MP Dan Albas and House of Commons speaker Anthony Rota unveil a suggestion box for MPs.
Image Credit: House of Commons Photographer
January 31, 2020 - 6:30 PM
An Okanagan MP’s idea to streamline questions and improve efficiency in the House of Commons has led to the implementation of a suggestion box.
Dan Albas, Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola Conservative MP, pitched the idea of a suggestion box to house speaker Anthony Rota, shortly after the election last year. This week, Rota presented the suggestion box, which is located near his office. The box has been repurposed from an old time capsule that wasn’t being used.
MPs can now submit any questions, ideas or feedback directly to the speaker through the use of the box, Albas said.
“I think it’s a good symbolic measure that shows that the speaker is open. Obviously the speaker of the House has a lot of administrative duties and it can be difficult for a member to find the time to sit down with the speaker and I think this is a good way for the speaker to (engage),” he said.
The idea came from Albas’ days spent on Penticton city council when councillors were trying to come up with ways to improve service and be more efficient, he said.
Any MP can submit their suggestions to improve the house to the box, he said.
“It isn’t always easy for a MP to take their idea to the speaker directly because the speaker is often busy doing the house business and you always don’t want to burden the table officers or deputy speaker with an idea or challenge, so this way as we walk towards the House of Commons outside of our main entrance, we use we can drop a suggestion in,” he said.
"What I've heard from constituents so far is that they're happy to see their Member of Parliament suggesting ways that all Members of Parliament can contribute their views and have it heard in the House of Commons," he said.
The box’s unveiling was held Tuesday, Jan. 28.
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