Speaker’s Ruling

Madam Speaker: I have a ruling for the House.

On September 25, 1996, I took under advisement a point of order raised by the government House leader about a supplementary question posed by the honourable member for Transcona (Mr. Reid). The government House leader stated that Question Period is not a time for debate and that a supplementary question needs no preamble.

Beauchesne Citation 410(7) reads: “Brevity both in questions and answers is of great importance.” Citation 410(8) reads: “Supplementary questions require no preambles.” I have reviewed Hansard and I do believe that the member for Transcona was too lengthy in his preamble. Therefore the government House leader did have a point of order.

I would ask members when posing supplementary questions to uphold the spirit of the Question Period guidelines and to put them without preamble or debate.