corrected copy of Bill C-3, one that accurately reflects the will of the House, is forwarded to the other place.
I thank hon. members for their attention.
Let me begin, honourable senators, by thanking Senator Day for identifying the issue with Bill C-3.
Senator Day’s usual attentiveness, acuity and attention to these bills are always appreciated by this house.
We have ascertained, colleagues, that the Senate received a defective version of the bill. I would therefore suggest that proceedings on the bill thus far be declared null and void. If we do this, we could then read the corrected message and give the corrected bill first reading. Subsequent proceedings would then depend upon the will of the Senate.
While it is not our place to look into the functioning of the House of Commons, I am appalled that we received a defective bill. If it is the wish of the house, I would be prepared to write to my counterpart in the House of Commons to seek his assurance that this will not happen again.