Routine Proceedings / Petitions

Reference to committee

Journals pp. 195-7

Debates pp. 1959-60

Background

After the Speaker announced that the petition concerning the Cape Breton Development Corporation Act had met the requirements as to form, Mr. MacInnis (Cape Breton-East Richmond) sought the guidance of the Speaker on how to proceed in order to have the matter debated immediately. The leave of the House was first obtained to have the petition read out and then the Speaker indicated how the petition could be considered.

Issue

Can the House take measures to consider a petition?

Decision

Yes. By unanimous consent a petition can be referred to a committee of the House for study. [Unanimous consent was not granted December 11; however, some days later the Speaker made known that agreement had been reached among the parties concerned to refer the petition to the Standing Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs.]

Reasons given by the Speaker

"... there are very few precedents in modern times of the House having adjourned its business for the purpose of considering a petition." In the only recent precedent, it is recorded that "by unanimous consent the petition received the previous day and read to the House" was referred to a standing committee. If there be unanimity to do this, the Member should indicate what motion he wishes to submit to the House in relation to the petition.

Sources cited

Standing Orders 26, 43 and 67(8).

Journals, October 19, 1962, pp. 123-4.

Beauchesne, 4th ed., p. 259, c. 343.

References

Debates, December 10, 1970, p. 1911; December 15, 1970, pp. 2054-5; December 18, 1970, p. 2187.