Question period is, in theory, the opportunity for the legislative branch to seek information from the executive and hold the government to account. Nobody really believes that, probably not even Trudeau himself when he pledged in his 2015 election platform to reform question period to hold the government, and the Prime Minister, to greater account. The Liberals introduced a Prime Minister’s question period “to improve that direct level of accountability.”But it was during the new and improved prime minister’s questions that Trudeau unveiled his latest example of openness and transparency — an answer to the question he preferred had been asked, rather than the one that was. Speakers do have discretion and authority — they can rule questions out of order or interrupt members for using unparliamentary language. He suggested that giving the Speaker the right to vet questions and answers would soon descend into partisan debate.

Source: National Post March 02, 2018 00:11 UTC