Reply #5: Nope, they don't

[Posteritatis]

I think Harper's tried to get pre-screened questions for it a few times - and he succeeded with press conferences - but Question Period's one of those "oh no you don't" institutions up here that doesn't get messed with easily. The overall process can get a little Byzantine, but the PM definitely has to hit the ground running.

Keep in mind that because of the fusion-of-powers system parliamentary countries have, the prime minister is almost always someone who spent quite a bit of time in the legislature before landing in the PMO, so they generally have quite a bit of experience being on one side of that mill (as the questioners) as well as the other (often as questioned cabinet ministers) before winding up in the hot seat. I'd imagine anyone who landed in the PMO as one of their first national-level offices would be messily destroyed. ;)

The other parties in ours can also ask any of the cabinet ministers a question too, not just the PM. There's a similar process at the provincial level, though I think that one varies from place to place.