It’s not often that our federal riding or Member of Parliament makes national news, but in late November Rob Merrifeld grabbed a few headlines after Macleans magazine picked up on something he did in Parliament.

Question Period in the House of Commons is best known for Opposition MPs firing pointed queries across the aisle, but government MPs are also permitted to ask questions of their own government, and Merrifield took that opportunity on Nov. 22.

In principle, Merrifield could have used this chance to hold the government to account over some issue relevant to Yellowhead constituents. While ours is an overwhelmingly Conservative riding, there are surely a handful of voters here who aren’t happy with the current government or who have some specific concern they’d like to see addressed. Part of an MP’s role is to represent these people and bring their concerns forward in Parliament.

Of course, that’s not how the system works in practice. Question Period is admittedly more about theatre than substantive issues, and these government-on-government questions are typically softballs. But Merrifield took the hyper-partisan nature of Parliament to the next level when he stood and said: “Mr. Speaker, our government is defending Canada’s interests around the world, and why would we not? That is what we were elected to do and that is what Canadians expect us to do. Meanwhile, the NDP consistently tries to undermine Canada’s interests, whether that is in Europe or whether that is in the United States. Would the Minister of Natural Resources update the House on the latest ridiculous NDP anti-trade mission?”

This question is not only silly but also out of order, as Parliamentary conventions dictate that the content of inquiries raised during Question Period must fall “within the administrative responsibility of the government or of the individual minister addressed.” Joe Oliver is obviously not responsible for the NDP’s position on trade. Yet, somehow, the Speaker of the House let this charade continue. Oliver actually stood up and offered a reply.

Two days later, Conservative MP John Weston asked another question of his own government about the NDP’s trade policies. Again, it was allowed. The following week, it was Conservative MP John Williamson rising to ask his government about the NDP’s position on the long-gun registry. Finally, perhaps due to the attention these stunts were garnering nationally, the Speaker ruled that query out of order.

These goofy and self-serving questions, in and of themselves, aren’t really a big deal. But, taken in the larger context of this government’s persistent disrespect for Parliamentary rules and tradition, they do create cause for concern.

Earlier in November, for example, Conservative MPs blocked members of the Bloc Quebecois and Green Party from speaking in honour of Canada’s war dead on Remembrance Day. Members from parties without official status  need unanimous approval to address the House of Commons in this instance, which has traditionally been granted out of respect for the occasion. Not anymore.

The Conservative government has also been using its majority to force rapid closure on Parliamentary debate at an unprecedented rate. This has happened even on major, budget-related bills, which historically have been given the most scrutiny in the House of Commons. Apparently the idea of being held accountable when spending taxpayer dollars is no longer in fashion.

All this, of course, takes place under a Prime Minister who has twice prorogued Parliament, shutting down the institution altogether when his government was threatened or simply inconvienced by having to explain its actions or answer for its decisions in any kind of formal manner.

Agree or disagree with the Conservative government’s policies, Canadians should be alarmed by this continued erosion of our parliamentary system.