House of Commons.

• Author: Aune, Leif-Erik
• Position: Legislative Reports

Introduction

This account covers key highlights of the period from October to the end of December 2022. The House adjourned on December 14, 2022, and was scheduled to next sit on January 30, 2023.

Legislation

Bill C-30, an Act to amend the Income Tax Act (temporary enhancement to the Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax credit)

On October 3, 2022, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North), sought and obtained unanimous consent to establish provisions for proceedings on the bill at report stage and third reading. Pursuant to that order, on October 4, 2022, the bill was reported to the House without amendment by the Standing Committee on Finance, deemed concurred in at report stage without amendment and was considered at third reading during the same sitting.

Bill C-31, an Act respecting cost of living relief measures related to dental care and housing

On October 17, 2022, Minister of Health Jean-Yves Duclos (Quebec) moved a motion (Government Business No. 20) concerning how the House would dispose of Bill C-31. The motion governed the timeline and proceedings for all stages of the bill. It also stipulated that the Standing Committee on Health should have priority use of House resources during its consideration of the bill and provided for the cancellation of Private Members' hour on October 27, 2022, to allow for the consideration of the bill at report and third reading stages. After a closure motion, the order was adopted the next day.

Accordingly, on October 19, 2022, the bill was adopted at second reading and referred to the Standing Committee on Health. On October 25, 2022, the committee reported the bill back to the House with amendments. Later that day, the Speaker declared null and void two amendments adopted by the Standing Committee on Health during its consideration of Bill C-31 because they infringed upon the financial prerogative of the Crown and lacked the required royal recommendation. On October 27, 2022, the House concurred in the bill at report stage with further amendments and the bill was read a third time and passed. The bill was passed by the Senate and received royal assent on November 17, 2022.

Committees

On October 5, 2022, Mr. Lamoureux sought and obtained unanimous consent for a motion extending the deadline for the final report of the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying to February 17, 2023. On October 6, 2022, a message was received from the Senate, indicating that it had also agreed to the change of deadline for the final report.

On December 14, 2022, the Chair of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, Bardish Chagger (Waterloo), presented the 19th report of the committee entitled, "Protecting the Parliamentary Precinct: Responding to Evolving Risks." The report re-evaluated the boundaries of the parliamentary precinct and considered expanding them with a view to exploring options for robust safety protocols following the Freedom Convoy protest that occurred in January and February 2022.

Procedure / Privilege

Questions of Privilege

On October 4, 2022, the Speaker ruled on the question of privilege that had been raised by John Nater (Perth-Wellington) on September 28, 2022, regarding a witness who appeared before a Senate committee considering Bill C-ll, An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts. The Speaker reminded members that the question stemmed from the deliberations of the Senate, not the House and, therefore, it did not fall under the Speaker's authority. The Speaker also reviewed the facts and was not convinced that the conduct in question was an...