roof_top_eagle Posted June 18, 2009 Report Posted June 18, 2009 Is it just me or is question period at any level of government a waste of time? The parties just list off insults like little children and no one actually answers the question. All they do is read a statement that has been party approved. You could ask 6 questions on the same subject but different questions and get the same answer 6 times word for word. I think either the question should be answered truthfully and not these "propaganda" style answers or we should just have question period scrapped. Any views? Quote The great themes of Canadian history are as follows: Keeping the Americans out, keeping the French in, and trying to get the Natives to somehow disappear. - Will Ferguson *roof_top_eagle*
Smallc Posted June 18, 2009 Report Posted June 18, 2009 Question period isn't about the answers but raher the questions. It's to raise concerns and put them out in public. Quote
Jerry J. Fortin Posted June 18, 2009 Report Posted June 18, 2009 Is it just me or is question period at any level of government a waste of time?The parties just list off insults like little children and no one actually answers the question. All they do is read a statement that has been party approved. You could ask 6 questions on the same subject but different questions and get the same answer 6 times word for word. I think either the question should be answered truthfully and not these "propaganda" style answers or we should just have question period scrapped. Any views? Many! I think the best way to start would be submitted questions, and submitted answers. Both subject to the approval of the "Speaker" of the house. Yet with all due respect just getting the government to respond is a large benefit. The US doen't have this kind of thing. Frankly when they answer with crap, it makes them look bad. Quote
Topaz Posted June 18, 2009 Report Posted June 18, 2009 Have you ever watch the British Parliament in question period, the only person that gets the question is the PM. I can't see Harper bobbing up and down, its take just a much time to pull his shirt arms down in his suit, do the suit button up, then answers the question, then the process all over again for the next question. I think the best questions comes from the NDP and at times the Bloc and of course, there's no respect for either of them in the Commons, so their questions don't get answered. I think its good that we asee question period because it gives us an idea about the people we have elected and how they perform. Voters can read between the lines of what is said and if you know the rules its more helpful to know what is going on. ie. they can say anything, even a lie and there nothing the speaker can do about it. Quote
daniel Posted June 18, 2009 Report Posted June 18, 2009 I think it should be reformed to be the style of an inquiry or a Royal Commission c/w judge and punishable by law. Quote
tango Posted June 18, 2009 Report Posted June 18, 2009 I think it should be reformed to be the style of an inquiry or a Royal Commission c/w judge and punishable by law. I think they should not be allowed to use it for partisan sniping. Parliament is supposed to be for governance, not politicking. Quote My Canada includes rights of Indigenous Peoples. Love it or leave it, eh! Peace.
Topaz Posted June 18, 2009 Report Posted June 18, 2009 You think its the camera being on and they know that they being watched and some MP's like Baird just has to be the comedian of the bunch? Maybe some group in Canada can give out awards like the US has the raspberry. Maybe we could called it the Cotton Candy Award for the MP that can spin the most! Quote
Bonam Posted June 18, 2009 Report Posted June 18, 2009 (edited) Pretty much a waste of time yeah. The politicians behave idiotically, yelling over each other, booing each other, interrupting each other, making odd noises, etc. Ever watch (or listen to) question period live? It's just stupid. Rarely are meaningful questions asked, and rarely are there meaningful answers, regardless of which party is in opposition and which is in power. This kind of stuff wouldn't even be tolerated in an elementary school class debate, and yet it's what we pay our politicians millions of dollars to do. Having said that, the idea of question period is good. There just needs to be some ground rules and a level of maturity that is required of the participants. Edited June 18, 2009 by Bonam Quote
Smallc Posted June 18, 2009 Report Posted June 18, 2009 and yet it's what we pay our politicians millions of dollars to do. That's not fair. Question period is only a very small part of their day. We pay them to do much more...and they do much more. Quote
Bonam Posted June 18, 2009 Report Posted June 18, 2009 Most of which is equally as unproductive, I expect. Quote
Smallc Posted June 19, 2009 Report Posted June 19, 2009 You might expect so, but I doubt you're right. There is a great deal that gets done by politicians, inside and outside of the house. Quote
Argus Posted June 19, 2009 Report Posted June 19, 2009 I think the best questions comes from the NDP and at times the Bloc and of course, there's no respect for either of them in the Commons, so their questions don't get answered. I There is rarely any respect in ANY of the questions put. And few of the questions are designed to bring answers, as opposed to scoring points or embarrassing the minister in question. Given that, it's unsurprising the answers have some bite to them. Quote "A liberal is someone who claims to be open to all points of view — and then is surprised and offended to find there are other points of view.” William F Buckley
Jerry J. Fortin Posted June 19, 2009 Report Posted June 19, 2009 There is rarely any respect in ANY of the questions put. And few of the questions are designed to bring answers, as opposed to scoring points or embarrassing the minister in question. Given that, it's unsurprising the answers have some bite to them. It is an opportunity to make political points with free public air time. Rarely are answers really sought, nor are questions properly formatted. Quote
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