Budget Implementation Bill must be divided

OTTAWA — New Democrat Finance critic, Peggy Nash (Parkdale-High Park), tabled a motion in the House of Commons today aimed at dividing the budget bill into several parts so that each one can be properly studied by the appropriate parliamentary committee.

“The government must break up the bill to allow for proper debate and consideration. Unless they agree to divide the bill, we won’t support this bad process,” said Nash.

The motion states:

“That notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practice of the House, that Bill C-60, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 21, 2013 and other measures be amended by removing the following clauses:

1. clauses 136 to154 related to the Investment Canada Act;
2. clauses 161 to 166 related to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program;
3. clauses 174 to 199 related to the proposed Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act;
4. clauses 213 to 224 related to the National Capital Act and the Department of Canadian Heritage Act;
5. clauses 228 to 232 related to the Financial Administration Act and collective bargaining between Crown corporations and their employees;

That the clauses mentioned in section a) of this motion do compose Bill C-61; that Bill C-61 be deemed read a first time and be printed; that the order for second reading of the said bill provide for the referral to the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology; that the clauses mentioned in section b) of this motion do compose Bill C-62; that Bill C-62 be deemed read a first time and be printed; that the order for second reading of the said bill provide for the referral to the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities; that the clauses mentioned in section c) of this motion do compose Bill C-63; that Bill C-63 be deemed read a first time and be printed; that the order for second reading of the said bill provide for the referral to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development; that the clauses mentioned in section d) of this motion do compose Bill C-64; that Bill C-64 be deemed read a first time and be printed; that the order for second reading of the said bill provide for the referral to the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage; that the clauses mentioned in section e) of this motion do compose Bill C-65; that Bill C-65 be deemed read a first time and be printed; that the order for second reading of the said bill provide for the referral to the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates; that Bill C-60 retain the status on the Order Paper that it had prior to the adoption of this Order; that Bill C-60 be reprinted as amended; and that the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel be authorized to make any technical changes or corrections as may be necessary to give effect to this motion.”