Questions / Oral Questions

Ministers’ previous responsibilities

Debates pp. 23279-80

Issue

After Question Period, Mr. Lalonde (Minister of Finance) rose on a question of privilege arising from a question put to him by Mr. Nielsen (Leader of the Opposition) concerning the Cape Breton Coal Agreement which the Chair had decided Mr. Lalonde should not answer, since the question concerned facts dating back to when he  was Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources. Mr. Lalonde argued that his privileges were infringed because he had been accused of having concealed certain facts. The Speaker ruled immediately.

Issue

Can a question be put that deals with a Minister's responsibilities in a previous portfolio?

Decision

No. There is no question of privilege.

Reasons given by the Speaker

As difficult as the Chair finds it not to allow a Member to respond to an accusation, a question addressed to a Minister must deal with a matter that falls within his current responsibilities, and not those of a previous portfolio.

Sources cited

Beauchesne, 5th ed., p. 132, c. 359(6).

References

Debates, February 28, 1983, pp. 23274-5, 23278-81.