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Monday, October 30, 2006 · sitting No. 72

House debates bill to raise age of consent from 14 to 16

The House spent the largest share of the sitting on second reading of Bill C-22, which would raise the age of consent to sexual activity from 14 to 16. Justice Minister Vic Toews said the measure would better protect children from exploitation. Liberal MP Sue Barnes said her party would support the bill at second reading and send it to committee. NDP MP Joe Comartin said his party was not opposed in principle but planned to propose amendments.

Question period featured repeated exchanges on justice legislation. Liberal MP Lucienne Robillard pressed the government to pass six justice bills immediately. Justice Minister Vic Toews said the opposition had gutted one measure by allowing house arrest for arsonists and auto thieves. Bloc Québécois MP Réal Ménard asked why the government wanted to jail children as young as 12.

Decided that day

  • C-28 advanced to second reading
  • C-373 introduced
  • S-5 advanced to second reading
  • S-205 advanced to second reading
  • S-206 advanced to second reading
  • C-22 advanced to second reading
  • C-374 introduced
  • C-375 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 · 2006-10-30

Government (Conservative)OppositionOver the day: government 40%, opposition 60% of the words spokenPrivate membersGovernment businessQuestion PeriodGovernment business▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 11:0512:0013:0014:0015:0016:0017:00Last speech 17:50Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 6 h 45 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
67Bills Advance While Answers Mostly EvadeThe House devoted over 92 percent of its words to substantive business and moved seven bills forward at second reading or introduction. Four points of order arose and Question Period produced only four full answers out of 38 exchanges.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

Budget Implementation Act, 2006, No. 2

Liberal MP John McCallum called the budget implementation bill meanspirited, dishonest and visionless and criticized cuts to programs for the most vulnerable. Conservative MP Bradley Trost objected to the language and asked whether the Liberals would reverse tax measures if returned to power.

Read the exchange

Income Tax Act

Conservative MP Jeff Watson moved second reading of Bill C-305 to reduce the taxable portion of U.S. social security payments received by Canadian seniors from 85 per cent to 50 per cent. NDP MP Alex Atamanenko asked for a concrete example of the tax difference on a $300 monthly benefit.

Read the exchange

The Environment

Bloc Québécois MP Gilles Duceppe urged the government to adopt real measures to meet Kyoto targets after a report by Nicholas Stern warned of massive economic damage from climate change. Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the government was developing a made-in-Canada plan rather than following British policies.

Read the exchange

Government Accountability

Liberal MP Mark Holland accused the Conservatives of breaking their own accountability rules by accepting donations above the promised limits. Conservative MP John Baird said the party had complied voluntarily since April while Liberals continued to accept corporate donations.

