Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order, pursuant to Standing Order 33 and routine proceedings as referred to in Beauchesne's Parliamentary Rules & Forms .
I commend the minister on his remarks, but I ask for information on whether it is in order for a minister's statement to go over 25 minutes or 20 minutes in length. I quote article 348 of Beauchesne's:
Under Standing Order 33(1) Ministers may make a short factual announcementor statement of Government policy. Provision is made for replies by Members of parties in opposition to comment on the statement.
Article 350 on the same page states:
The Speaker has emphasized that both the Government and Opposition contributions should be brief and factual. The purpose of the ministerial statement is to convey information, not to encourage debate.
Perhaps I am rising more for direction, being a new member of this House of Commons, on whether this ministerial statement being 25 minutes long or thereabouts is a usual procedure of the House.