Questions / Oral Questions

January 15, 1986

Debates p. 9793

Following Oral Questions, Mr. Turner (Ottawa—Carleton) raised a question of privilege arising from the preceding day's Question Period. Mr. Turner contended that in the spirit of ongoing parliamentary reform, private Members on both sides of the House should be accorded equal treatment during Question Period. Since he had been denied the opportunity to ask a supplementary question, he claimed that his privilege of being treated equally during Question Period had been breached.

Issue

Are Government Members entitled to put supplementary questions during Question Period?

Decision

No. There is no question of privilege.

Reasons given by the Speaker

According to practice and the rules, the granting of supplementary questions is completely within the discretion of the Chair. As to whether more questions or supplementaries should be granted to Government Members, it would be contrary to the traditions of the House for the Speaker to change current practice without some instruction from the House itself. If Members want the issue of Question Period reviewed by a standing committee, there are mechanisms to do that.