37th Parliament, 1st Session

No. 55

No 55

Votes and Proceedings

Procès-verbaux

Legislative Assembly
of Ontario

Assemblée législative
de l'Ontario

Tuesday
May 9, 2000


Daytime Meeting - Sessional Day 80
Evening Meeting - Sessional Day 81

Mardi
9 mai 2000


Séance de l'après-midi - jour de session 80
Séance du soir - jour de session 81

1st Session,
37th Parliament

1re session
37e législature

Prayers
1:30 P.M.

Prières
13 H 30

The Speaker delivered the following ruling:-

On Tuesday May 2, 2000 the House Leader of the Official Opposition (Mr. Duncan) raised a point of privilege with respect to a report from the Chief Election Officer entitled "Meeting the Needs of a Modern Electorate". The Member asserted that the distribution of this report to MPP's and then to the public, was a breach of privilege and a violation of the Standing Orders.

I want to start by considering the matter of privilege. The principle of privilege as it relates to reports to the House, requires that Members receive copies of such reports before they are made public. This was done, as the Member stated when he raised his point of privilege. The report was delivered to the Speaker's office, and subsequently, as is our practice, to all Member's mailboxes. Certain copies were then delivered to the press. This is the process that is usually followed and one that protects the privileges of the Members.

The Member also contended that the distribution of the report was not in compliance with the Standing Orders. Pursuant to Standing Order 39(a), once a report has been deposited, whether or not the House is in Session, it is then "deemed for all purposes to have been presented to or laid before the House."

Since the report was delivered to all Members prior to it being made public I find no prima facie case of privilege has been made out. In addition, the Standing Orders clearly require that such reports once delivered are "deemed" to have been presented to or laid before the House.

The fact that the Speaker announces the tabling of such reports is not specifically required under the Standing Order. However, it is our practice to make such announcements at the earliest opportunity. In this instance there was a delay in presenting the report to the House and recording it in the Votes and Proceedings. For that I apologize and assure all members that steps have been taken to prevent such a delay from occurring again.

Introduction of Bills

Dépôt des Projets de Loi

The following Bill was introduced, read the first time and referred to the Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills:-

Le projet de loi suivant est présenté, lu une première fois et déféré au Comité permanent des règlements et des projets de loi d'intérêt privé:-

Bill Pr22, An Act respecting the Town of Greater Napanee. Mrs. Dombrowsky.

Petitions

Pétitions

Petitions relating to the Northern Health Travel Grant program (Sessional Paper No. P-1) Mr. Bartolucci and Mrs. McLeod.

Petition relating to Hiring of additional Ministry of Transportation road testing staff and opening further testing offices (Sessional Paper No. P-12) Mr. Barrett.

Petition relating to the Link between cancer and occupation (Sessional Paper No. P-32) Mr. Christopherson.

Petitions relating to the Government of Ontario ensuring that Karla Homolka serves her full sentence in prison (Sessional Paper No. P-38) Mr. Barrett and Mrs. Munro.

Petition relating to Restructuring of Developmental Services and services to the developmentally disabled (Sessional Paper No. P-42) Mr. Gilchrist.

Petition relating to Holding public hearings on Bills 23 and 173 (Sessional Paper No. P-85) Mr. Parsons.

Petition relating to Rescinding the law banning studded tires in Ontario (Sessional Paper No. P-94) Mr. Bartolucci.

Petition relating to Further exemption of Highway 407 from provincial environmental laws (Sessional Paper No. P-100) Mr. O'Toole.

Petition relation to Amending the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act (Sessional Paper No. P-103) Mr. Christopherson.

Orders of the Day

Ordre du Jour

Debate was resumed on the motion for Second Reading of Bill 69, An Act to amend the Labour Relations Act, 1995 in relation to the construction industry.

Le débat reprend sur la motion portant deuxième lecture du projet de loi 69, Loi modifiant la Loi de 1995 sur les relations de travail en ce qui a trait à l'industrie de la construction.

