Liberal MP Corey Hogan is advocating for a revamp of question period in the House of Commons to include longer, more substantive answers and reduce the focus on social media-friendly sound bites. Hogan expressed his intention to push for changes during the upcoming debate on the standing orders of the House of Commons on Friday.
Question period, a daily session where opposition MPs question government ministers in Parliament, is a crucial part of the parliamentary process. However, Hogan believes that the current format, with its 35-second question and answer time limit, lacks depth and fails to provide Canadians with meaningful responses to pressing issues.
Hogan emphasized the need for real, thoughtful answers that address specific concerns rather than mere sound bites. While he did not propose a specific time limit for responses, he mentioned that in the 1990s, answers could extend up to two to three minutes, depending on the complexity of the question.
The Speaker of the House of Commons is responsible for enforcing time limits during question period, ensuring that MPs adhere to their allotted speaking time. Hogan suggested that response lengths should be tailored to the question, allowing the Speaker to intervene if a minister’s answer becomes overly lengthy.
Opposition MPs also weighed in on the topic, with B.C. Conservative MP Dan Albas expressing concerns that granting more time for government responses could diminish opportunities for opposition parties to ask questions relevant to their constituents. Interim NDP Leader Don Davies emphasized the importance of not just longer but better answers during question period.
While no immediate changes are expected from the upcoming debate, Hogan is collaborating with colleagues on the House procedures and affairs committee to address question period reform. Committee chair Chris Bittle affirmed his willingness to consider any proposals put forth by MPs.
Overall, the discussion on question period reform highlights the ongoing efforts to enhance the quality and effectiveness of parliamentary proceedings for the benefit of all Canadians.