Thank you, Mr. Rabesca. Good afternoon. I would like at this time to thank the Member for Natilikmiot, Mr. Ningark, for taking my place yesterday as I attended the funeral in Kakisa. His work has been very much appreciated.
--Applause
Speaker's Ruling
Before we proceed with the orders today, I would like to provide a ruling concerning the tabling of unsigned documents in the House. The chair has the responsibility to ensure compliance with the rules, practices and procedures as established by this, and previous Legislative Assemblies. As Speaker I have to ensure that items such as tabling of documents and petitions adhere to the rules and practices. In carrying out that responsibility Members will recall, yesterday the honourable Member from Hay River tabled a note that was passed to her in the House. This note was unsigned and undated.
Although this matter was not raised as a point of order at the time of tabling, the issue of the tabling of unsigned documents is one of concern to the Chair because it raises fundamental issues with respect to the verification and authentication of facts that may be contained therein. Members may be interested to note that this issue has been the subject of some debate in this House in the past.
With respect to this, I refer Members back to my ruling of March 27, 1995, in the term of the 12th Assembly concerning the tabling of an unsigned letter by the then, honourable Member from Thebacha. That ruling reviewed the rules and precedents concerning this matter and clearly established the requirements and limitations as to the content for petitions and tabled documents in our House. I quote from page 612 of the March 27, 1995 Hansard:
It is my ruling that it is not an acceptable practice to table unsigned letters in this House, so therefore, all letters tabled, whether it be by the government or by Ordinary Members, will have to be forthwith directed from a specific individual or organization, dated and signed.
This ruling was clear and concise with respect to this issue.
It is my ruling that the document tabled yesterday by the honourable Member from Hay River does not meet the requirement to be from a specific individual or organization, dated and signed. Therefore the document is ruled not to be in an acceptable format for tabling and should not have been tabled in this House. I have instructed the Clerk to remove this item from the tabled document list and to amend Hansard to reflect this change. Thank you.
Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Morin.