QUESTION PERIOD — Business of the Senate
Status of Answers to Written Questions
December 16, 2020
Senator Gold, yesterday you indicated how much you have come to appreciate Question Period in the Senate as a means of holding the government to account. I wonder if you also have the same appreciation for written questions, which, unfortunately, have gone unanswered for a very long time in the Senate.
Thank you for your question, senator. The short answer is yes. I have respect for the opportunity in this place for senators to pose questions to the government and, might I add, to the chairs of committees, because I like to spread the pleasure. I don’t want to be selfish.
I do my best to request the answer when I don’t have it, and I do my best to follow up with the government so that answers come back as quickly as possible. “As quickly as possible,” for those with experience in government, does not necessarily mean as quickly as we would like or as I would like. However, I am doing my best, and we are making progress in getting responses back, as a recent flurry of responses indicates.
In the last Parliament, over 85% of the written questions were not answered before we prorogued. These questions were asked by senators because, in most cases, Canadians have asked them to find out the information. We obviously want to give back to those Canadians who inquired about various situations that they are interested in that the government is undertaking. It is very important to get these responses.
Given that your predecessor took to heart the commitment the federal Liberal Party made in the 2015 election to be more transparent and open, and when Senator Harder was in your position, he tried to make sure that the questions were answered within 40 sitting days in most cases, greatly appreciated by all the senators. Now we seem to have reverted to the previous situation in the Senate — waiting months and months for answers. Could you inquire of your staff if they could speed up the answers, so we could have some this week before we rise?
Senator, thank you for your question. I think what is implicit in your question is an understanding of — and I ascribe to it — gratitude for the hard work that my predecessor Senator Harder did. I’m trying very much to live up to the standards that he set, so I will certainly continue to make best efforts.
I am making no excuses for whatever delays there may be for the requests that you’ve made. Our officials, who are responsible for providing these actions, have been somewhat preoccupied and busy, not only in dealing with the pandemic, but also in responding to requests for documentation in the other place.
All of that said, we will use our best efforts to respond, and that’s my commitment to you.
