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.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Mr. Andrew Lauzon
Charles Robert  Clerk of the House of Commons
André Gagnon  Deputy Clerk, Procedure
Jeremy LeBlanc  Deputy Principal Clerk, Journals Branch

11:20 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

So you're recommending number two, basically?

11:20 a.m.

Conservative

Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB

I'm not suggesting that we need to do that. I don't see any issue with what we've been doing, but if we're going to make a change, it certainly still has to be built around a deadline. I'm just saying that if there is going to be a change, then I would oppose the idea of not having deadlines.

I don't see an issue with what we have now, but I would be comfortable and okay with people having an option of choosing other deadlines as long as the deadline is known by everyone up front.

11:20 a.m.

Liberal

David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC

We could have two choices: 30 days if it's urgent and 120 days for everything else, and be done with it. If you want to make it 30 days, that is your choice and that is the end of it.

I'd be fine with that if you are.

11:20 a.m.

Conservative

Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB

Yes, as long as everyone knows the deadline and people.... You're right, if you chose 30 days, and that was a bad choice in the end, well—

11:20 a.m.

Liberal

David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC

That was their choice.

11:20 a.m.

Conservative

Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB

That was their choice, yes.

11:20 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

The clerk also suggested the possibility of extending that deadline if a signature threshold isn't reached. You're not in favour of that?

11:20 a.m.

Conservative

Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB

No, I think there need to be deadlines. That's the key.

11:20 a.m.

Liberal

David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC

I'm with Blake on that.

11:20 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

You're giving them a choice of 30 days or 120 days.

11:20 a.m.

Liberal

David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC

There are two choices: A and B, 30 days or 120 days. If you're in a hurry, you have 30 days. Otherwise 120 days is the standard.

David.

11:20 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

Mr. Christopherson, then Mr. Bittle.

11:20 a.m.

NDP

David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON

No, I'm fine.

11:20 a.m.

Liberal

Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON

Is it feasible to allow the individual the choice of having a drop-down view? Do we have to say 30 or 120 days, or could it be a drop-down and you could pick 30, 60, 90, or 120 days, but I agree with Blake that either way, there should be a deadline, and if we're saying 30 or 120 days, why not have all four options, depending on the individual.

11:20 a.m.

Liberal

David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC

Blake's point is it has a fixed amount of time, and I'm fine with that.

11:20 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

Is that okay, Blake?

11:20 a.m.

Conservative

Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB

Yes, my key is that there needs to be a fixed time, and it can't be flexible. Once you've chosen it, you've chosen it, and I'm comfortable with whatever the choices are made.

11:20 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

Okay, it looks as if the committee is recommending that as part of number two, the petitioner be able to chose from 20, 60, 90, or 120 days, but after that there is no option to extend.

11:20 a.m.

Conservative

Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB

In giving those choices, is there any significant extra administrative burden or extra cost added? If there is, would it be significantly different if there were two choices compared to four choices, for example?

11:20 a.m.

Deputy Clerk, Procedure

André Gagnon

It's essentially a technical question, so whether you add two or four will not make a difference. The costs associated with it would be exactly the same.

11:20 a.m.

Conservative

Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB

Okay. Do you foresee there being any significant extra cost or administrative burden from a choice situation?

11:20 a.m.

Deputy Clerk, Procedure

11:20 a.m.

Conservative

Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB

No. Okay.

11:20 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

Good, we have the first recommendation.

I'm going to open discussion on number two, the issue of signatures.

11:20 a.m.

Liberal

David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC

First, maintaining 500 signatures for electronic petitions and 25 for paper petitions is reasonable. I don't see any reason to change it.