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Ruling April 7, 1982

Conditions for reading

Hon. Jeanne Sauvé

Hon. Jeanne Sauvé

Speaker of the House

Ruling Text

Under the Standing Orders, the Chair has no discretionary power to have petitions read, except in cases where a petition claimed some present personal grievance requiring an immediate remedy; then the matter contained therein may be brought into immediate discussion. In this case, however, the report said only that the petition was in order as to form. Therefore the petition is deemed to have been read and received, and it is not for the Speaker to determine that the petition should be read unless the House so desires and expresses that desire by unanimous consent.
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AI Summary

The Speaker ruled that a petition cannot be read aloud by order of the Chair unless it addresses an urgent personal grievance or receives unanimous consent.

AI Analysis

Holding
"The Chair does not have the authority to order a petition to be read aloud; it is deemed read and received unless it concerns an urgent personal grievance or the House gives unanimous consent for it to be read."
Outcome
Denied
Tone
Educational
Procedural Stage
Routine Proceedings
Significance
Low High

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