Point of Order
October 5, 1998
Admissibility: ministerial responsibility
Hon. Gilbert Parent
Speaker of the House
Ruling Text
The Deputy Speaker:
The Chair is mindful of the comments and thanks honourable members on every side for their very useful contributions on this point. I may say that the citation from Beauchesne that the honourable government House leader referred to is perfectly correct, sound and based, I am sure, on long practice in this House.
However, I think the question that the honourable member for Wild Rose asked had to do with the constitutional niceties of Senate elections. While it may have been directed to the Minister of Justice incorrectly in her capacity as a regional minister—and I agree with the citation that questions ought not be directed in that way—it did concern something of her duties as Minister of Justice in some vague way.
The Deputy Prime Minister chose to answer the question and I think everyone was satisfied with the answer, as they were with the question.
Everybody is happy.
Beauchesne has been complied with, the rules have been complied with, and we will continue with another question period on another day.
P0312-e 36-1 1998-10-05
Edit Metadata
Holding
"A question improperly directed to a minister in their regional capacity was deemed acceptable after the fact because it vaguely related to their official duties and was answered by another minister, resolving the issue to the House's satisfaction."
AI Summary
The Speaker ruled that a potentially improper question was rendered moot because it was answered to the satisfaction of the House.
AI Analysis
- Outcome
- Other
- Tone
- Conciliatory
- Procedural Stage
- Question Period
- Significance
Low
High