Question period - Definition

Question Period or Oral Questions is a Canadian parliamentary practice similar to the British Prime Minister's Questions in which Members of Parliament submit questions to the government ministers including the Prime Minister for answer. It lasts 45 minutes pursuant to Standing Order 30(5): "Not later than 2:15 o'clock p.m., or 11:15 o'clock a.m., as the case may be, oral questions shall be taken up."

Question period has a reputation for being quite chaotic, but in actuality it is very tightly-regulated. Parties are only allowed to ask a predetermined number of questions based on the size of their caucus, and must ask their questions in a specific order, predetermined by their party leadership for that day on a list given to the Speaker. Questions and responses are all timed as well, in order to prevent excessive speeches.

Each of the provincial legislatures also conducts its own form of question period.

See also

• Prime Minister's Questions in the British House of Commons
• Question Hour in the Lok Sabha

External Link

• CPAC (http://www.cpac.ca), Canada's parliamentary channel; broadcasts Question Period online.