Fixing Question Period

Today, the Public Policy Forum is tackling the issue of Question-Period reform at an all-day conference in Ottawa. I'm moderating the morning panels, which feature speakers such as parliamentary expert Ned Franks, former government house leader Jay Hill, former deputy prime minister Anne McLellan and, significantly, Michael Chong -- the Conservative MP how spearheading a specific effort to fix that daily spectacle in the House of Commons.  Yesterday, I wrote about a poll the PPF released in advance of today's event. Not surprisingly, I guess, it shows that people aren't that impressed with Question Period. 

I say "not surprisingly" not to discount the poll or the event, but to underline a pointed question, which I hope today's conference addresses. If we all know that Question Period is a revolting display -- and we've known it for quite some time -- why does it keep going on the same way? The PMO, regardless of stripe, is capable of exercising great control over MPs. If this PMO, or previous ones, had been interested in making QP better, it did/does have the clout to do so. Ditto for the leadership of the other parties. Politicians do many seemingly pointless things, but the fact that they devote so many resources to Question Period, as it now dysfunctionally exists, indicates that they find some use for it.  Someone must believe that this works; that all that noise and silliness has a purpose. And the fact that most of the panellists today are former parliamentarians, as opposed to current ones, may demonstrate that it's easier to talk about reform when you're not in the midst of the political circus. 

I hope today's panellists quickly get past the discussion of how QP is stupid, and on to the thornier subject of why the stupidity persists. For years, decades even, earnest people have pined for better ways to spend those 45 minutes every afternoon while the House is in session. It seems time now to stop diagnosing the problem and start grappling with fixing it. And the first step in that process is to figure out whether all the actors -- government, opposition AND media --  are motivated to do the necessary repairs. I'm still not convinced we're there yet. 

Comments

[lief-erik baroni]

take the TV cameras out of the house of commons and the problem will be fixed in a week. no need to complicate this. just do it.

[Moosecall]

When you want to know why QP is what it is, QP has turned into one continual arena where MP's have an open arena to campaign for the next election, and nothing but.

If you're looking for some place to continue to the next election, battering the "other" parties for convincing the electorate to "vote for them", you've found the place.

You won't find the gov't answering questions. The next election is just around the corner, and wanting to be re-elected keeps questions from receiving real, honest to goodness answers.

All you will find are pit-bulls attacking an MP's characters (that pit-bull includes the PM himself).

There will be no answers to questions.

Not when there is the perceived (real or not) election just around the corner.

[Catherine]

Watching Jane Taber on Power Play last pm, she was talking about the situation with Michael Chong and Monte Solberg.

Ms. Taber's opinion was that Monte Solberg was 'effective' in the House. To Ms. Taber, 'effective' seemed to mean disruptive.

If you flatter a child for a behaviour, you will see that behaviour often.

Politicians are not very differerent.

[Aongasha]

I'd be really impressed if there was an honest appraisal of the media's role in QP and the issues surrounding it.
I think the media bears a lot of responsibility for the toxic atmosphere in Ottawa and the country as a whole. Question is will it's members step up, admit this and change their attitude of gotcha! journalism. I doubt it!
regards
the next Woodward or Bernstein wannabe

[John Harvard]

With respect to Question Period, Susan asks, "why(does)the stupidity persist?
It persists because the Opposition parties see it as their "gravy train," the media, despite moaning about how bad QP is from time to time, really feed off the daily spectacle and as for the party in power, any party, it's afraid of reform on account of being seen trampling on the privileges of the Opposition. The will to change QP does not exist anywhere in Parliament, including its press gallery. If the people who seek change can get past the logjam, there then would an opportunity to consider what change would look like. In the meantime, I won't hold my breath.