Bill C-261

An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act (amount of full pension)

This enactment amends the Old Age Security Act to increase the amount of the full pension to which all pensioners aged 65 or older are entitled by 10% and to raise the exemption for a person’s employment income or self-employed earnings that is taken into account in determining the amount of the guaranteed income supplement from $5,000 to $6,500.

Management of Private Members' Business and Royal Recommendation

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I would like to make a statement regarding the management of Private Members' Business.

As members know, the Standing Orders of the House and the Constitution require that any bill that would confer the authority to spend public funds must be accompanied by a royal recommendation.

For any private member's bill that requires a royal recommendation, the Speaker will only put the question at third reading if the bill has received the necessary royal recommendation.

Therefore, following each replenishment of the order of precedence, the Chair reviews the items added so that the House can be alerted to bills that, at first glance, appear to infringe on the financial prerogative of the Crown.

The order of precedence having been replenished on Thursday, March 19, I wish to inform the House that there is a bill which preoccupies the Chair. That bill is Bill C-261, an act to amend the Old Age Security Act, amount of full pension, standing the name of the member for Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon.

The Chair is of the view that this bill may require a royal recommendation. Members are therefore invited to make arguments regarding this possibility at the earliest opportunity.

I thank all members for their attention.