The Daily Program / Oral Questions

Allocation of time among questioners; supplementary questions; Speaker’s list; independent Members

June 19, 1991

Debates, pp. 2071-2

On June 19, 1991, Mr. Pat Nowlan (Annapolis Valley—Hants) rose on a point of order to ask the Speaker if there was any place for a supplementary question during Oral Question Period. He then asked if the Chair was bound to follow a set list in recognizing Members.^[1] The Speaker’s reply is reproduced below.

Decision of the Chair

The Speaker: Perhaps I can help the honourable Member. First of all, I am not revealing a great secret when I say that of course there is a list. The honourable Member has often been on that list. Your Speaker is not necessarily bound by the list, although I always try to cooperate as much as I can. I could even tell the House how we got to the list. The honourable Member knows very well how we got to the list. It was through great discipline in keeping just one Member of the party up in opposition so there was only one person the Speaker could go to. There is no secret about a list, and the honourable Member knows as much about lists as any Member in the House.

The other question the honourable Member poses is whether there is any place for the independent Member or for a supplementary upon certain occasions.

Of course there is. The honourable Member was recognized for a supplementary only a few days ago. I have often gone to Members for a supplemental. However, I have to take into account the number of Members who are seeking the floor and what is happening on any given afternoon. The honourable Member knows I cannot satisfy everybody on every afternoon. That is a matter which my honourable friend who may be rising later on a point of order may come back to.

I appreciate the honourable Member’s intervention and my answer is yes, there is a list. I am not bound by it. I can ignore that list and intervene to allow private Members, wherever they are, not only to ask questions but also to ask supplementals. That is a right which remains with the Chair and I do not think it has ever been seriously challenged. I would remind all honourable Members that it is a right which the Chair has had almost since: “The memory of man runneth not to the contrary”.

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1991-06-19