Written Questions

Written questions as part of parliamentary procedure developed alongside oral questions and have a similar use.   Members submit written questions when they want detailed information that ministers may not have at their fingertips.  

A written question:

Mr. .... asked the government the following question:  How many single-cell wastewater stabilization ponds are licensed to operate in Alberta pursuant to section 4 of the Clean Water Act as of January 25, 1993?

This question asks the government about wastewater treatment.  It would have gone to the Minister of Environmental Protection, who was in charge of the Clean Water Act.