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Monday, May 15, 2006 · sitting No. 23

Commons opens budget bill debate as Kyoto role draws fire

The House spent most of the sitting on second reading of Bill C-13, the Budget Implementation Act, 2006. Conservative MP Ken Epp opened the debate by praising the government's family measures and tax cuts that he said would remove 600,000 families from the tax rolls. Liberal MP Paul Szabo and Liberal MP Larry Bagnell countered that the child benefit changes and bracket adjustments would hurt low-income households, citing the Caledon Institute analysis.

Question period featured repeated exchanges on the environment. Liberal MP Bill Graham pressed the Prime Minister on the absence of concrete proposals at the Bonn climate conference, while Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper defended the minister's participation and pointed to new transit and renewable-fuel investments. New Democratic Party MP Jack Layton called Canada's position an international embarrassment.

The Bloc Québécois and Liberals also pressed the government over protocol lapses during the visit of Francophonie secretary general Abdou Diouf and over the softwood-lumber framework agreement.

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 · 2006-05-15

Government (Conservative)OppositionOver the day: government 35%, opposition 65% of the words spokenGovernment businessGovernment business▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 11:0012:0013:0014:0015:0016:0017:00Last speech 18:25Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 7 h 25 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
63Budget bill advances, questions mostly deflectedThe sitting focused heavily on the Budget Implementation Act and saw five private members' bills plus C-14 introduced. Few procedural disputes arose and most debate stayed on substantive topics, though Question Period produced many deflected or misdirected answers.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

Francophonie

Liberal MP Denis Coderre demanded a public apology after the airport incident involving Abdou Diouf, while Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the secretary general had expressed satisfaction with the visit despite the regrettable events.

Read the exchange

Softwood Lumber

Liberal MP Dominic LeBlanc accused the government of handing sovereignty to Washington by requiring provincial policy changes to receive U.S. approval, while Conservative Minister David Emerson called the framework a source of stability and investment certainty.

Read the exchange

Canada-U.S. Border

Bloc Québécois MP Serge Ménard urged Ottawa to join Quebec and New England states in opposing mandatory passports, while Conservative Minister Stockwell Day said the Prime Minister had already made the issue a priority at the Cancún summit.

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Citizenship

Conservative MP Patricia Davidson asked when foreign-born adopted children would receive automatic citizenship, and Conservative Minister Monte Solberg announced legislation to be introduced that afternoon.

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Question 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

