Parliament AIIndependent · non-official

All sittings← 2006-10-032006-10-05 →

Wednesday, October 4, 2006 · sitting No. 59

Commons opens debate on bill to amend Criminal Code procedures

The House spent the largest share of the sitting on second reading of Bill C-23, which would update Criminal Code provisions on procedure, language of the accused and sentencing. Justice Minister Vic Toews told the House the measures would strengthen protections for law-abiding Canadians and that the government would continue to bring forward similar legislation.

In Question Period, Liberal Leader Bill Graham pressed Prime Minister Stephen Harper on reports that the government was preparing legislation to weaken protections in the Canadian Human Rights Act. Harper replied that the government had no such plans and urged the opposition to focus on positions taken by its own leadership candidates.

Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe questioned Harper about the appointment of Darrel Reid as chief of staff to the environment minister and the refusal to renew funding for the Black & Blue Festival. Harper said personal views on marriage were known and that funding decisions were made on merit.

Decided that day

  • C-288 read a second time and referred to committee
  • C-18 read a second time and referred to committee
  • Amendment adding criticism of a bill failed

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 · 2006-10-04

Government (Conservative)OppositionOver the day: government 41%, opposition 59% of the words spokenQuestion PeriodRoutine proceedingsGovernment business▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 14:0015:0016:0017:00Last speech 17:25Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 3 h 25 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
67Bills Advance While Questions Mostly SkippedThe House passed second readings for three bills and sent two to committee after recorded votes. Most speaking time stayed on substantive topics despite frequent deflections in Question Period.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

Literacy

Treasury Board President Diane Finley said the government would invest more than $80 million in literacy programs of a national nature while refocusing spending away from regional projects, replying to Liberal MP Geoff Regan.

Read the exchange

Afghanistan

NDP MP Libby Davies asked when the government would press for talks among Afghan and Pakistani leaders to end fighting; Harper replied that the NDP should support Canadian soldiers rather than ask despicable questions.

Read the exchange

Firearms Registry

Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day told Bloc MP Serge Ménard that the government would keep the names of all owners of both prohibited and non-prohibited firearms.

Read the exchange

An Act to Amend Certain Acts in Relation to DNA Identification

Liberal MP Lloyd St. Amand said police had received extensive training on gathering DNA evidence and that he was unaware of any cases alleging planted samples, replying to Conservative MP Ken Epp during debate on Bill C-18.

Read the exchange

Trent-Severn Waterway

Conservative MP Bruce Stanton told the House he had sought ethics commissioner guidance after a conflict-of-interest question was raised about his private member's motion on the waterway.

