Before we proceed to orders of the day I wish to provide my ruling on the point of order raised by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake during oral questions on Wednesday, March 2, 2011.
The point of order was raised that the Member for Weledeh contravened Rule 23(h) by, and I quote from unedited Hansard, “making allegations that in fact the government has broken rules in this Legislative Assembly.” Mr. Bromley said, and I quote again from unedited Hansard, “they changed the rules.” Mr. Bromley also clarified that he was echoing the Auditor General of Canada’s words when she said in her report that the “regulations were amended” by the government. So I find that there is no point of order.
However, I would like to caution all Members against asking questions of a Minister on decisions made by a former government. Our Rule 38(2) states that “An oral question shall be concisely and clearly put and shall refer only to a matter which may reasonably be assumed to be within the present knowledge of the Minister to whom it is directed.” Also, Beauschene 409(6) states that “A question must be within the administrative competence of the government. The Minister to whom the question is directed is responsible to the House for his or her present ministry and not for the decisions taken in a previous portfolio.”
Also before I go to orders of the day I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge a special day for two of our colleagues. It happens to be the birthday of the Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee, and the Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Robert C. McLeod.
---Applause
Happy birthday to both of you.
Item 2, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, Mr. Robert C. McLeod.