  1. deflected
    The EnvironmentBill Graham (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Question assumes minister despises Kyoto and frames him as a saboteur; answer attacks opposition record instead of addressing the chairing role or irony.the irony is that the party opposite that missed its Kyoto targets by 35% now wants Canada to abandon any role in the international conference.
  2. deflected
    The EnvironmentBill Graham (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Question accuses government of having no plan and using Republican slogans; answer calls facts completely wrong and pivots to budget measures while attacking the opposition vote.the Leader of the Opposition is completely wrong in all of the facts and everything that was just in that question and in its preamble.
  3. partly answered
    FrancophonieBill Graham (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Question asks why no apology was offered; answer states a conversation occurred and Diouf was satisfied but does not address the refusal to apologize.I have spoken with Mr. Diouf and had a good conversation with him.
  4. partly answered
    FrancophonieDenis Coderre (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Question demands confirmation of a specific security threat and calls actions shameful; answer acknowledges a review was requested but avoids confirming details or apologizing.I had a good conversation with Mr. Diouf.
  5. deflected
    FrancophonieDenis Coderre (Liberal) asked Josée Verner (Conservative). loaded question.Question cites Senegal's request for apology and calls for cabinet shuffle; answer from Verner shifts to her own weekend work with Diouf without addressing the apology demand.over the weekend, I had the opportunity to work with His Excellency Mr. Abdou Diouf, the Secretary General of the OIF.
  6. misdirected
    FrancophonieDenis Coderre (Liberal) asked Josée Verner (Conservative). rhetorical question.Question is a one-sentence rebuke demanding apology; answer lectures the asker on wisdom and respect instead of engaging.I would encourage my colleague from Bourassa to show the wisdom and respect befitting our admiration for Mr. Diouf and the excellent work he has accomplished for la Francophonie around the world.
  7. deflected
    FrancophonieMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Question asks what consideration was shown and whether an official apology will be given; answer claims Diouf considers the matter closed and tells opposition to follow his example.He considers the matter closed.
  8. deflected
    FrancophonieMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Josée Verner (Conservative). substantive question.Question asks why the meeting was cancelled and demands acknowledgment and apology; answer quotes Diouf thanking authorities and declaring the matter in the past.
  9. deflected
    FrancophonieMr. Michel Gauthier (Bloc) asked Josée Verner (Conservative). substantive question.The answer ignores the demand for an apology and pivots to positive remarks about the conference.the Secretary General of the International Organization of la Francophonie, Mr. Abdou Diouf, said that he was satisfied and pleased with the work done at the conference in St. Boniface on the weekend.
  10. deflected
    FrancophonieMr. Michel Gauthier (Bloc) asked Josée Verner (Conservative). substantive question.The answer sidesteps the question about priorities and instead notes the warm reception in St. Boniface.the Secretary-General indicated himself that he was warmly received in St. Boniface, which has a very large, vibrant francophone community.
  11. partly answered
    The EnvironmentJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses the context of past failures and current international work but provides no timeline for concrete action.The minister is now working with the international community to develop an effective international protocol and take real action on a national level.
  12. misdirected
    The EnvironmentJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer turns to criticizing the questioner's voting record instead of addressing the demand for a serious plan.It is unfortunate that the hon. member and his party voted against these things.
  13. deflected
    The EnvironmentMr. David McGuinty (Liberal) asked Gary Lunn (Conservative). substantive question.The answer avoids explaining the cancellation and instead offers a general statement on results and value.this government is committed to getting results and it is committed to ensuring that taxpayers get value for their money.
  14. misdirected
    The EnvironmentMr. David McGuinty (Liberal) asked Gary Lunn (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the previous Liberal government rather than answering when or why EnerGuide lost favour.it is no secret to Canadians that over the last 13 years the old Liberal Party became the party of billion dollar programs with no accountability.
  15. deflected
    The EnvironmentKaren Redman (Liberal) asked Mr. Mark Warawa (Conservative). loaded question.The answer evades the White House claim and shifts to criticizing past Liberal emission increases.greenhouse gas emissions have risen dramatically over the last 13 years and pollution is affecting the health of Canadians.
  16. deflected
    The EnvironmentKaren Redman (Liberal) asked Mr. Mark Warawa (Conservative). loaded question.The answer rejects the premise of a U.S. plan by restating commitment to realistic solutions without addressing the accusation.the environment minister and the Prime Minister are committed to realistic solutions, not phony public relations stunts.
  17. deflected
    The EnvironmentMr. Bernard Bigras (Bloc) asked Mr. Mark Warawa (Conservative). substantive question.Answer ignores the question on Canada's image and the minister's Kyoto statement, pivoting to general remarks.The minister emphasized that we have an opportunity before us to create an inclusive dialogue that will allow a sharing of information on best practices between the global partners.
  18. deflected
