QUESTION PERIOD — Office of the Government Representative
Rules of the Senate of Canada
April 30, 2024
Senator Gold, my question is tied to Motion No. 165. Last week, in an interview with The Hill Times, you indicated your office doesn’t have a timeline, and there’s nothing in the motion that puts parameters on the length of debate. You said, “The debate has barely begun . . . we fully expect and want to have a proper debate on the floor.”
Given that you’ve indicated all of this in your interview, are you open to senators proposing amendments that they feel will strengthen proposed rule changes?
Thank you for your question, Senator Quinn. It is up to individual senators to decide how they want to participate in the debate. I have every confidence that this chamber, as it always does, will consider whatever is brought forward. I hope this chamber considers the motion that I’ve brought forward to be a practical, pragmatic and timely first step in achieving fairness and equity between the groups, a measure that is long overdue.
Last week, Senator Gold, we spoke of the one change of 60 days for a response versus 45 days. Given that these rules belong to the Senate and that your preference is to find a way forward that meets everybody’s objective, is it not reasonable to expect that we should have that follow-up with the ability to introduce amendments? Why, at this early stage, are you proposing and telegraphing that you will use time allocation?
The Government of Canada has taken on the important task of reforming the way in which senators are appointed, providing for greater diversity in this chamber and providing for greater independence of this chamber from the control of the Prime Minister’s Office.
Second, we have brought forward a responsible effort to complete the work that this chamber did on the Parliament of Canada Act. The government is prepared to do what it can to ensure there is no further obstruction on this important initiative.