Read the exchange

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. answered
    JusticeBill Graham (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer directly denies any plans to alter the described protections.The government has no plans at all along the lines that he has suggested.
  2. deflected
    JusticeBill Graham (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer avoids assurance by shifting to a quote attacking the Liberal Party instead.I take that quote from the front runner for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada.
  3. deflected
    JusticeBill Graham (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer evades the question by redirecting criticism toward the Liberal leadership race.Rather than engage in unfounded speculation about what this government is proposing, the Leader of the Opposition should be worrying about the positions taken by the next leader of his party.
  4. answered
    JusticeLucienne Robillard (Liberal) asked Jean-Pierre Blackburn (Conservative). loaded question.The answer directly explains the funding decision on merit without ideological criteria.We were not mistaken, given that the event is taking place.
  5. answered
    JusticeLucienne Robillard (Liberal) asked Jean-Pierre Blackburn (Conservative). loaded question.The answer directly rebuts the premise by citing prior funding decisions for similar events.How is it that we gave $100,000 for the Divers/Cité event held alongside the Outgames?
  6. partly answered
    Government AppointmentsMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses the appointment but only partially by noting the planned debate rather than the appointee's views.The leader of the Bloc has known for a long time that it is the government's intention to hold a debate in which members can vote freely and express their views on these questions.
  7. answered
    Government ProgramsMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Jean-Pierre Blackburn (Conservative). loaded question.The answer directly states that ideology is not a criterion and explains the merit-based process.that criterion is not part of our analysis.
  8. answered
    Government ProgramsMr. Jean-Yves Roy (Bloc) asked Jean-Pierre Blackburn (Conservative). loaded question.The answer directly justifies the decision by comparing volume of applications and event maturity.This festival is now in its 16th year and is well on its way.
  9. deflected
    Government ProgramsMr. Jean-Yves Roy (Bloc) asked Jean-Pierre Blackburn (Conservative). loaded question.The answer shifts to general accountability without addressing the claim about removing decision-making powers to impose values.A minister in the department made the decision to review the files himself, to take a look at them and find out how things were going.
  10. deflected
    AfghanistanMs. Libby Davies (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer highlights UN support and Afghan approval but ignores the specific points on refugees, security, and counter-insurgency failure.the United Nations mandated this mission and it has wide support and participation from members of the United Nations.
  11. misdirected
    AfghanistanMs. Libby Davies (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the NDP for asking the question instead of addressing the call for ceasefire talks or security data.Instead of expressing support for our soldiers and sympathy for their loved ones and for those they have lost, why does the NDP get up and ask despicable questions like that?
  12. deflected
    LiteracyGeoff Regan (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer claims new investments but does not address the premiers' opposition or reversal of the cuts mentioned.we will be investing over $80 million in literacy programs.
  13. deflected
    LiteracyMs. Raymonde Folco (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer promotes refocused programs without acknowledging the survey data or reinstating the specific funding requested.by focusing our energies on adult learning and literacy skills, Canadians will have access to the best literacy training available.
  14. deflected
    LiteracyKaren Redman (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer cites $80 million and settlement funds but avoids the Ontario agreement and the minister's prior stance on literacy.we do believe in literacy, which is why we are investing over $80 million and why we put new funds into the settlement funding process for new Canadians.
  15. deflected
    LiteracyLarry Bagnell (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.The answer repeats the $80 million figure without addressing the specific northern councils or reinstating the cut funds.We will fund it with over $80 million, with $300 million for new settlement programs, moneys that party, despite all its claims, voted against.
  16. deflected
    JusticeMr. Réal Ménard (Bloc) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). loaded question.The answer restates the election promise of a free vote without engaging the claim about authorizing discrimination by religious groups.during the election, the Prime Minister and the government made a promise that it would bring forward a motion and allow a free vote on the issue.
  17. deflected
    JusticeMr. Réal Ménard (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Question assumes false premise about protecting religious groups and legalizing discrimination; answer is truncated and does not address the bill's intent.
  18. misdirected
    JusticeMs. Monique Guay (Bloc) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). loaded question.Question attacks appointee's impartiality based on associations; answer praises the appointee without addressing bias concerns.the individual mentioned in respect of the Human Rights Commission is a very competent and qualified individual.
  19. deflected
    JusticeMs. Monique Guay (Bloc) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). loaded question.Question claims a rightward shift via multiple examples; answer pivots to general praise of government's record without engaging specifics.
  20. partly answered
    LiteracyMr. Sukh Dhaliwal (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.Question asks about impact of literacy cuts in BC; answer defends spending levels and counters with Liberal voting record.We are also trying to help them get the literacy and training skills they need, which is why we are investing over $80 million in literacy programs
  21. partly answered
    LiteracyRaymond Simard (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.Question challenges value of cutting Manitoba literacy program; answer shifts to federal priorities without addressing the specific closure.we will be helping Canadians, those who really need it, at the national level.
  22. deflected
    LiteracyRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.Question demands confirmation of a quote and restoration of funds; answer repeats federal investment focus without addressing the quote or cuts.we are focusing on investing at the federal level in all Canadians who really need it.
  23. misdirected
    LiteracyRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.Question references past Ontario policy and demands funding restoration; answer attacks Liberals' record instead of responding to the challenge.
  24. deflected
    The EnvironmentMr. Nathan Cullen (NDP) asked Rona Ambrose (Conservative). loaded question.Question asks about mandatory auto emissions standards; answer attacks Liberals and Buzz Hargrove without stating the government's position on standards.My concern is with Buzz Hargrove and the Liberal premier of Ontario.
  25. deflected
    The EnvironmentMr. Nathan Cullen (NDP) asked Rona Ambrose (Conservative). substantive question.The minister avoids stating any emissions reduction figure and pivots to general praise of the MOU.That was a step in the right direction.
  26. partly answered
    Aboriginal AffairsMr. Mark Holland (Liberal) asked Jim Prentice (Conservative). loaded question.The minister states the contract value and defends the hire but ignores the discrepancy with the public notice and the patronage allegation.The best thing of all, if we could hold the braying, is that his contract is for $50,000.
  27. misdirected
    Aboriginal AffairsMr. Mark Holland (Liberal) asked Jim Prentice (Conservative). loaded question.The minister repeats the contract value then attacks the Liberals instead of addressing the patronage or experience concerns.Maybe it is not a surprise because we are pretty close to the philosophical intellectual underpinnings of the Liberal Party: big contracts for Liberals.
  28. deflected
    Aboriginal AffairsMr. Gary Merasty (Liberal) asked Jim Prentice (Conservative). loaded question.The minister dismisses the claims as slander and defends the employee without addressing the use of public funds for campaigning.yet more malignant slander from the party opposite.
  29. misdirected
    Aboriginal AffairsMr. Gary Merasty (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The minister ignores the specific allegations and instead attacks Liberal ministers for unrelated hiring practices.This, a day after the Public Service Commission, an independent arm's length body reporting to Parliament, identified the political assistants who were hired by Liberal ministers who invented phantom jobs.
  30. deflected
    Firearms RegistryMr. Serge Ménard (Bloc) asked Stockwell Day (Conservative). substantive question.The minister talks about wanting an effective system but does not say what will be done with the existing five million registrations.We want a registration system that works.
  31. answered
    Firearms RegistryMr. Serge Ménard (Bloc) asked Stockwell Day (Conservative). substantive question.The minister directly states that all names of owners of both prohibited and non-prohibited firearms will be kept.we will keep all the names of the people who own firearms, firearms that are not prohibited, as well as firearms that are prohibited.
  32. deflected
    SudanKeith Martin (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.The minister discusses diplomatic work and rejects unilateral invasion but does not address supporting resolution 1706 or immediate action.We need to continue to work diplomatically to see that this happens, not embark on some kind of a unilateral invasion, which is what the member opposite advocated.
  33. deflected
    Fisheries and OceansMr. Peter Stoffer (NDP) asked Loyola Hearn (Conservative). substantive question.The answer diverts to unrelated US actions and warns of community impacts without addressing support for a moratorium.In relation to dragging, if we ban dragging, we wipe out a number of fishing communities in--
  34. deflected
    Fisheries and OceansMr. Peter Stoffer (NDP) asked Loyola Hearn (Conservative). substantive question.The answer emphasizes science and technology improvements but avoids committing to a ban or UN support.Banning technology is one thing. Improving technology is something else.
  35. misdirected
    SudanKeith Martin (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the member's prior statement on invasion rather than addressing the hypocrisy charge or intervention policy.Yes, we should get troops into Darfur. If the member wants to call it an invasion, then it is an invasion