Mr. Speaker, I will be brief. The issue we are getting at here is accountability of ministers. I think your initial instincts on how to handle the situation were correct.
The minister we are discussing is represented in Alberta as both the Minister of Justice and as the senior Alberta minister in cabinet. Albertans are invited to make representations to that minister on all kinds of issues and that minister is used to deliver all kinds of messages in Alberta on behalf of the government that are outside her portfolio.
We know that all kinds of Albertans have made representations to the government through that minister on the issue of global warming, gas taxes, energy taxes, emissions and greenhouse taxes. We believe it is therefore appropriate to hold the minister accountable in that role in the House as well as for her formal portfolio.
If the minister wanted to say in response to our questions that she has passed those representations on, that she has taken this position herself, that she has attempted to reconcile these positions in this way, or if she chose to say nothing, that is her prerogative. However, we feel we at least have the right to hold her accountable for that other administrative position which she is purported to have in the province of Alberta.