Evidence of meeting #28 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was answer.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:40 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
We will get there. I just want to make sure anyone who has a question gets a chance to ask it.
Is there anyone on the opposition side who would like to ask a question? Apparently not.
I'm going to get to you, Mr. Reid; I'm just being as fair as I could be.
Mr. Reid.
12:40 p.m.
Conservative
Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON
Speaking of not seeing people....
Further to Mr. Chong's point, oil spills can also occur on say June 30. I think we have to accept that there's a practical consideration here. Having to wait a few days for an answer is not necessarily a problem that the nation hasn't faced before.
12:40 p.m.
Conservative
12:40 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
Yes, just very quickly. I would just leave you with three final thoughts.
12:40 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
Before you start, if you have any suggestions on witnesses we might want to see, please throw them in. Thank you.
12:40 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
I was just going to suggest that.
A number of Canadians have indicated to me that they would be interested in testifying at this committee. Joe Clark, the former Prime Minister, has indicated to me personally that he would be interested in testifying on this issue. Mr. Broadbent, the former leader of the New Democratic Party, has participated in debates on this issue recently and has indicated an interest in it. I know that Mr. Preston Manning is interested in this issue and has recently written opinion editorials in The Globe and Mail on it. Those are just a few of the witnesses. I'd also suggest that you invite Mr. Robert Marleau, the former clerk of the House, who witnessed some of the changes I've talked about.
I have two other quick points. I hope the committee will endeavour to report this back to the House in advance of the next federal election. I think there's a possibility of a spring election. The order compels the committee to report it back by April 6, 2011. If there's an impending election in March of next year, I hope the committee will see that it is reported back to the House some time before those confidence votes.
Finally, if I were to pick one message or proposal that I think is critical to parliamentary reform and the reform of question period, it would be to restore the right, for one half of question period, of backbench members to represent their constituents and ask questions of the government. I think we need to rebalance the power in our system toward backbench members and away from the four parties. I believe in the party system and our parliamentary democracy, but I think we need to restore a right that members once held. I think that will go a long way to restoring Canadians' faith in our Parliament and in their democratic institutions.
Thank you for having me.
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
Thank you, Mr. Chong, for all your help today and the great information you've shared with us. You've given us a task. This committee will decide how we can do it. Thank you very much.
We're going to suspend for a moment and go in camera for committee business.
[Proceedings continue in camera]
