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Friday, April 7, 2006 · sitting No. 5
Throne speech debate leads Commons sitting amid QP clashes on Kyoto and softwood
The House devoted the largest share of its time to the resumption of debate on the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne. Conservative MP Diane Ablonczy opened with remarks on the government's five priorities and a one-point GST cut, while Liberal MP John Cannis criticized past Conservative governments and recent fiscal records. The debate continued later with Conservative MP Leon Benoit addressing the federal accountability act and agriculture support programs.
In Question Period the sharpest exchanges concerned the environment. Liberal MP Lucienne Robillard pressed the government on whether it would honour Kyoto commitments, and Conservative MP Jason Kenney replied that emissions rose 30 per cent under the previous administration while a new clean-air bill would be introduced. Further exchanges on softwood lumber saw Liberal MP Ralph Goodale demand action on U.S. tariffs and Conservative MP Jason Kenney state that the prior government had delivered no results after five years of duties.
Decided that day
- Bill C-216 introduced
From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard
No CPAC Question Period upload is on file for this day. CPAC’s channel goes back to December 2019.
Who held the floor · 2006-04-07
32Talk fills the day, little decidedThe sitting was dominated by resumed debate on the Address in Reply and scattered opposition-day topics, with only one-sixth of words devoted to substantive business. No votes were held, questions were largely deflected, and the sole concrete step was the introduction of one bill.AI-rated Score out of 100; the verdict and the answer ratings behind it are a model’s reading. How the AI rates this
AI-rated The sitting score and the rating of each answer come from a language model reading Hansard. How the AI rates this
Other moments
Health
NDP MP Jack Layton warned that Alberta proposals would allow doctors to practise both inside and outside the public system and asked whether the government would impose financial penalties; Health Minister Tony Clement replied that the government supports universally accessible care under the Canada Health Act and that wait times had doubled under the previous regime.
Read the exchangeVeterans
Liberal MP Robert Thibault asked why the Prime Minister and Veterans Affairs Minister Greg Thompson had not acknowledged the former Liberal minister's role in the new Veterans Charter; Thompson said every member of the House and the six major veterans organizations deserved recognition for the measure.
Read the exchangeChild Care
NDP MP Olivia Chow said the $1,200 allowance would amount to only one dollar a day after tax backs for a family earning $35,000; Human Resources Minister Diane Finley answered that the benefit would be taxed in the hands of the lowest-earning parent and would create 125,000 new spaces through business and community groups.
Read the exchangeFisheries
Liberal MP Bill Matthews asked when the government would establish custodial management on the nose and tail of the Grand Banks; Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn said the matter was being dealt with and that the government would act rather than merely talk.
Read the exchangeQuestion Period, exchange by exchange
AI-rated Each answer’s rating (answered, partly answered, deflected, answered something else) is a model’s reading of the exchange. How the AI rates this
- deflectedThe EnvironmentLucienne Robillard (Liberal) asked Mr. Jason Kenney (Conservative). substantive question.The answer criticizes the previous government instead of addressing the commitment to Kyoto.
In fact, greenhouse gas emissions increased by 30% under that government.
- deflectedThe EnvironmentLucienne Robillard (Liberal) asked Mr. Jason Kenney (Conservative). substantive question.The answer promotes the tax credit but ignores the request to admit it is not a full plan or commit to one.
- partly answeredCanada-U.S. BorderLucienne Robillard (Liberal) asked Mr. Jason Kenney (Conservative). substantive question.The answer states the government will work on the issue but does not address why the Prime Minister cut and ran.
The government will continue to work on solving these problems.
- deflectedSoftwood LumberRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked Mr. Jason Kenney (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the prior government's record rather than providing a timeline for results.
They talked but they did not deliver.
- misdirectedSoftwood LumberRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked Mr. Jason Kenney (Conservative). loaded question.The answer shifts to grading the past economic record instead of addressing the $1.5 billion for softwood.
Canadians judged that government's economic record on January 23, and they gave the Liberals a big F.
- partly answeredThe EnvironmentMs. Monique Guay (Bloc) asked Mr. Jason Kenney (Conservative). substantive question.The answer affirms intent to reduce emissions but does not confirm the 6% target or clarify the spokesperson's statements.
