MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. Before we begin the daily routine, I would like to present the Speaker's ruling from last week as presented on the point of order by the honourable member for Queens-Shelburne.

SPEAKER'S RULING:

Gallery Interruptions: QP - Add'l. Time (Pt. of order by Hon. S. Belliveau [Hansard p. 3739, Apr. 15/15])

HON. STERLING BELLIVEAU: Mr. Speaker, I stand on a point of order today. There were two interruptions during Question Period. I want to bring this to your attention because there is valuable time that has been lost, and for someone who takes the questions very seriously, I tell you that there certainly has been a very low question amount that has been taking place during Question Periods.

I ask you to review this, and I think there should have been some additional time allotted because of the disruptions. I just want to bring that to your attention. I hope you will review it.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please.

Before we begin the daily routine, I just want to remind everybody of the new rotation of Question Period, given the realignment of the numbers on the Opposition side. I want to make sure everybody has new question sheets. If you didn't get those sheets, please slip up and see the Assistant Clerk.

Also, a friendly reminder one last time of the 45-second rule, which will be strictly enforced today, for questions and answers in QP.

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please. I want to thank the honourable minister for that extensive and thorough answer and I do want to remind everybody in advance of next week, please take the extra time this weekend to practice in front of a mirror with the 45 second clock so that we can try to stick a little bit closer to the 45 second timeline. Use 30 seconds to set up your question and 15 seconds to pose your question.

HON. CHRISTOPHER D'ENTREMONT: I'm just wondering whether everybody got a copy of the little sheet where it says where everybody can speak, where it's PC, Liberal, NDP, and then PC again. That's the sequence, a long-standing tradition of this House to follow that. I know the member for Halifax Atlantic spoke for just a few moments and that was the Liberal opportunity to speak to this bill, so I just find it interesting that the minister didn't speak up during her time allotted during this proceeding. So, Mr. Speaker, would you call Bill No.

Now, on to more pressing things - I'm not sure they're more interesting, but with regard to our new rule changes, as members know, next week revised Rules and Forms of Procedure will take effect. I want to set out the guidelines for the new order of business in the daily routine which is Statements by Members. In developing the guidelines, I have modelled them largely on the guidelines and principles that are followed in Ottawa, except the prohibition on congratulatory statements.