Good going, Mr Speaker!

[Topaz]

After watching these over- paid ministers, smart-mouth each other in "question period" everyday, the Speaker finally told them today, to start showing more respect to each other. I don't know if its because the age of the ministers are about late 30's-40's but they act like they should be sent to the corner of the room! Baird, especially seems to get a high of getting a rise of the three other parties, especially the Libs. I think if all Canadians could have watched last Friday, when Ralph Goodale and John Baird started at each other, they would probably be e-mailing the Speaker of the House!

[geoffrey]

After watching these over- paid ministers, smart-mouth each other in "question period" everyday, the Speaker finally told them today, to start showing more respect to each other. I don't know if its because the age of the ministers are about late 30's-40's but they act like they should be sent to the corner of the room! Baird, especially seems to get a high of getting a rise of the three other parties, especially the Libs. I think if all Canadians could have watched last Friday, when Ralph Goodale and John Baird started at each other, they would probably be e-mailing the Speaker of the House!

I actually enjoy Goodale's and Baird's bantering.

I wouldn't mind the solution, throw Goodale in prision for the insider trading from his department, but hey, oh well. Can't expect similar accountability in government that we have in the private sector.

[August1991]

I haven't seen these exchanges so maybe my comments are wrong.

Baird, especially seems to get a high of getting a rise of the three other parties, especially the Libs.

If I understand properly, Baird was an Ontario cabinet minister and so he has experience facing Question Period at Queen's Park.

I have sat through Question Periods in Toronto, Quebec City and Ottawa. The federal chamber is physically large. For Baird, maybe it is like going from the Barrie Arena to Maple Leaf Gardens.

If you watched the debates on TV, it portrays size poorly. Politics, like theatre, is a place for egos.

[Gord]

Isn't it amazing what we Canadians allow our tax dollars to be spent on. If you were a CEO of any business would you allow your board to act in such a childish manner without repercussions? It seems to me that Question Period has nothing to do with reality. It only services the purpose of trying to embarrass the current ruling party at all costs. When was the last time that an opposition member got up and complimented the ruling party for something they may have done right?

[bradco]

Isn't it amazing what we Canadians allow our tax dollars to be spent on. If you were a CEO of any business would you allow your board to act in such a childish manner without repercussions? It seems to me that Question Period has nothing to do with reality. It only services the purpose of trying to embarrass the current ruling party at all costs. When was the last time that an opposition member got up and complimented the ruling party for something they may have done right?

When was the last time the ruling party ever complemented an opposition member for anything? Lets not forget that question period is to be used to keep the government accountable, and that means critizing them. When your whining like a little child though I dont think anyone is listening. The big problem with question period and pretty much everything else in government is that for the most part things are done to score political points and not to score good policy.

[Gord]

Bingo bradco you hit the nail on the head. Political points is all Question period is generally good for. I wonder if those idiots ever watch themselves on TV after the fact. If they did they would probably be ashamed of themselves.

[hiti]

I wouldn't mind the solution, throw Goodale in prision for the insider trading from his department, but hey, oh well. Can't expect similar accountability in government that we have in the private sector.

Canadians should be able to expect the truth, even from conservatives. The trumped up allegations against Goodale have no basis is fact and have never been proven. And they never will be because there was no insider trading. This crapola will not work in the next election either. The RCMP have blown their credibility with the Arar case and will not be interfering in the next election campaign.

[scribblet]

As far as some are concerned and the Liberal press , Goodale et al are perfectly innocent of any wrongdoing in absolutely anything, in fact, Bush is behind it all. -

[Shakeyhands]

the problem is it is becoming too much like a Us vs Them scenario, there can be no agreement on anything, its like the 'your with us or against us' mentallity, it just doesn't work

[watching&waiting]

There was a time in the late 50's and early 60's where all the parties whether ruling party or opposition, would argue from the stances of what would be best for the Canadian people. Trudeau started with his own version of what he thought would be best, but as always happens one mans view is not that of the whole. While yes bac k in Dief's and Pearson days, there were many echanges of childish behaviour, they did get down to work when necessity called for it. From trudeau on wards it seems to me that the house has been for petty bickering and very little else. Debates should be on topic and all the snide remarks should be stricken from the record, and offenders fined. But we will not see that happen because there is not a majority who would vote for that to happen. A lot of the bickering is from pointed comments that started outside the house, and then became a cause for each to out do the other in the house. That is why many members have pointed out that the only reason something get said at all, is because in the house you can not be sued for anything you say. That should have some limits to it, but it does not and that is probably the main reason for the type of behaviour you see today.