I think it merits for the Chair to take a moment to repeat what was part of a motion unanimously passed in the House earlier this day with regard to tonight's business. It states:
Within each twenty minute period, each party may allocate time to one or more of its Members, for speeches or for questions and answers, provided that, in the case of questions and answers, the Minister's answer shall not exceed the time taken by the question, and provided that, in the case of speeches, Members of the party to which the period is allocated may speak one after the other.
I know members will want to extend to the Chair some flexibility because I can anticipate that if a question is extremely short and technical, we must be fair to the minister. On the other hand, I am sure the minister would never intend to--let me use an old hockey expression being as we are competing a bit with the Stanley Cup finals tonight--rag the puck. I am sure we can find some balance and get on with the proceedings.
I now turn the floor over to the hon. member for Battlefords--Lloydminster.