Evidence of meeting #77 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 petition.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
We won't put it in writing, but we'll look forward to further recommendations.
Deputy Clerk, Procedure
I wouldn't use the word “recommendations”. From our perspective, it would probably be more like issues you would want to explore, and that would bring you to a decision, or not, on the different—
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Mr. Robert, is that because you don't want to presume to be telling...? I'm just curious why you wouldn't—
Clerk of the House of Commons
Indeed, this House is your House. We're here as your servants.
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
If we ask you, as our servants, to generate recommendations—
Clerk of the House of Commons
We would be obliged to put them in that language.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
Okay, that's all done, but before we leave this topic, are there any other comments relating to petitions?
I have one, actually.
There seems to be a bit of a dichotomy, of not parallel processes—and I'm not saying it's good or bad—between the physical petition and the electronic one. It may just be wording, but on a physical petition the member of Parliament is the presenter. They're not allowed to have an opinion. They just present it. However, when you use the word “sponsor”, it gives the impression that you actually support the petition, that you are sponsoring a petition that you'd like to see go ahead. To me, those are two different processes for the same thing, a petition. I'm not saying that's good or bad, but I would prefer if they might be similar.
Are there any comments on that?
Deputy Clerk, Procedure
If you remember, Mr. Chair, it was part of the discussion the last time it was studied, and if I remember well, the guidelines that we provided and prepared clearly state that the sponsor is not the supporter of a petition. He supports the idea that citizens should be able to petition Parliament.
Then again, maybe the word could be changed.
Clerk of the House of Commons
It actually does raise the issue about whether or not you can refuse to be the one who actually brings forward the petition. If you're just basically a presenter, you're actually fulfilling a kind of mechanical process, but I think you're quite right, Mr. Chair, in reading in the word “sponsor” that it's something more than being simply just the mechanical presenter.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
Could I ask the committee what they think about changing the word “sponsor” to “presenter” on electronic petitions? It would be my preference.
NDP
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
Okay. Let's include that in our next discussion.
Is there anything else?
Mr. Clerk, as this is your first time here and you might see us a lot—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
—do you want to offer any welcoming remarks to our committee? We welcome you to the House.
Clerk of the House of Commons
I remember vividly my time before you in June. I thought then I was given quite a warm welcome.
I appreciate my opportunity to appear before you today, and I look forward to those occasions in the future when I will again have a chance to bring whatever intelligence and experience I have to the work of this fantastic House and this committee to bear.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
Thank you very much.
We'll suspend for a minute and then go into committee business.