The Daily Program / Oral Questions

Government’s administrative responsibilities; questions not to create disorder

August 22, 1988

Debates, p. 18615

On August 22, 1988, during Oral Question Period, the Hon. Robert Kaplan (York Centre) began to question the Hon. Don Mazankowski (Deputy Prime Minister and President of the Privy Council) about the expulsion of a Member belonging to the Progressive Conservative Caucus.^[1] The Speaker interrupted Mr. Kaplan to remind him that questions put to the Government must have to do with administration of public affairs and must not create disorder. His ruling is reproduced in full below.

Decision of the Chair

The Speaker: …The honourable Member may be rising on a matter of considerable political interest, and there certainly may be other places to pursue it, but I am having some difficulty here because, as honourable Members know, a question directed to the administration has to deal with the administration of government. So far, the honourable Member is not persuading me that that question does involve the administration of government. Perhaps the honourable Member can help the Chair…

The difficulty the Chair is in is that the rules by which we are bound are designed ultimately and primarily so that questions do not create disorder and, second, that they be pertinent to the administration of the Government. The honourable Member, I know, understands this, and I would ask him to put his question. Otherwise, I may have to move on to another Member.

F0315-e

33-2

1988-08-22