MEMBERS OF SENATE ? 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGENDA AND RULES 

PROVISION FOR QUESTIONS AT SENATE 

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MARCH 

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7   1 977 

A request for the creation of a question session at Senate was sub-* 

mitted to the Secretary of Senate by Senator R. A. Ironside on January 17, 1977. 

At the January 25 meeting of the Senate Committee on Agenda and Rules, following 

considerable discussion relating to the various forms a session for questions 

may take and the nature of some of the Rules of Senate that might result, there 

was general agreement that some guidance as to the preferences of Senate was 

desirable before recommendations be submitted to Senate. 

Senate, at its meeting of February 7, 1977, discussed the proposal 

and it was agreed that the Senate Committee on Agenda and Rules would undertake 

to develop recommendations to facilitate questions at Senate, taking into con- 

sideration the comments expressed. The Chairman invited Senator Ironside to 

attend a special meeting of the Senate Committee on Agenda and Rules that would 

be scheduled to consider proposals. The Chairman also invited Senators to sub- 

mit other comments and suggestions to the Committee. 

The special meeting to give further consideration to the provision of 

questions at Senate was held by the Senate Committee on Agenda and Rules on 

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Wednesday, March 16, 1977. Consensus was reached that provision for an informal 

question period as part of the Report of the Chairman would be the most appro- 

priate procedure. It was agreed that no amendments need be made to the existing 

Rules of Senate in order to accommodate such informal question period. 

Various procedures that would facilitate the handling of an informal 

question period were discussed at the special meeting of SCAR and the procedures 

the Chairman of Senate intends to follow are presented in the attached memo. 

These procedures have the full endorsement of those attending the special meeting 

of the Senate Committee on Agenda and Rules. 

In making this recommendation, the Senate Committee on Agenda and 

Rules expects it to be understood that questions submitted to the Chairman will 

involve matters falling under the powers and responsibilities of Senate as 

provided for in the Universities Act 1974. 

end. 

MEMBERS OF SENATE 

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P. JEWETT 

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PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN OF SENATE 

GENERAL PROCEDURES - INFORMAL 

Subject 

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QUESTIONING SESSION AT SENATE 

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Date ...... .... MARC.17, 1977 

In response to the request submitted by Senator R. A. Ironside for 

a question period and in accordance with the comments made at Senate, the 

Senate Committee on Agenda and Rules is presenting to Senate as part of this 

submission the suggestion that provision for an informal questioning session 

be incorporated into the meetings of Senate. 

The desire is to handle such a session in as informal a manner as 

possible. It is clear, however, that for the questioner and for other Sena- 

tors to maximize the potential advantages that may result from a question 

period, it is highly desirable that certain procedures be followed when sub- 

mitting questions. Therefore, in conjunction with the suggestion from the 

Senate Committee on Agenda and Rules and with the endorsement of that Committee, 

details of the general procedures that normally will be followed by the Chairman 

are: 

1.

It will be required that all questions be directed to the Chair. 

2.

It is requested that questions be submitted in writing to reach the Secre- 

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tary of Senate at least five working days in advance of the Senate meeting. 

These procedures do not prevent questions from being submitted to 

the Chairman at a Senate meeting. The probability is, however, that 

a questioner can ordinarily expect to receive a more complete response 

to a question when time is provided to consider the question in advance 

of the Senate meeting. Also, it is considered essential that all 

Senators be kept as fully informed as possible concerning all matters 

coming before Senate at its various meetings. 

3. The question session will be included under the Report of the Chairman 

section of the agenda. 

It is anticipated that responses to most questions will be expected 

to be forthcoming from the Chairman and in those instances where a 

question can best be answered by someone other than the Chairman it 

can be redirected to the appropriate individual by the Chair. 

4.

The maximum amount of time allowed for the question period will be normally 

limited to twenty minutes. 

The rationale for limiting the amount of available time for answering 

questions is to ensure that time available for other items on the 

agenda is not unreasonably reduced. 

5.

The decisions pertaining to the acceptability of questions will be made by 

the Chairman. In the event a question is deemed to be inappropriate, the 

questioner will be so advised by the Chairman 

6. The Secretariat will be responsible for including appropriate statements in 

the minutes or as an appendix thereto. 