QUESTION PERIOD — Business of the Senate
February 25, 2020
Honourable senators, my question is for the Government Representative in the Senate. My question today is in regard to the inquiry launched in this place by our colleagues Senators Sinclair and Dalphond. As you know, the inquiry touches upon the issues of procedural delays in achieving votes on bills initiated by individual members of the House of Commons and Senate, and also on the question of keeping some of these bills alive following the dissolution of Parliament. Senator Gold, I’m delighted to see this inquiry also touching upon the troublesome issue of what I’m going to refer to as the “dinner bells.”
Each of these delays has both a democratic cost and a considerable fiscal cost. As the Government Representative in the Senate, are you supportive of the proposed directions in this inquiry?
Thank you for the question. I will always support efforts as the government representative and personally, if I can allow myself that brief moment, to launch constructive and open dialogue for ways in which we can manage our legislative work and do it better. In that regard, I want to express admiration and thanks to Senators Dalphond and Sinclair for the artful manner in which they launched this inquiry. We should not be afraid, senators, of having an open and frank discussion about these issues in this chamber, because that’s how we can eventually reach some agreement and consensus regarding how we can move forward as an institution.
With respect to the proposals in the inquiry, I will always approach these with an open mind. I certainly support the objective being pursued in this inquiry of a Senate that gives due consideration to all of its business. From a broader perspective, I support improving how we conduct our deliberations in this chamber on both government business and non-government business.
I hope and look forward to a robust exploration and discussion of these issues as the inquiry proceeds.
