Mr. Speaker, I wish to bring to the attention of the House a question asked earlier during question period by a member of the Reform Party, the member for Nanaimo-Cowichan, to the hon. Minister of National Revenue but in a different capacity.
Citation 412 of Beauchesne's states quite clearly in regard to such questions:
A question may not be asked of a Minister in another capacity, such as being responsible for a province-
The question was asked in contravention of our rules and it was allowed to be asked uninterrupted. I realized that afterward when another member rose to ask a question which was similarly against our rules and that member was ruled out of order.
I would want to report to the House and to suggest to Mr. Speaker that the question asked of the hon. Minister of National Revenue was equally out of order. Therefore it should have been indicated at that time so that all Canadians would know that the minister was unable to answer the question because of the rules of the House which specifically prevent him from doing so.