ABSTRACT
Is there such a thing as too many services for members? Members of the study group felt that it is better to have too much rather than not enough. The problem arises though that as members get very busy, they often do not have time to read the briefing books that were prepared by researchers. If a member is on too many committees or has been named to a committee as a substitute at the last moment, he or she will not have sufficient time to prepare. Yet it is important that members be given the tools to adequately question the minister or the departmental officials. Since governments usually have the resources to hire their own experts, they have an advantage over the parliamentary members who are lacking the research capabilities and resources to adequately prepare. These research facilities do represent a cost to the public purse, but it is argued that this is a necessary expenditure to ensure that the Parliament is giving the government full scrutiny and holding the executive accountable. Staff to the committees may also help draft committee reports for consideration by the members.
