On further reflection, I probably aimed too low in my suggestion that the Speaker of the House of Commons should merely apply the same standards to questioners from all parties. Instead, if a relevance filter is being applied to questions, then why wouldn't the Speaker follow the exact same principle for the Cons' answers?
Just think about it: every Con non-response (which for the moment covers virtually all of their answers in question period) could be met with the Speaker's reply that the answer is out of order for failing to deal with the subject matter of the question.
Needless to say, constant statements to that effect - with video readily available for public consumption - would almost certainly serve as a source of immense embarrassment to the Cons. That would carry obvious pluses in and of itself - but even better, it could help to force a retreat from the Cons' all-talking-points, all-the-time communications strategy at least within question period.
So, I'll encourage Peter Milliken and his deputies to police question period to ensure that all sides are forced to stick to relevant issues - as nobody has more to lose from such an edict than the government which to this point has refused to do anything of the sort.
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