Mr. Speaker, the hon. Reform member who has just spoken has totally misunderstood what happens when ministers answer questions. They answer questions with respect to their departmental responsibilities or as acting ministers, designated as such in the absence of the departmental minister. It is not just a matter of random choice by the prime minister or acting prime minister in the House.
If the hon. member is so interested in Beauchesne's, I direct the hon. member and, with respect, you, Sir, to citation 416 which states in part:
—insistence on an answer is out of order, with no debate being allowed. A refusal to answer cannot be raised as a question of privilege, nor is it regular to comment upon such a refusal.
Reform members may say that is a citation going back many years and they may want to rely, as the House leader of the Reform Party has just done, on citation 410 which states:
In 1986 the Speaker put forth further views in light of more recent conditions and precedents. It was observed that—
Then the hon. House leader read No. 6:
The greatest possible freedom should be given to Members consistent with the other rules and practices.
If he wants to live or die by citation 410 then he had better read its sections 16 and 17:
(16) Ministers may be questioned only in relation to current portfolios.
(17) Ministers may not be questioned with respect to party responsibilities.
I submit Reform members were totally out of order, pressing the Minister of Justice to answer because she is the senior Liberal from Alberta. This is totally contrary to the very citation on which the hon. Reform House leader bases his case. If he wants to live or die by No. 6, he has to live and in fact die by the words of sections 16 and 17.
Hon. Reform members are out of order. Hon. members know what the rules are. They should be questioned as to why in order to give a misleading impression, not necessarily deliberately, they are raising the idea the hon. Minister of Justice is unwilling to answer.
I am sure she would be delighted to answer, but unlike my hon. friends she has respect for parliament and wants to live by the rules and precendents of the House.