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. deflected
    Government LegislationBill Graham (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Answer shifts to accountability act and senators instead of addressing consultation or past advice.If the hon. member really wants the elected Parliament to run the House, then he should stand up and say where he actually stands on the issue rather than leave it to his unelected senators to undo the work of the House.
  2. deflected
    Government LegislationBill Graham (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Answer misrepresents opposition votes on crime bills rather than addressing arrogance or consultation.In fact, when we were debating mandatory prison sentences for gun crimes this spring, most of the members of the party opposite voted against that measure.
  3. misdirected
    Government LegislationBill Graham (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Answer attacks Liberal record and Senate instead of responding to lack of consultation with opposition leaders.The people voted for a more effective criminal justice system that is tougher on real criminals.
  4. partly answered
    JusticeLucienne Robillard (Liberal) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). substantive question.Answer addresses willingness to pass bills but pivots to conditions on the sixth bill.we welcome the fact that they are willing to pass at least five of those bills, and they should do it immediately.
  5. deflected
    JusticeLucienne Robillard (Liberal) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). loaded question.Answer focuses on public frustration with crime instead of youth detention statistics or support programs.Canadians are tired of the crime on the streets.
  6. partly answered
    The EnvironmentMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Answer references clean air act but ignores Kyoto objectives and Blair's statements.Progress is crucial, which is why we introduced the clean air act in this House.
  7. deflected
    The EnvironmentMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Answer dismisses foreign policies and promotes made-in-Canada plan without addressing Arctic or emissions reductions.I know the leader of the Bloc wants to use the American dollar.
  8. deflected
    The EnvironmentMr. Bernard Bigras (Bloc) asked Rona Ambrose (Conservative). loaded question.Answer criticizes Quebec's voluntary approach instead of explaining withholding of funds.our government is concerned about the Government of Quebec's approach, which promotes voluntary agreements with industry.
  9. misdirected
    The EnvironmentMr. Bernard Bigras (Bloc) asked Rona Ambrose (Conservative). loaded question.Answer attacks the Bloc and changes subject instead of addressing the funding disparity claim.I have the following question for the Bloc: does it have permission from the real leader to speak now?
  10. partly answered
    The EnvironmentJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Answer agrees to meet but shifts to past NDP positions before confirming.If the NDP wants to sit down and discuss how we could do that better, I am certainly willing to do that with him.
  11. answered
    The EnvironmentJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Answer directly states willingness to meet and hear ideas on the plan.I am always ready to meet with the leader of the NDP to hear his ideas.
  12. misdirected
    Government AccountabilityMr. Mark Holland (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.Answer attacks the questioner personally and pivots to Liberal actions rather than addressing the donation timing.I am always pleased to get questions from the member for Hotel California.
  13. misdirected
    Government AccountabilityMr. Mark Holland (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Answer deflects by attacking Liberals and questioning their position instead of addressing the broken promise claim.Does the Liberal Party favour these donations or not? It is time the members stopped sucking and blowing at the same time.
  14. deflected
    Challenger Jet UseNavdeep Bains (Liberal) asked Gordon O'Connor (Conservative). loaded question.Answer avoids the muzzling allegation by stating adherence to prior Liberal rules.We are following precisely the rules set by the previous administration.
  15. deflected
    Challenger Jet UseNavdeep Bains (Liberal) asked Gordon O'Connor (Conservative). loaded question.Answer sidesteps passenger list and billing questions by citing past government practice.as I said, we are following the practice of the previous government.
  16. answered
    JusticeMr. Réal Ménard (Bloc) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). loaded question.Answer directly denies any plan or statement about jailing 12-year-olds.there are no plans to change the law in that respect, and I have never said that we would.
  17. deflected
    JusticeMr. Réal Ménard (Bloc) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). rhetorical question.The answer ignores the question on arms circulation and Quebec's preventive model to restate incarceration policy.this government supports alternative measures, but when it comes to adult repeat offenders who violate the safety of Canadian citizens, all Canadians, including Quebeckers, do not approve of the fact that those individuals should be on the street.
  18. deflected
    Telecommunications IndustryMr. Maka Kotto (Bloc) asked Maxime Bernier (Conservative). substantive question.The answer avoids addressing cultural risks and instead urges the Bloc to support the policy.I would like the Bloc Québécois to work with us for once, to ensure that this policy is passed by Parliament as soon as possible.
  19. partly answered
    Telecommunications IndustryMr. Maka Kotto (Bloc) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses the funding cuts by explaining the hold, resumption, and new allocations.Subsequent to that, we have resumed funding for artists for international touring through the arts promotion program.
  20. misdirected
    Ministerial ExpensesMarlene Jennings (Liberal) asked Jean-Pierre Blackburn (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the asker's class and denies the premise without explaining the dual payments.I would have thought the member had a little more class.
