Thank you, Mr. Chairman. During our comprehensive review of the rules, it was brought to the attention of the Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges that the current rule dealing with petitions is not clear. Our Rule 57 provides that a petition to the Legislative Assembly may be presented at any time during a sitting of the Assembly by filing it with the Clerk or by a Member presenting it from his or her place in the House.
However, it is not clear whether any member of the public may present a petition by filing it with the Clerk, or whether only a Member of the Legislative Assembly may present a petition by either method.
To date, this rule has been interpreted to be consistent with usual parliamentary practice, so that petitions may be presented to the Legislative Assembly only through a Member. However, the standing committee is of the opinion that this rule should be clarified.
The standing committee holds the view that it would be consistent with the principle of open government to adopt a rule allowing members of the public to present a petition to the Legislative Assembly, by filing it with the Clerk. Such petitions should contain a minimum of 25 signatures, and should address a public matter. The question as to whether these conditions have been fulfilled would be subject to the ruling of the Speaker.
The rules would continue to allow Members to present petitions as well, by filing the petition with the Clerk or by presenting it from his or her place in the House. The standing committee does not propose any change to the present procedure in this area.