Selected Decisions of Speaker Gilbert Parent 1994 - 2001
The Daily Program / Oral Questions
Anticipating an order of the day; change in practice
Debates, p. 9377
Context
On Monday, April 7, 1997, immediately after Statements by Members and before Oral Questions, the Speaker made a statement respecting the rule against asking oral questions that anticipated an order of the day. The Speaker observed that the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs had recently reviewed that rule and had recommended in its 61st report, presented to the House on Friday, March 21, 1997, that the Chair no longer apply that rule to disallow questions.[1]
Resolution
The Speaker stated that, as recommended by the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs in its 61st report, oral questions would no longer be ruled out of order solely on the basis that they anticipated an order of the day.
Decision of the Chair
The Speaker: I wish to make a very brief statement that has to do with the Question Period.
Recently, we had questions about guidelines for the Speaker during oral question Period. More specifically, the Committee on Procedure and House Affairs proceeded with a review of the rule stating that one cannot, during oral question period, anticipate an order of the day.
In its 61st report tabled in the House on March 21 that committee unanimously suggested this guideline cease to be enforced. As your servant, the Chair will follow this advice. From now on, questions and answers will no longer be ruled out of order on the basis that they anticipate an order of the day.
I thank all honourable members for their time.
P0311-e
35-2
1997-04-07
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