Ruling
April 28, 1966
Obligation to answer
Hon. Lucien Lamoureux
Speaker of the House
Ruling Text
The Speaker cannot compel the Commissions to answer the questions raised in the House regarding the conduct of their responsibilities. "A Minister may decline to answer a question without stating the reason for his refusal, and insistence on an answer is out of order, no debate being allowed... A Member can put a question but has no right to insist upon an answer." The Members may very well have a grievance which they could legitimately raise at the first opportunity. Should they care to do so, they might consider the advisability of placing a motion for the production of papers on the Order Paper, in which case it may be that the Governor in Council would produce the information sought through the Secretary of State who, under the statute, is the channel of communication between the Representation Commissioner and the Governor in Council.
Edit Metadata
Holding
"The Speaker cannot compel a Minister to answer a question; Members have the right to ask but not to insist upon an answer."
AI Summary
The Speaker affirms that Ministers cannot be compelled to answer questions in the House and suggests alternative procedures like a motion for the production of papers.
AI Analysis
- Outcome
- Denied
- Tone
- Educational
- Procedural Stage
- Oral Questions
- Significance
Low
High