No. 18 No 18 ISSN 1180-2987 Legislative Assembly Assemblée législative of Ontario de l’Ontario First Session, 38th Parliament Première session, 38e législature Official Report Journal of Debates des débats (Hansard) (Hansard) Thursday 18 December 2003 Jeudi 18 décembre 2003 Speaker Président Honourable Alvin Curling L’honorable Alvin Curling Clerk Greffier Claude L. DesRosiers Claude L. DesRosiers Hansard on the Internet Le Journal des débats sur Internet Hansard and other documents of the Legislative Assembly L’adresse pour faire paraître sur votre ordinateur personnel can be on your personal computer within hours after each le Journal et d’autres documents de l’Assemblée législative sitting. 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Phone 416-326-5310, 326-5311 or toll-free téléphone : 416-326-5310, 326-5311, ou sans frais : 1-800-668-9938. 1-800-668-9938. Hansard Reporting and Interpretation Services Service du Journal des débats et d’interprétation 3330 Whitney Block, 99 Wellesley St W 3330 Édifice Whitney ; 99, rue Wellesley ouest Toronto ON M7A 1A2 Toronto ON M7A 1A2 Telephone 416-325-7400; fax 416-325-7430 Téléphone, 416-325-7400 ; télécopieur, 416-325-7430 Published by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario Publié par l’Assemblée législative de l’Ontario 909 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY ASSEMBLÉE LÉGISLATIVE OF ONTARIO DE L’ONTARIO Thursday 18 December 2003 Jeudi 18 décembre 2003 The House met at 1000. father, who was then the member for Nipissing. I remem- Prayers. ber being dumbfounded at the level of pomp and cir- cumstance. When I was 12, I returned as a page. At that time it was a much more collegial and civil place, and PRIVATE MEMBERS’ there was a greater level of decorum and civility in this PUBLIC BUSINESS chamber. There were, of course, exceptions and some fun notes. DECORUM IN CHAMBER There was the member from Muskoka, who occasionally wore his plaid blazer and cheered the place up. There was Ms Monique Smith (Nipissing): I move the resolu- the member for Grey-Bruce, who wore his white shoes tion that, in the opinion of this House, members of the and his white belt at the appropriate, and sometimes Legislative Assembly of Ontario should restore decorum inappropriate, time of year. But they still maintained a and respect in the Legislature by wearing proper attire level of respect for this institution and this chamber. during routine proceedings in the legislative chamber, I returned again in 1985, when I worked for the such that male members wear a jacket, shirt and tie as Minister of Education, and in 1997, when worked for the standard dress and female members wear equivalent leader of the official opposition. During those years I saw contemporary business attire. a decline in the level of respect in this chamber, and it The Deputy Speaker (Mr Bruce Crozier): Ms Smith saddened me. It disappoints me and it disappoints a has moved private member’s resolution number 6. number of members of my constituency to see the lack of According to standing order 96, the member has 10 respect in this Legislature. minutes. In preparing for the discussion today I looked at dress Ms Smith: I rise today to speak to this resolution. codes and requirements in other Legislatures in order to While some people have seen it to be a trivial resolution, inform the members of this Legislature what is hap- and some others have seen it to be a fashion statement pening across the country and where we stand. and have chosen to make their own fashion statement today, I believe that this resolution goes to the very Interjection. essence of decorum and respect for this Legislature and Ms Smith: I do believe you need to be informed, Mr our institutions. Bisson. Since being elected, many members in my riding have At the House of Commons there is no standing order started watching the proceedings of this place and have setting out a dress code for members participating in noted the lack of decorum and respect in this chamber. debate, but the Speaker has ruled that in order to be They have asked me about dress codes—why don’t we recognized to speak in debate, on points of order or dur- have rules, why is that people are allowed to behave they ing question period, tradition and practice require all way they are? They’ve asked me where the respect for members—male or female—to dress in contemporary our Legislature has gone. Every day our constituents are business attire. This dress code is observed. This may be watching us on TV and we have school children and a practice that we wish to adopt here in this Legislature, others visiting this chamber. We expect a certain level of that in order for a member to be recognized, they should decorum and respect in our classrooms from our students, be properly attired. and I believe that we should be showing that same kind In the Senate there is no specific dress code, but they of respect for this institution. rely on Beauchesne, a parliamentary document, which As we attend to business in our ridings, we are ex- provides that a jacket and tie are required to be worn by pected to attend in appropriate attire to formal functions, male members. to civic functions, to funerals, to weddings. We attend in In Alberta, there is no formal dress code; however, appropriate attire. In this Legislature, we represent our prior to the beginning of the spring session, the Speaker riding. In our riding, we represent the Legislature. I sends an annual letter to members addressing a variety of believe that this Legislature deserves respect and de- issues. It includes the statement that suitable dress is serves a level of civility and decorum. We have years of always the order of the day and traditional practices will history here, years of tradition to uphold. be continued. I first came to this Legislature when I was seven years In British Columbia, male members are required to old. I came to see the speech from the throne with my wear a jacket and tie. In Manitoba, male MLAs are 910 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO 18 DECEMBER 2003 required to wear a jacket and tie and female MLAs are to Beauchesne also follows with a discussion on appear- wear corresponding business attire. In New Brunswick ances in the chamber and states: “The concern of the there is no official dress code, but they too rely on Speaker for the appearance of the chamber during debate Beauchesne. In Newfoundland, men are required to wear extends further than the dress of the members. While a shirt, jacket, tie and trousers, and women are required members are entitled to refresh themselves with glasses to wear business attire. In Nova Scotia there is no formal of water during debate, the consumption of any food in dress code, but a standard is followed. And in Nunavut, the House is strictly prohibited.” the rules of the Legislative Assembly require that when Why is it, then, Mr Speaker, that we stick to those in the assembly, every member shall be attired in a rules— traditional dress or in a manner appropriate to the dignity Interjections. of the assembly. The Deputy Speaker: Order. We do have a speaker That, I would argue— on the floor. I know this issue is generating some levity, Interjections. but let’s give the person on the floor our attention. The Deputy Speaker: Order. Ms Smith: While we do recognize that there are rules Ms Smith: Member for Niagara Centre, perhaps that everyone respects in this House, such as not eating in you’d like to move over into the camera. Oh, he didn’t the House, such as bowing to the Speaker when we pass, get the boots. there are other rules that have just been left aside. I find it The Deputy Speaker: Order. The member for quite disappointing that the members in the third party, Nipissing. the independent members of the NDP, would choose not Ms Smith: I do hope that the cameras have been able to respect this Legislature and the traditions of this to capture the member for Niagara Centre, who we fully Legislature. I think it’s important that we renew— expected would turn up in such attire today, of all days. It Mr Howard Hampton (Kenora-Rainy River): On a is a historic moment and I hope it will be captured in point of order, Speaker: I thought it was proper procedure Hansard. to refer to members by their ridings and their ridings only. I thought that was proper respect for the rules of the I just think that the member’s attire today reflects Legislature. again the fact that he has very little respect for the The Deputy Speaker: That is proper respect.