The Daily Program / Daily Proceedings
Oral Questions: administrative responsibility of the Government; election expenditures of a political party
Debates, p. 209
Context
On October 22, 2007, Wayne Easter (Malpeque) rose on a point of order to request clarification from the Speaker as to why a question he had asked during Oral Questions had been ruled out of order.[1]
Resolution
The Speaker ruled immediately. He stated that Mr. Easter’s question had dealt with the election expenditures of a party rather than with matters within the administrative responsibility of the Government.
Decision of the Chair
The Speaker: I am more than happy to review the question that was asked, but from what the hon. Member just said, it sounded to me very questionable whether the question was in order if it dealt with the election expenditures of a party. It has to deal with the administrative responsibility of the Government. The Government is not responsible for administering the rules relating to election expenses; Elections Canada is. It is an independent agency that does not report to the House through the Government. It reports to the House through the Speaker.
It is difficult for the hon. Member to ask questions about Elections Canada to the Government, unless it is Government policy as coming up in a change in the law respecting Elections Canada. His question appeared to have nothing to do with it.
As I said, I could not hear the first part of the question because of the tumult in the House. Maybe there was something in there that rendered it in order, but the part I heard in my view was out of order.
I will review the hon. Member’s question again. If I find it in order I will advise him accordingly and he will be able to ask it another day.
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