We are going to suspend in three minutes for voting.
Unfortunately, the amendment is inadmissible, and I'll explain why.
Subclause 21(1) of Bill C-12 provides that the members of the advisory body will be appointed by the Governor in Council, based on the recommendation of the minister, and that the Governor in Council will fix the members’ remuneration. Amendment BQ-21 attempts to give the responsibility of appointing the members of the advisory body to the House of Commons, based on the recommendation of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development.
As House of Commons Procedure and Practice, third edition, states on page 772:
Since an amendment may not infringe upon the financial initiative of the Crown, it is inadmissible if it imposes a charge on the public treasury, or if it extends the objects or purposes or relaxes the conditions and qualifications specified in the royal recommendation.
Because the amendment seeks to alter the terms and conditions of the royal recommendation, it is, in my view, inadmissible.
That's my ruling, and I think it makes sense based on House of Commons Procedure and Practice, third edition.
We only have about a minute. We're going to be going now to—