I call this meeting back to order. This is the 94th meeting of the Standing Committee on Finance.
Colleagues, when we left off, Clause 173 was carried.
(On clause 174)
We are now on clause 174. We have one amendment to clause 174. We have LIB-156. I have a ruling as the chair on this amendment. Bill C-45 amends the Fisheries Act to direct that fines be credited to the Environmental Damages Fund, an account in the accounts of Canada. This amendment proposes to create a board chaired by the minister to administer the fund. House of Commons Procedure and Practice, second edition, states at pages 767-8:
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 a royal recommendation.
Therefore, in the opinion of the chair, the amendment would place responsibility for funds within the consolidated revenue fund and a board chaired by the minister, the effect of which would alter the terms and conditions of the royal recommendation. Therefore, I rule this amendment inadmissible.
I shall therefore ask, shall clause 174 carry?