Petitions / Conditions for Reading

Conditions for reading and debating

Journals pp. 588-9

Debates pp. 6285-6

Background

On May 29, Mrs. Appolloni (York South) presented a petition asking Parliament to legislate the protection of the unborn child, and by unanimous consent the text of the petition was read in the House. When the report of the Clerk of Petitions was tabled, Mr. Roche (Edmonton—Strathcona) asked that the petition be read and debated immediately under Standing Order 67(8).

Issue

Can a petition that involves a matter of general concern rather than a personal grievance be debated in the House?

Decision

The petition may not be read and debated.

Reasons given by the Speaker

The petition was read when it was presented.

"[A] representation that an existing law which has been under consideration by the House in various ways and which ... will be looked into by a committee and is to be the subject of further consideration, is a matter of general concern and can in no way be interpreted as a matter of personal consideration."

Finally, given the principle of a representative Parliament, "recommendations and suggestions for the amendment of the legislation ought, surely, to be carried on by Members . . . [I]t is the Members of this House who should make representations respecting changes in the law, and not outsiders by way of petitions.

Authority and precedent cited

Standing Order 67(8).

Journals, June 7, 1972, pp. 361-2.

References

Debates, May 29, 1975, p. 6236.