|
What are the benefits of official party status?
Money, for a start. The legislative assemblys internal economy board sets aside funds each year to be distributed among official parties. The Legislative Assembly Act states that official parties can use those funds for research, staff salaries and other purposes the party caucus determines.
Losing official party status would cut off the party from public election financing. It would also lose access to parliamentary resources to help members conduct policy research, and they will no longer have guaranteed speaking time in the House of Commons.
But can they still operate as usual in the house?
No. Without official status, the Members of Provincial Parliament must operate as independents, which means they lose many privileges they were accustomed to in the past. The assemblys standing orders state independent MPPs will be excluded from debates where time is supposed to be divided evenly between recognized parties. In debates without such conditions, independents may contribute if the house speaker calls on them. Participation in question period is also heavily contingent on the speaker. Independent legislators can submit requests to ask a question, and the speaker will decide whether or not to recognize that member. The standing order specifies that the speaker must make sure independent members have the same level of opportunity to participate as members of official party caucuses other than party leaders. Independents are also not entitled to reply to ministerial statements, receive copies of government notices of motion or amendments to bills and other such documents.
|