I have discussed this with the Speaker. He is taking things day by day. On the Monday, he looks to see which independent MP has put forward a question. He slates it in at the end of the Oral Question Period at 2:59 p.m. If it is the member who asked to put a question, he will grant him or her leave to do so. The following day, he goes through the same exercise. As a matter of fact, he repeats the exercise three times. When the other two members do not ask questions, then it is the same member who is allowed a question.
The Speaker told me that if we change the Standing Orders so as to give him a framework in order for him to be able to allow independent members to put one oral question and make one statement per week, then he would respect the Standing Orders, but he would retain his privilege to balance things out between independent members.
Therefore, if he has recognized Mr. Godin as an independent member during the week of September 17, then the following week, if Mr. Godin once again wishes to ask a question and another independent member also wishes to put a question, he would be free to tell Mr. Godin that, since he granted him the floor the previous week, he will this time recognize another independent member. But if the other member never asks to be allowed to put a question, then he will once again recognize Mr. Godin the second, third, and fourth week.
The Speaker wants to have a framework. According to what you are saying, Yvon, if there are 17 independent members, each one of them will want to be recognized. Perhaps you will in the end lose your opportunity to ask questions, as a fourth party. You should give serious thought to this matter.