  21. misdirected
    Ministerial ExpensesMarlene Jennings (Liberal) asked Jean-Pierre Blackburn (Conservative). loaded question.The answer again attacks the asker and diverts to unrelated register entries instead of justifying the payments.As well, it says that the member for Bourassa , herself, has been employed—
  22. deflected
    HIV-AIDSMs. Ruby Dhalla (Liberal) asked Josée Verner (Conservative). loaded question.The answer shifts focus to international AIDS efforts and avoids domestic funding timelines.To combat this scourge, the government has contributed $250 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria since it took office
  23. partly answered
    HIV-AIDSMs. Ruby Dhalla (Liberal) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). loaded question.The answer provides specific domestic funding figures but frames it as correcting the asker.In fact, this government has put in an extra $472 million for HIV-AIDS sufferers in Canada that will go to support programs for vulnerable people, research, surveillance, public awareness and evaluation.
  24. answered
    National DefenceMs. Dawn Black (NDP) asked Gordon O'Connor (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly states there is no plan or operational need to deploy CF-18s.there has been no recommendation to deploy CF-18s.
  25. partly answered
    National DefenceMs. Dawn Black (NDP) asked Gordon O'Connor (Conservative). loaded question.Answer addresses the CF-18 funding rationale but ignores the core accusation of ministerial ignorance and the tanks reference.recently we made a commitment to NATO that we will have six CF-18s ready for NATO if it requires us.
  26. deflected
    The EnvironmentJohn Godfrey (Liberal) asked Rona Ambrose (Conservative). loaded question.Answer shifts to observer numbers and consultations instead of addressing the delegation composition change.In fact, more than 80 Canadian organizations are accredited observers in Nairobi.
  27. deflected
    The EnvironmentJohn Godfrey (Liberal) asked Rona Ambrose (Conservative). loaded question.Answer dismisses the request with a personal jab and offers vague consultation without committing to including opposition MPs.I think he is fishing for an invite to Kenya, but what I will say is that we continue to work with all opposition parties on the Canadian submission on these issues.
  28. misdirected
    The EnvironmentKaren Redman (Liberal) asked Rona Ambrose (Conservative). substantive question.Answer pivots to new legislation and OPG talks rather than explaining the status of the promised $540 million.as members know, we have introduced legislation that would apply to all the industry, including the electricity sector.
  29. misdirected
    The EnvironmentKaren Redman (Liberal) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). substantive question.Answer discusses unrelated funding agreements and tax savings instead of addressing the specific $540 million coal-plant commitment.I know the premier of Ontario is grumpy about some things but the one thing he should not be grumpy about is the funding of the Canada-Ontario agreement which is fully funded in budget 2006.
  30. partly answered
    Aboriginal AffairsMr. Marc Lemay (Bloc) asked Mr. Rod Bruinooge (Conservative). loaded question.Answer cites recent housing funding but does not address the empty-handed appearance at the specific forum or the quote.the minister has moved forward with one of the largest announcements we have seen in many years: $300 million for northern housing and $300 million for off reserve housing.
  31. deflected
    Aboriginal AffairsMr. Marc Lemay (Bloc) asked Mr. Rod Bruinooge (Conservative). substantive question.Answer repeats funding announcements without explaining the minister's absence on the housing debate day.Meaningful things came from this event, including deliberations on housing.
  32. deflected
    The EnvironmentJean Lapierre (Liberal) asked Rona Ambrose (Conservative). loaded question.Answer criticizes the prior government and calls for regulations instead of addressing the Stern report rejection or 2050 timeline.the report stresses that there has been a lack of progress made worldwide on this issue.
  33. deflected
    The EnvironmentMs. Judy Wasylycia-Leis (NDP) asked Rona Ambrose (Conservative). substantive question.Answer restates government actions and blames prior government instead of addressing whether the Stern report changes the minister's approach.what motivated us to take serious action was the call from Canadians.
  34. deflected
    The EnvironmentMs. Judy Wasylycia-Leis (NDP) asked Rona Ambrose (Conservative). loaded question.Answer invites input but avoids committing to any overhaul or immediate action demanded by the question.If the NDP members have good ideas, I look forward to hearing from them.
  35. misdirected
    Atlantic Canada Opportunities AgencyMr. Michael Savage (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.Answer calls the premise patently false and attacks the asker rather than addressing the pattern of appointments.that is, as is always the case with the member opposite, patently false.
  36. partly answered
    Canadian Wheat BoardWayne Easter (Liberal) asked Chuck Strahl (Conservative). substantive question.Answer confirms commitment to marketing choice and public release of the report but does not confirm a farmer vote requirement.I was very pleased that I could make the task force report public today.
  37. answered
    Citizenship and ImmigrationMs. Johanne Deschamps (Bloc) asked Monte Solberg (Conservative). substantive question.Answer directly explains the independent assessment and pre-removal risk process used for the deportation decision.Pre-removal risk assessments are also done to determine if people are in danger.
  38. partly answered
    LabourMs. Chris Charlton (NDP) asked Jean-Pierre Blackburn (Conservative). substantive question.Answer addresses the wage protection bill progress but does not address the broader industrial strategy or prior proclamation failure.We are currently drafting the procedures, and we should be able to report on our progress to this House very soon.