A fundamental concept of parliamentary democracy is the public's right to access Parliament through a petition presented by an MLA. A petition can come from an individual or group, relate to a public issue, and must be addressed to the Legislative Assembly. Because the Legislative Assembly is a representative institution, it considers only those matters submitted to it by its own Members, and petitions are no exception.
Petitioners - those who create and sign petitions - must be residents of British Columbia and must not request the use of any public revenue. This is due to the convention that only the Legislative Assembly itself can make decisions concerning spending.
A petition addressed to the Legislative Assembly must be based on the template, be drafted in respectful terms, and must comply with the following basic rules:
- Petitions must be addressed to “The Honourable the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, in Legislature Assembled.” Petitions addressed to the Government of British Columbia or to a particular minister cannot be accepted.
- Petitions must not request any expenditure, grant or charge on the public revenue, whether payable out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund or out of moneys to be provided by the Legislative Assembly.
- Petitioners must be residents of the Province of British Columbia and provide their name and address.
- There is no minimum age requirement for anyone signing a petition
- A petition must contain a minimum of one signature.
The form of a petition is prescribed by Standing Order 73 and its accompanying Appendix A. For more information on petitions, visit the Legislative Assembly website.
PETITION TEMPLATE:
To the Honourable the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, in Legislature Assembled:
The petition of the undersigned, _________________ , of the ____________________ , states that: [here state the object of the petition, briefly setting forth the reasons therefor].
Your petitioners respectfully request that the Honourable House [take such action as may be deemed appropriate].
Dated __________ day of ___________________ , 20__ .
First and Last Name (printed) Address (printed)
Signature
