Politics·PODCAST

The Pollcast: The theatre of question period

The Liberals have promised a new tone in Ottawa, but has that filtered down into question period? Aaron Wherry, who has observed the goings-on in the House of Commons closely, talks with host Eric Grenier about what happens in question period — and what the public doesn't always see.

Host Éric Grenier is joined by the CBC's Aaron Wherry

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau answers a question during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Monday, Jan.25, 2015. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

The CBC Pollcast, hosted by CBC poll analyst and ThreeHundredEight.com founder Éric Grenier, explores the world of electoral politics, political polls and the trends they reveal.


MPs are back in Ottawa for the first time in 2016 and the Pollcast is all about QP: Has it changed? How MIGHT it change? CBC senior writer Aaron Wherry is our guest.

With a new government in Ottawa wanting to bring a new tone to politics and make changes to the way things work in the House of Commons, has question period changed at all?

The daily grilling of the government has long been derided as a showcase for everything that is wrong with politics —  partisanship, grandstanding, heckling, and the low threshold of substance demanded for both questions and answers.

What might improve question period? Is it realistic to expect any significant changes under the Liberals?

The CBC's Aaron Wherry, who has closely observed question period for years, joins host Éric Grenier to discuss what it is like to watch from the gallery — and what the television cameras miss.

Listen to the full discussion above — or subscribe to The CBC Pollcast and listen to past episodes here.

You can also follow Éric Grenier and Aaron Wherry on Twitter.