We intend to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants.
- partly answeredThe EnvironmentMs. Monique Guay (Bloc) asked Rona Ambrose (Conservative). substantive question.The answer defends the approach as realistic but does not address the credibility concern from contradictory signals.
I will be vigorously defending the taxpayers of Canada and Canada's position about approaching climate change from a realistic and effective plan.
- answeredThe EnvironmentMs. Pauline Picard (Bloc) asked Gary Lunn (Conservative). substantive question.The answer explains the cuts as based on an independent review of ineffective programs and commits to new ones.
I can assure the hon. member that we are going to implement this review which shows that these programs are not working and are not in the interest of taxpayers.
- deflectedThe EnvironmentMs. Pauline Picard (Bloc) asked Rona Ambrose (Conservative). substantive question.The answer avoids any commitment to a bilateral Quebec agreement and pivots to a national solution.
I do not think I need to point out to the hon. member that Quebec is a part of Canada, so Quebec will be very much a part of the made in Canada solution.
- deflectedHealthJack Layton (NDP) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.The answer criticizes past Liberal record and affirms general principles but never addresses imposing penalties.
As the hon. member noted, there was a lot of rhetoric when the members opposite in the Liberal Party were government but not a lot of action.
- partly answeredHealthJack Layton (NDP) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.The answer affirms commitment to the Canada Health Act and wait-time guarantees but does not directly address stopping two-tier care in Alberta.
The letter that the Prime Minister sent to the Premier of Alberta makes it clear that our recommendation is that Alberta join other provinces in establishing wait time guarantees.
- answeredNational DefenceStephen Owen (Liberal) asked Gordon O'Connor (Conservative). loaded question.The answer directly rebuts the conflict-of-interest premise by listing the minister's lack of financial ties.
I own no shares in defence companies.
- deflectedLobbyistsStephen Owen (Liberal) asked Mr. Jason Kenney (Conservative). substantive question.The answer rejects the premise outright and shifts to promoting the accountability act instead of addressing future lobbyist appointments.
we reject the premise of the question.
- answeredQuebec ZooDenis Coderre (Liberal) asked Jean-Pierre Blackburn (Conservative). loaded question.The answer directly states that Quebec has not requested assistance, addressing the core factual claim.
Since we were elected, the Government of Quebec has not asked for our government's help on the issue of the zoo in Quebec City.
- misdirectedQuebec ZooDenis Coderre (Liberal) asked Jean-Pierre Blackburn (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the previous Liberal government's refusal rather than responding to the request for proactive funding.
it is his government and the preceding minister who refused to provide Quebec City with this financial assistance.
- partly answeredCitizenship and ImmigrationMs. Meili Faille (Bloc) asked Monte Solberg (Conservative). loaded question.The answer affirms current appeal processes and notes ongoing review but does not confirm or deny plans for the appeal division.
we are continuing to investigate the issue of the refugee appeal division.
- deflectedCitizenship and ImmigrationMs. Meili Faille (Bloc) asked Monte Solberg (Conservative). substantive question.Answer avoids stating what more is wanted and pivots to criticizing Liberals instead.
we will continue to investigate this, but we would never put something into legislation as the Liberals did four years ago with no intention of ever implementing it.
- deflectedSoftwood LumberMr. Mario Laframboise (Bloc) asked David Emerson (Conservative). substantive question.Answer affirms NAFTA commitment but does not confirm NAFTA decisions as negotiation prerequisite.
The Government of Canada is firmly committed to NAFTA.
- partly answeredSoftwood LumberMr. Mario Laframboise (Bloc) asked David Emerson (Conservative). substantive question.Answer states loan guarantees remain under consideration without giving a timeline.
The issue of loan guarantees and loan insurance is clearly still under consideration by the hon. Minister of Industry.
- deflectedVeteransRobert Thibault (Liberal) asked Greg Thompson (Conservative). substantive question.Answer praises all parties and veterans groups but never identifies any charter changes.
The real ownership of this belongs to our Canadian Forces veterans and the six major veterans organizations that really pushed the government to get this done.
- deflectedVeteransRobert Thibault (Liberal) asked Greg Thompson (Conservative). substantive question.Answer describes a plan in progress but supplies no date or status for the cheques.
