Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order arising out of question period. In the closing minutes of question period the hon. member for Regina—Qu'Appelle raised a matter having to do with expenditures of the other place and you ruled it out of order.
With respect, I want to suggest that another interpretation of the the question might have been available to Chair. It seems to me that when we are talking about the budget, when we are talking about expenditures and we are talking about estimates we should be able to bring up the other place in this context.
I understand there is a longstanding rule that there are certain things we do not talk about it when it comes to the other place. We do not even mention it by name, which is why I call it the other place, out of respect for that tradition.
I know from being here for almost 20 years now that there are contexts in which it is appropriate to talk about the other place, whether we are talking about its abolition, its reform or the expenditures associated with it.
I would ask the Chair to consider the ruling that was made at that time. It seemed to me the government benches were upset by it and I would ask Mr. Speaker to consider whether that ruling was the appropriate one.