After some time, the question having been put, the Acting Speaker (Mr. Brown) declared his opinion that the Ayes had it, and a recorded vote having been demanded,

Après quelque temps, la motion mise aux voix, le président par intérim, M. Brown déclare qu'à son avis les voix favorables l'emportent et un vote inscrit a été exigé,

The Acting Speaker directed that the Members be called in, for which purpose the division bells were rung.

Le Président par intérim donne des directives pour convoquer les députés et la sonnerie d'appel est retentit à cette fin.

During the ringing of the bells, the Acting Speaker addressed the House as follows:-

Pendant la sonnerie d'appel, le Président par intérim s'adresse à l'Assemblée en ces mots:-

I have received a request from the Chief Government Whip, under Standing Order 28(h), that the vote on the motion for Second Reading of Bill 69, An Act to amend the Labour Relations Act, 1995 in relation to the construction industry be deferred until May 10, 2000.

J'ai reçu une requête du Whip en chef du gouvernement, conformément à l'article 28(h) du Règlement, que le vote sur la motion portant deuxième lecture du projet de loi 69, Loi modifiant la Loi de 1995 sur les relations de travail en ce qui a trait à l'industrie de la construction soit différé jusqu'au 10 mai 2000.

Therefore the vote is accordingly deferred.

En conséquence, le vote est différé.

Mr. Stockwell moved, That the House do now adjourn.

M. Stockwell propose que l'Assemblée ajourne les débats maintenant.

The question, having been put on the motion, was declared carried.

Cette motion, mise aux voix, est déclarée adoptée.

The House then adjourned at 5:48 p.m.

À 17 h 48, la chambre a ensuite ajourné ses travaux.

6:45 P.M.

18 H 45

Orders of the Day

Ordre du Jour

A debate arose on the motion for Second Reading of Bill 72, An Act to pay a dividend to Ontario taxpayers, cut taxes, create jobs and implement the Budget.

Il s'élève un débat sur la motion portant deuxième lecture du projet de loi 72, Loi visant à verser un dividende aux contribuables de l'Ontario, à réduire les impôts, à créer des emplois et à mettre en oeuvre le budget.

After some time, pursuant to Standing Order 9(a), the motion for the adjournment of the debate was deemed to have been made and carried.

Après quelque temps, conformément à l'article 9(a) du Règlement, la motion d'ajournement du débat est réputée avoir été proposée et adoptée.

The House then adjourned at 9:30 p.m.

À 21 h 30, la chambre a ensuite ajourné ses travaux.

le président

GARY CARR

Speaker

Sessional Papers Presented Pursuant to Standing Order 39(A):-

Documents Parlementaires Déposés Conformément à l'Article 39(A) du Règlement

Questions Answered (See Sessional Paper No. 5):-

Final Answers to Question Numbers: 13 and 21.

Responses to Petitions

Réponses aux Pétitions

Petition relating to Upgrading Highway 401 and investing federal gasoline tax revenue in Ontario road improvements (Sessional Paper No. P-9):

(Tabled April 3, 2000) Mr. Peters.

Petition relating to Changing the funding formula to take into account historic, cultural and community links with local schools (Sessional Paper No. P-17):

(Tabled December 16, 1999) Mr. Ruprecht.

Petition relating to Preventing exposure of minors to pornography in retail establishments (Sessional Paper No. P-19):

(Tabled April 4, 2000) Mr. O'Toole.

Petition relating to Compensating family members who develop occupational illness due to workplace toxins brought home inadvertently (Sessional Paper No. P-34):

(Tabled April 13, 2000) Mr. Christopherson.

Petition relating to the Rural municipality of Osgoode Township and its amalgamation into the new city of Ottawa (Sessional Paper No. P-47):

(Tabled December 16, 1999) Mr. Conway.

Petition relating to Concerns regarding the new funding formula for education by the Bishop Allen Academy community (Sessional Paper No. P-57):

(Tabled December 16, 1999) Mr. Kennedy.

Petition relating to Support of Bill 27 (Sessional Paper No. P-68):

(Tabled April 6, 2000) Mr. Hastings.