Mr. Chairman, as the Clerk indicated, right now our rules are not clear. It has been interpreted that a member of the public may not present a petition except through an elected MLA. With the concept of open government, we are saying this should be a provision for the public to develop petitions and have an opportunity to table them in the Legislature, but they have to meet certain requirements: one, they have to have a minimum of 25 signatures; two, it has to be subject to a public matter, although as the Premier indicated it could be anything. That is why we are suggesting that the Speaker would have the ultimate responsibility to determine if that petition should be forwarded to the Assembly or not. It is these conditions that have to be met before it is even tabled in the Legislature.
Henry Zoe on Committee Motion 120-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 7
In the Legislative Assembly on March 22nd, 1993. See this statement in context.
Committee Motion 120-12(3): To Adopt Recommendation 7
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 22nd, 1993
Page 1083
See context to find out what was said next.