Rules of Debate - Order and Decorum / Question-and-comment Period

March 15, 1985

Debates p. 3062

During the question-and-comment period following a speech by Mr. Waddell (Vancouver—Kingsway) on the motion for second reading of Bill C-24 (Act to amend the Oil Substitution and Conservation Act and the Canadian Home Insulation Program Act), Mr. McDermid (Brampton­Georgetown) raised a point of order, saying that Mr. Waddell had been talking for nine minutes and was in fact making another speech. Mr. Waddell replied that he was merely responding to the question that he had been asked. The Deputy Speaker ruled immediately.

Issue

Is a Member permitted to speak at length during the question-and­comment period?

Decision

No. No one may monopolize the ten-minute question-and-comment period.

Reasons given by the Deputy Speaker

The committee which recommended the introduction of the ten-minute question-and-comment period out lined in its report to the House the manner in which it envisaged that these questions and comments would take place. The report specified that the exchanges would be short and sharp, that more than one Member would speak in the ten minutes available, and that the Member whose speech was the subject of the questions and comments would be given time to reply. The committee expressed the hope that the Chair would control the interventions to promote a series of exchanges that would enliven debate.