Thank you, Mr. Bachand.
With regard to your amendment, I have made a decision in consultation with the clerk. Bill C-41, which we are in the process of studying, amends the National Defence Act to clarify the delegation of the chief of the defence staff's powers and authority in the grievance process. More specifically, clause 6 states that the vice-chief of the defence staff will be the final authority in the grievance process. Your amendment proposes transferring the final authority to the grievances committee in the case of certain types of grievances, in other words, grievances submitted by the military judge. As House of Commons Procedure and Practice second edition states on page 766: "An amendment to a bill that was referred to committee after second reading is out of order if it is beyond the scope and principle of the bill." In the opinion of the Chair, after obtaining the much appreciated opinion of the procedural clerk, the transfer of final authority from the vice-chief of the defence staff to the grievances committee for certain types of grievances is contrary to the principle of Bill C-41 and is, therefore, out of order.