    The EnvironmentMr. Bernard Bigras (Bloc) asked Mr. Mark Warawa (Conservative). loaded question.Answer sidesteps the accusation of parroting Bush and abandoning Kyoto by restating general climate dialogue points.The minister recognizes the diversities of circumstances and encourages countries to work together to shape the future of climate change.
  19. partly answered
    Canada-U.S. BorderMr. Serge Ménard (Bloc) asked Stockwell Day (Conservative). substantive question.Answer addresses the priority status but does not explain why the government has not joined the Quebec-Vermont initiative.At the meeting in Cancún, it was our Prime Minister who said it was very important to find a solution.
  20. deflected
    Canada-U.S. BorderMr. Serge Ménard (Bloc) asked Stockwell Day (Conservative). loaded question.Answer avoids addressing the claim of prioritizing Bush over Quebec interests by repeating the Prime Minister's priority statement.It was one of our Prime Minister's priorities.
  21. deflected
    Softwood LumberDominic LeBlanc (Liberal) asked David Emerson (Conservative). loaded question.Answer ignores the bullying and sovereignty concerns, instead asserting the deal is good without engaging specifics.the softwood lumber framework agreement is actually a very good deal for Canada, it is a very good deal for the softwood lumber industry and it is good for every region of Canada
  22. misdirected
    Softwood LumberDominic LeBlanc (Liberal) asked David Emerson (Conservative). loaded question.Answer attacks the question as partisan rhetoric and reframes around past disputes rather than addressing the veto or sovereignty claims.another flight of partisan rhetoric.
  23. misdirected
    Softwood LumberMr. Blair Wilson (Liberal) asked David Emerson (Conservative). loaded question.Answer insults the asker personally and avoids the anti-circumvention and sovereignty issues raised.the hon. member must have been out of the country for the last 20 years because what we have seen for 20 years is U.S. protectionists' unfair trade measures aiming their guns at Canadian provincial government policy.
  24. misdirected
    Softwood LumberMr. Blair Wilson (Liberal) asked David Emerson (Conservative). loaded question.Answer attacks the asker's location and knowledge instead of addressing the capitulation or industry concerns.the hon. member should get out of West Vancouver for awhile and get up into the communities that depend on the softwood lumber industry.
  25. deflected
    Forest IndustryMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked David Emerson (Conservative). loaded question.Answer attacks the questioner with partisan rhetoric instead of addressing the specific claims about sovereignty and permission slips.Mr. Speaker, more partisan rhetoric and more class war.
  26. partly answered
    Forest IndustryMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked David Emerson (Conservative). loaded question.Answer directly addresses the sovereignty claim by stating policies are protected but ignores the absence from riding and loyalty accusations.provincial stumpage and forest management policies are protected under this agreement.
  27. deflected
    Canada-U.S. BorderMs. Ruby Dhalla (Liberal) asked Stockwell Day (Conservative). loaded question.Answer shifts focus to past Liberal inaction rather than committing to a solution for the passport policy.If the member wants to talk about surrender, she should know that her party did nothing about this for two years.
  28. misdirected
    Canada-U.S. BorderMs. Ruby Dhalla (Liberal) asked Stockwell Day (Conservative). loaded question.Answer pivots to criticizing the previous Liberal government instead of addressing the lack of a plan or action.
  29. partly answered
    Canada-U.S. BorderMr. Jean-Claude D'Amours (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Answer notes discussions with premiers but does not explain the determination to proceed with the policy.I have spoken about this with the premier, Mr. Charest, and with several other premiers, and we are encouraged by their position.
  30. deflected
    Canada-U.S. BorderMr. Jean-Claude D'Amours (Liberal) asked Stockwell Day (Conservative). loaded question.Answer again redirects blame to Liberals' past inaction rather than justifying the approach to the U.S. administration.Why did the Liberals do nothing for two years? Now, we are going to take action.
  31. deflected
    BarbadosMr. Thierry St-Cyr (Bloc) asked David Emerson (Conservative). substantive question.Answer reframes the issue around trade liberalization instead of addressing tax avoidance via the Barbados treaty.the government is fully committed to liberalized trade and our trade with Barbados is extremely important to us.
  32. partly answered
    BarbadosMr. Thierry St-Cyr (Bloc) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). substantive question.Answer commits to reviewing the tax treaty issue raised by the Auditor General but provides no immediate plan or action.I will undertake to review the matter and report back to the hon. member.
  33. partly answered
    National DefenceIrwin Cotler (Liberal) asked Gordon O'Connor (Conservative). loaded question.The answer details existing support measures but avoids committing to an action plan or leadership role as requested.We have had no request from the United Nations nor the AU. When it comes, we will consider the request.
  34. partly answered
    National DefenceMr. Peter Stoffer (NDP) asked Gordon O'Connor (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses ongoing legal contact but does not confirm personal meeting or compensation.Mrs. Wheeler's lawyers are in contact with our lawyers and this issue will get resolved soon hopefully.
  35. misdirected
    National DefenceMr. Peter Stoffer (NDP) asked Gordon O'Connor (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the questioner instead of addressing the request for a personal meeting by the Prime Minister.unlike the member, we have to follow legal processes and this issue will get resolved very soon.
  36. misdirected
    EthicsMr. Marcel Proulx (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer deflects by attacking the Liberal Party's ethics record rather than addressing the specific ticket issue.I find it rather odd to get lessons on ethics from a member of the Liberal Party.