Disturbed by the lack of decorum during Question Period, a non-partisan grassroots group is throwing its weight behind a motion that aims to reform the daily hour in Parliament when MPs can question the government.
The motion, brought forward by Conservative MP Michael Chong, is currently before the Standing Committee on Procedure & House Affairs.
“I think a lot of Canadians feel embarrassed by the theatrics that they see going on in Question Period,” says Katie Skinner, a coordinator with Canadians Advancing Political Participation (CAPP).
“So what we’re saying is that there is another way of doing things, and that’s what Michael’s motion is all about—empowering the Speaker of the House to use discipline and his authority as Speaker to instill a sense of decorum and civility in the process.”
The motion, which proposes six reforms, would also give all MPs, including back-benchers, the opportunity to ask questions without having to be put on a party speaker’s list, as is currently the case.
As well as meeting with their local MPs, in the coming weeks CAPP volunteers will participate in both on-the-ground and online petition drives.
“Our local CAPP chapters across the country will be heading out and doing face-to-face interaction with Canadians, getting folks to sign the petition so that we can show there really is strong pan-Canadian support for Question Period reform,” says Skinner.
Skinner believes Canadians are firmly behind improving Question Period, citing a poll earlier this year in which 66 percent supported reforms.
Speaking before the committee last Thursday, Chong said changes made in the 1980s meant that the Speaker recognizes only those people on the four party lists that he receives each day, relegating up to 270 of the 308 MPs “to the role of spectators since most rarely get on these lists.”
“I think the real problem with Question Period is that Members of Parliament have been stripped of the right to ask questions of the government, with the result that the vast majority of members in the House during Question Period are no longer true participants in Question Period, but mere spectators,” he said.
The party list also weakens the authority and discipline of the Speaker, Chong told the committee.
“If a member misbehaves in question period one day and the next day appears on the party list, the Speaker has no authority to not recognize that member. Up to the 1980s, if a member was misbehaving, the Speaker would refuse to recognize them for days, if not weeks, on end. At some point, the member realized that if he or she was going to be able to represent his or her constituents, they would have to be on better behaviour in order to be recognized by the Speaker.”
Citing low voter turnout—with a record low in the last federal election—Chong said reforming Question Period is “a first small but important step” in restoring Parliament’s relevancy to Canadians.
Skinner believes CAPP’s efforts will reflect a “groundswell of support amongst Canadians to reform Question Period, to restore faith in our democratic institutions.”
“We’re really hoping that the members of the committee will see that support and will put forward some very strong recommendations in the House of Commons and that the Members of Parliament vote in favour of those, reflecting the will of most Canadians.”
The committee has six months before it is required to report back to the House with recommended changes. To sign CAPP’s petition, go to www.canadaparticipates.ca.
The motion, brought forward by Conservative MP Michael Chong, is currently before the Standing Committee on Procedure & House Affairs.
“I think a lot of Canadians feel embarrassed by the theatrics that they see going on in Question Period,” says Katie Skinner, a coordinator with Canadians Advancing Political Participation (CAPP).
“So what we’re saying is that there is another way of doing things, and that’s what Michael’s motion is all about—empowering the Speaker of the House to use discipline and his authority as Speaker to instill a sense of decorum and civility in the process.”
The motion, which proposes six reforms, would also give all MPs, including back-benchers, the opportunity to ask questions without having to be put on a party speaker’s list, as is currently the case.
As well as meeting with their local MPs, in the coming weeks CAPP volunteers will participate in both on-the-ground and online petition drives.
“Our local CAPP chapters across the country will be heading out and doing face-to-face interaction with Canadians, getting folks to sign the petition so that we can show there really is strong pan-Canadian support for Question Period reform,” says Skinner.
Skinner believes Canadians are firmly behind improving Question Period, citing a poll earlier this year in which 66 percent supported reforms.
Speaking before the committee last Thursday, Chong said changes made in the 1980s meant that the Speaker recognizes only those people on the four party lists that he receives each day, relegating up to 270 of the 308 MPs “to the role of spectators since most rarely get on these lists.”
“I think the real problem with Question Period is that Members of Parliament have been stripped of the right to ask questions of the government, with the result that the vast majority of members in the House during Question Period are no longer true participants in Question Period, but mere spectators,” he said.
The party list also weakens the authority and discipline of the Speaker, Chong told the committee.
“If a member misbehaves in question period one day and the next day appears on the party list, the Speaker has no authority to not recognize that member. Up to the 1980s, if a member was misbehaving, the Speaker would refuse to recognize them for days, if not weeks, on end. At some point, the member realized that if he or she was going to be able to represent his or her constituents, they would have to be on better behaviour in order to be recognized by the Speaker.”
Citing low voter turnout—with a record low in the last federal election—Chong said reforming Question Period is “a first small but important step” in restoring Parliament’s relevancy to Canadians.
Skinner believes CAPP’s efforts will reflect a “groundswell of support amongst Canadians to reform Question Period, to restore faith in our democratic institutions.”
“We’re really hoping that the members of the committee will see that support and will put forward some very strong recommendations in the House of Commons and that the Members of Parliament vote in favour of those, reflecting the will of most Canadians.”
The committee has six months before it is required to report back to the House with recommended changes. To sign CAPP’s petition, go to www.canadaparticipates.ca.