We are going to do our homework.
- deflectedVeteransMr. Francis Scarpaleggia (Liberal) asked Greg Thompson (Conservative). substantive question.Answer discusses hospital modernization spending but never confirms whether the land transfer occurred.
I can confirm that the Government of Canada is spending about $104 million on a modernization program at that particular hospital.
- misdirectedVeteransMr. Francis Scarpaleggia (Liberal) asked Greg Thompson (Conservative). substantive question.Answer claims the question belongs to another ministry instead of addressing the requested conditions.
the member could in fact be speaking to the wrong minister in terms of this file.
- answeredChild CareMs. Olivia Chow (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.Answer directly outlines the plan to create 125,000 spaces via partnerships.
I am very proud of the Conservative plan to create 125,000 new child care spaces right across the country.
- partly answeredChild CareMs. Olivia Chow (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.Answer addresses taxation mechanism but ignores clawbacks and gives no promise on full delivery without reductions.
It will, as the Prime Minister said repeatedly during the election campaign, be taxed in the hands of the lowest earning parent.
- deflectedFisheriesMr. Bill Matthews (Liberal) asked Loyola Hearn (Conservative). substantive question.Answer claims the issue is addressed in the throne speech despite the question stating it is not mentioned.
I assure the member that the issue is being dealt with in the throne speech and the priorities listed are very important ones for our province.
- deflectedFisheriesMr. Bill Matthews (Liberal) asked Loyola Hearn (Conservative). loaded question.Answer uses puns and reaffirms belief without addressing the change in position or providing a timeline.
Anything I said before on that side of the House I believe not only as firmly but even more firmly today because, unlike the members opposite when they were in government, we not only will talk about such issues, we will deal with the issues.
- deflectedAirportsMr. Jean-Claude D'Amours (Liberal) asked Lawrence Cannon (Conservative). substantive question.Answer blames the prior government and states the program is under review without committing to funding or promises.
The old program was not designed to address the issues he raised, so it is currently under review.
- misdirectedAirportsMr. Jean-Claude D'Amours (Liberal) asked Lawrence Cannon (Conservative). substantive question.Answer pivots to criticizing Liberals instead of addressing broken promises or guaranteeing a federal policy.
As we all know—it has been repeated here over and over in the past few days—for many years, the Liberals did nothing.
- deflectedFrancophone and Acadian CommunitiesMs. Diane Bourgeois (Bloc) asked Josée Verner (Conservative). substantive question.Answer offers general support but does not address increasing funding from $24 million to $42 million or give a timeline.
Francophone communities outside Quebec can count on the Conservative government's support.
- partly answeredRoyal Canadian Mounted PoliceMr. Christian Ouellet (Bloc) asked Stockwell Day (Conservative). substantive question.Answer commits to adding officers overall but does not confirm reopening the nine specific Quebec detachments.
We will add 1,000 RCMP officers and 2,500 municipal police officers, starting immediately and continuing for the next five years.
- deflectedMulticulturalismMaria Minna (Liberal) asked Bev Oda (Conservative). substantive question.Answer discusses reviewing programs but avoids confirming whether a dedicated multiculturalism minister will be restored.
We are reviewing the programs.
- deflectedEducationMs. Denise Savoie (NDP) asked Michael Chong (Conservative). substantive question.The answer affirms general priorities and collaboration but avoids any commitment on increased funding or the throne speech.
our government is committed to working with the provinces, with the territories, and with business and labour partners to ensure that post-secondary education in Canada continues to be an important priority.
- partly answeredEducationMs. Denise Savoie (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer lists several existing or planned programs but does not outline an immediate comprehensive or pan-Canadian strategy.
our Conservative government has several initiatives it will be bringing forward to encourage skills development for people of all ages, whether it is through our trades program, with incentives for apprentices and for employers to hire more apprentices into those skilled jobs, or whether it is assistance for university students, not through tuition credits but through relief on their student bursaries and scholarships.
- deflectedTaxationMr. Blair Wilson (Liberal) asked Mr. Jason Kenney (Conservative). loaded question.The answer ignores the premise about an NDP-Conservative alliance and simply restates the government's tax policy.
This government is committed to lower taxes and we will deliver that in our first budget for 100% of Canadian families.