Petitions / Conditions for Reading

Conditions for reading

Journals pp. 211-2

Debates pp. 2263-4

Background

On December 10, Mr. Roberts (St. Paul's) introduced a petition asking the House to support Israel by a resolution and to prevail upon the government to support Israel in the United Nations. The next day, following the tabling of the report of the Clerk of Petitions, the Member rose on a point of order to ask that the petition be read in the House in accordance with Standing Order 67(8). The Speaker noted the request and pointed out that because it was an unusual procedure, the Member should obtain the consent of the House. He also remarked that in addition the House would have to examine the petition to determine whether or not it contained comments regarding decisions made or positions taken by the House or the Canadian government.

Issue

Can a petition that contains a reflection on a position adopted by the government be read to the House?

Decision

The petition may not be read.

Reasons given by the Speaker

"Any petition which is proposed to be read ... should refrain from expressing an opinion with regard to the House or the government or the positions taken by Members of the House, but rather ... it should seek a redress of grievance. Petitions which have been accepted previously have sought to redress what might have been a legitimate grievance."

"The words [of this petition] ... do cast a reflection and express an opinion upon a stand taken by the government ... [T]his ought not to be done byway of petition but ought to be done during the course of debate by elected Members of this House."

Authority and precedent cited

Beauchesne, 4th ed., p. 256, c. 331; p. 259, c. 343.

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

References

Journals, December 11, 1974, p. 187.

Debates, December 10, 1974, p. 2099; December 11,1974, p. 2141; December 16, 1974, pp. 2261-3.