Botched Question Period in the Senate

[FiveParadox]

Yesterday in the Senate of Canada, they had a true Question Period: There was a period of questions. However, no answers were forthcoming — no answers. Perhaps the Honourable Marjory LeBreton, P.C., a Senator for Ontario and the Leader of the Government in the Senate, and the Honourable Michael Fortier, P.C., the Senator for the Division of Rougement of Québec and the Minister of Public Works and Government Services, decided that their presence, as the only two Ministers of the Crown in the Upper Chamber, was not necessary during question period.

Nevertheless, senators from the other side of the Chamber used the entire period of time to ask questions, in response to which the Honourable Gerald Comeau, a Senator for Nova Scotia and the Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate, refused to respond to questions from opposing senators.

One dozen comprehensive questions were asked of the Government of Canada — and they received one answer from Senator Comeau: Nobody's home to answer these questions. There is suspicion of the Government attempting to make it harder for the media to gather the information that we, as citizens of this nation, demand — and now Question Period, one of the most important parts of our Westminster system, has been shunned by the Conservative Party of Canada.

 

[BitWhys]

Its tough hiding an empty tank when everyone is waiting for you to start the car.

 

[Jersay]

Good point Five and Bit.

 

[LittleRunningGag]

RE: Botched Question Peri

Ahem. I wish that I could say that I was surprised. Why do they have to prove their opponents right?

 

[Chake99]

RE: Botched Question Peri

Actually isn't this just playing into the hands of the Consarvatives' "the senate is useless rationale," even if it is because the senators they appointed are honestly clueless?

 

[Kreskin]

I'm not defending the Conservatives but making an observation. In my life I have never seen such a useless exercise as Parliament.

I had to laugh at Chuck Strohl a couple weeks back referring to the BSE inquiry as "scientific rigamoral" (sp?).

 

[jimmoyer]

Why in the hell would there be a QUESTION period
in the Canadian Senate ???? Does the British House
of Lords have a QUESTION period ??

The Canadian Senate and the British House of Lords
have a function and might be very useful depending
on a unique situation, but they do not pass legislation.

I can see the House of Commons having it, but not
the Canadian Senate.

Perhaps it is instructive to have no one at home
to answer questions.

 

[FiveParadox]

jimmoyer, the Senate of Canada always has at least one Minister of the Crown and, during this Thirty-ninth Parliament of Canada, they have been given a second delivered into "their clutches", so to speak. It is imperative that opposition senators have the right to question the decisions of the Government of Canada through the Leader of the Government in the Senate, and perhaps this session in particular, that there is some mechanism by which questions can be put to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services.

 

[jimmoyer]

Perhaps FiveParadox it is "imperative."

But do you not a have a QUESTION period in
the lower house ?

 

[FiveParadox]

Yes, jimmoyer; however, at present, the Minister of Public Works and Government Services, one of the largest-spending departments under the Government of Canada, sits in the Senate, rather than the Commons; surely, this Minister must be held responsible for his decisions?

 

[jimmoyer]

Does the Prime Minister have authority
over the Minister of Public Works and Govt.Services ?

 

[FiveParadox]

Yes, of course the Prime Minister has a considerable degree of control over the Ministers of the Crown. However, it is a paramount point of the Westminster system of governance that ministers be held accountable to Parliament, and for centuries, this has been through the question period in the Houses of Parliament.

 

[BitWhys]

Re: RE: Botched Question Period in the Senate

Does the Prime Minister have authority
over the Minister of Public Works and Govt.Services ?

If you are arguing that currently the Prime Minister has assumed full responsibility for his Minister's portfolio including activities normally beyond his perview and in doing so continues to ensure that department is fully represented in Commons effectively making Fortier little more than a glorified administrative assistant, no problem. Otherwise, Public Works is currently NOT properly accountable to the public which it serves since no one's name is solely on the line in said house.

 

[FiveParadox]

I would argue that the Honourable Michael Fortier, P.C., the Senator for the Division of Rougement of Québec and the Minister of Public Works and Government Services, could be held quite accountable to the people of Canada, provided that this Government of Canada discontinues a perceived practice of contempt toward the Red Chamber.

 

[BitWhys]

RE: Botched Question Peri

well

I won't be expecting Harper to pick a horse on this particular accountability issue any time soon. In his racket, plausable deniability is a luxury well worth hanging on to.

 

[BitWhys]

RE: Botched Question Peri

Be that as it may, I'm not so sure we should be satisfied with a Cabinet Minister not answering directly to our ELECTED representitives.

 

[FiveParadox]

Nonetheless, BitWhys, Mr. Harper chose to appoint his campaign co-chair as a Minister and a Senator. The present situation is what it is — we should have this Minister answering questions in the Senate, at the very least. If he's not going to do that, then the Prime Minister should find a new Senator.

 

[BitWhys]

It would be a worthwhile concession, so to speak.