Evidence of meeting #102 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was petitions.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:05 p.m.
Deputy Clerk, Procedure
No, it's not allowed electronically in the system to change...because of the rules that you have. But you can be a sponsor, and afterwards, another member can table the petition.
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
Maybe my question is now irrelevant. It sounds to me as if this isn't an issue. In terms of the scenario that Mr. Reid raised here, in the situation where someone ceases to be a member for whatever reason, is there not a way already to have the petition—
12:05 p.m.
Deputy Clerk, Procedure
The petition has been certified and can be presented by someone else.
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
12:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
Okay, there is no issue there.
The second one, that it requires a sponsor only once the petition has been certified....
12:05 p.m.
Deputy Clerk, Procedure
I think it's been taken care of by the discussion you just had.
12:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
Okay.
So, the third is to change the electronic interface page to allow a bulleted list of two.... I don't even know what this one is about. Does anyone understand this one? It is to change the electronic interface of the petition submission page to allow a bulleted list under the “To” section, similar to what is in place for the “Whereas” section.
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON
You know how it goes. You might say “Whereas poverty is widespread in Canada; whereas children are frequently....”, and you just drop the bullets off and then say “Therefore, we call on the Government of Canada to enact remedial measures to work with the provinces” and so on. I think that's the point they are getting at.
May 8th, 2018 / 12:10 p.m.
Liberal
12:10 p.m.
Clerk of the House of Commons
Well, the other guess is that it is going to different agencies, for example, to the House of Commons, to the Senate, to the Department of Foreign Affairs, to a minister, as opposed to the sensible suggestion you came up with.
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON
I'm not sure, actually. You're saying it would call upon the Minister of Agriculture to do this, the Minister of Finance to do that. Is that what you mean?
12:10 p.m.
Deputy Principal Clerk, Journals Branch
When you fill out the form for an electronic petition, you choose to whom the petition is addressed, to the House of Commons or a minister or a department.
12:10 p.m.
Deputy Principal Clerk, Journals Branch
But you're able to make one choice only. I think what the folks here are suggesting is that you be able to address your petition to more than one of the choices, as opposed to specific recommendations to more than one.
12:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
Right now, can you do that, make it that someone do this and do that? Can you do more than one thing?
12:10 p.m.
Deputy Principal Clerk, Journals Branch
In the form that you fill out for an electronic petition, you are able to choose only one person to whom you address it.
12:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
I meant the different actions. Can you ask more than one action, as Mr. Reid was suggesting? You can already?
12:10 p.m.
Deputy Principal Clerk, Journals Branch
Yes. In terms of the relief sought, if you will, you can have multiple reliefs.
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
That was my question exactly. I was pretty certain you could already ask for more than one thing to be done.
12:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
Okay. Do people want them to be able to address it to more than one organization or not? That's what these people are suggesting.
