The NDP is attempting to keep question period in the House of Commons on track with a motion to give the House Speaker more powers to block irrelevant questions and answers.
The party used its "opposition day" to put the motion forward, however, the majority-holding Conservatives could very likely vote it down unless at least 12 Tories support it. The vote takes place Tuesday night, after NOW deadlines.
NDP House leader Peter Julian, the MP for Burnaby-New Westminster, is working on bolstering Tory support.
"Canadians expect question period to actually include answers," Julian told The Record. "Other jurisdictions, other parliaments, like the United Kingdom and Australia already give their speaker this ability."
The NDP motion was inspired by a recent exchange between NDP leader Tom Mulcair and Tory MP Paul Calandra. When Mulcair asked Calandra about the government's plan in Iraq, Calandra responded with an unrelated criticism on the NDP's position in Israel - repeatedly.
