The Daily Program / Daily Proceedings

Oral Questions: question concerning matters before committees; answered by Government House Leader

February 8, 2008

Debates, pp. 2836-7

On February 8, 2008, Ralph Goodale (Wascana) rose on a point of order with respect to questions being directed to committee Chairs during Oral Questions. He noted that during the previous day’s Question Period, a question had been directed to a committee Chair but had been answered by Peter Van Loan (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform).^[1] Mr. Goodale argued that, since a question directed to a committee Chair must concern the agenda of the committee, only the committee Chair or Vice-Chair has the knowledge and capacity to answer the question. The Government House Leader responded that the committee Chair had, in fact, not been present in the House when the question was asked and, therefore, could not respond.^[2]

The Speaker ruled immediately. He stated that he had recognized the Government House Leader as he was the only Member who had risen to respond to the question. He mentioned that he had not seen the Chair of the committee and that it was the role of the Speaker to look for Members who are standing to answer a question and to choose the appropriate Member to ensure that a response is given. He added that it was reasonable to expect an answer to a question and that he had assumed the Member would prefer an answer from the House Leader to no answer at all. He indicated that he would take recommendations from the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, the House Leaders or the Whips, as to how the Speaker should deal with such questions in the future.

Decision of the Chair

The Speaker: I would now like to come back to the question of privilege raised by the hon. Member for Wascana.

Yesterday, when this happened, no one rose except the Government House Leader to answer the question concerning the business of this Committee, so I recognized the Government House Leader. I did not see the Chair of the Committee. I do not know whether he left the House or not. In any event, he did not rise to answer the question, and I do not believe he was in his seat. I do not know who the Deputy Chair of the Committee is off the top of my head, but no other Member rose to answer, so I recognized the Government House Leader.

I do not think the question is whether anyone else is allowed to answer or not. The question for the Speaker of the House is to take a look at those who are standing to answer and choose who is going to answer.

The Chair, as I say, did not rise. The House Leader did. No one else did so I recognized the House Leader to answer the question. I assumed the Member would prefer to get an answer from the House Leader than none whatsoever, and on we went.

If the Committee on Procedure and House Affairs wishes to make recommendations on how the Speaker should deal with those questions in future, I am more than happy to receive recommendations from it. Of course the House Leaders and Whips can have a little meeting and tell me what they think. I am happy to hear on this, but in my view, when no one else rises, it is reasonable to expect an answer to a question, even if it comes from on high. Yesterday that is exactly what we got.

Therefore, I do not think it was an error in that sense if the Chair was not here and the Deputy Chair did not rise.

Hon. Ralph Goodale: Mr. Speaker, on this point, would you reflect on one particular matter.

If a Member of the Government, that is a Minister or a Parliamentary Secretary, is permitted to answer questions on behalf of committee Chairs and those questions to committee Chairs can only deal with the agenda of the committee, is it not the implication of this situation, then, that the Government, and not the committee, controls the agenda of the committee?

I think this is a very important distinction that should be reflected upon.

The Speaker: I do not think it is for the Speaker to involve himself or herself in the affairs of committees to the extent that he says who sets the agenda in the committees. That is for the committee to decide. There may be consultations between the Chair of the committees and even the Government House Leader, if that is imaginable, or possibly with an Opposition House Leader if the Chair of the committee comes from the opposition, or even if they are on opposite sides they can consult and get information.

It may be that some consultations had taken place which resulted in the Government House Leader rising. I have no idea. However, this is something, as I say, that can be explored by the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs at its leisure. If it feels a report or a restriction on who is allowed to answer in the case of questions being asked is applicable or responsible, it can suggest that to the House. If the House adopts it, of course I will not recognize anybody else. However, in the circumstances no one else rose. The Member who posed the question clearly wanted an answer and got one, or at least got a response.

I will bear what the hon. Member has said in mind.