All sittings← 2007-02-262007-02-28 →
Tuesday, February 27, 2007 · sitting No. 119
Bank act amendments advance after committee review
The House spent the largest share of the sitting on third reading of Bill C-37, an act to amend the Bank Act. Conservative MP Diane Ablonczy introduced the bill and said the five-year review of financial institutions legislation would strengthen consumer disclosure while avoiding unnecessary red tape. Liberal MP Paul Szabo questioned an amendment allowing cabinet to exempt certain accounts from disclosure requirements.
In Question Period, Liberal MP Michael Ignatieff pressed Prime Minister Stephen Harper on the expiry of anti-terrorism provisions and accused the government of refusing committee recommendations for reform. Harper replied that the Liberal leader had flip-flopped on support for the measures and ignored families of 9/11 and Air-India victims. Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe asked Harper to correct statements by Quebec Premier Jean Charest on federal transfers during a possible sovereignty referendum, and Harper declined to intervene in the provincial campaign.
Decided that day
- 13th Report of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage passed
- Motion on immigrants and citizenship passed
- Anti-terrorism Act motion failed
- Bill C-37 advanced in first chamber
- Bill C-408 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 · 2007-02-27
64Bank Act dominates, two motions advanceThe sitting devoted most time to the Bank Act while advancing two bills and recording three votes on motions and reports. Question Period produced few direct answers and the Speaker issued three calls to order.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
Afghanistan
Liberal MP Denis Coderre asked why the government lacked an exit strategy for Canadian troops in Afghanistan and accused it of hiding plans to extend the mission past February 2009. Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor demanded an apology for references to detainee abuse.
Read the exchangeStatus of Women
Bloc Québécois MP Nicole Demers asked Heritage Minister Bev Oda where savings from closing regional Status of Women offices would be redirected. Oda said the government would fund projects that help women directly in their communities.
Read the exchangeInfrastructure
NDP Leader Jack Layton told the House that the infrastructure deficit had reached $60 billion and asked for a long-term urban strategy. Harper said the previous budget already delivered record transfers to municipalities.
Read the exchangeSoftwood Lumber
Bloc Québécois MP Serge Cardin warned that U.S. allegations of anti-circumvention violations could restart the softwood lumber conflict. International Trade Minister David Emerson said the binational committee established under the agreement would address provincial practices.
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
- misdirectedAnti-terrorism ActMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the Liberal leader's flip-flop and invokes 9/11 families instead of committing to or addressing proposed reforms.
The hon. member for the Liberal Party knows full well that the powers that are there are necessary for national security.
- deflectedAnti-terrorism ActMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer restates satisfaction with existing laws and repeats flip-flop accusations rather than explaining rejection of committee reforms.
the government is obviously happy with the provisions that exist.
- misdirectedAnti-terrorism ActMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer lists personal attacks on the Liberal leader's meetings and judgment instead of committing to new legislation.
What erodes trust is when the leader of the Liberal Party flip-flops his position on the eve of the vote
- deflectedAnti-terrorism ActLucienne Robillard (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer blames the Liberal leader's last-minute change and urges protection of interests without addressing the lack of analysis or plan.
it is the leader of the Liberal Party who changed his position at the last minute.
- misdirectedAnti-terrorism ActLucienne Robillard (Liberal) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). loaded question.The answer shifts to past Liberal support and attacks new leadership trustworthiness instead of addressing the Prime Minister's record on rights.
The only one people cannot trust is the new leadership of the Liberal Party.
- answeredQuebec ElectionsMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly states refusal to intervene in Quebec's provincial election process as requested.
I am the leader of a federal party here, in the House of Commons.
- deflectedQuebec ElectionsMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer pivots to federal budget support instead of clarifying responsibility regarding Charest's statements.
I will only say that we have one major decision to make here, and that is whether or not to support the next federal budget
- partly answeredQuebec ElectionsMr. Michel Gauthier (Bloc) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses fiscal balance negotiations but does not counter or clarify Charest's statements on equalization and referendums.
one of our responsibilities federally is to restore fiscal balance in Canada.
- deflectedQuebec ElectionsMr. Michel Gauthier (Bloc) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). substantive question.Answer discusses fiscal balance and ends by stating no interference in Quebec election without addressing transfers or Charest.
We certainly have no intention of interfering in an election in Quebec.
- deflectedInfrastructureJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Answer highlights tax cuts and past transfers but avoids confirming any new urban strategy.
In the last budget the Minister of Finance brought in the highest levels in history of transfers for infrastructure spending for cities and communities throughout this country.
- deflectedInfrastructureJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Answer reiterates tax cuts and record infrastructure spending without confirming an urban strategy in the budget.
At the same time, this government has put record amounts of money into infrastructure.
- misdirectedGovernment of CanadaRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). loaded question.Answer shifts to Liberal support for Anti-terrorism Act and flip-flops instead of addressing government conduct or trust issues.
It was not just police officers and police enforcement agencies.
- misdirectedGovernment of CanadaRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). loaded question.Answer focuses on Liberal embarrassment and Senate support changes rather than government actions on rights or trust.
The Liberals are trying to change the channel now.
- misdirectedAfghanistanDenis Coderre (Liberal) asked Gordon O'Connor (Conservative). loaded question.Answer demands apology for comments on detainee abuse instead of addressing exit strategy or cover-up claims.
These are despicable comments and I demand an apology to the armed forces here and now.
- misdirectedAfghanistanDenis Coderre (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Answer attacks Liberal leader's inconsistent votes on troops and mentions Karzai call rather than clarifying post-2009 plans.
the Liberal Party leader voted to send our troops to Kandahar, then he voted against sending our troops to Kandahar, and last week, he supported sending our troops to Kandahar.
- deflectedAfghanistanMs. Francine Lalonde (Bloc) asked Gordon O'Connor (Conservative). substantive question.Answer states investigations are ongoing without addressing the agreement, torture risks, or Netherlands example.
Eventually all four investigations will come to a result and we will know what the truth is.
- deflectedAfghanistanMs. Francine Lalonde (Bloc) asked Gordon O'Connor (Conservative). substantive question.The answer restates satisfaction with the agreement without addressing the request to compare with the Netherlands arrangement.
we are satisfied with the modalities of the agreement.
- partly answeredStatus of WomenMs. Nicole Demers (Bloc) asked Bev Oda (Conservative). substantive question.The answer specifies the amount redirected but does not name specific services or investment locations.
as of April 1, the $5 million will be available for women in the communities.
- deflectedStatus of WomenMs. Nicole Demers (Bloc) asked Bev Oda (Conservative). substantive question.The answer avoids confirming or denying any fund transfer and restates a general funding principle.
any application for funding and support that will do that in every community through organizations will be supported if they qualify.
- deflectedFinanceJohn McCallum (Liberal) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). loaded question.The answer questions whether a question exists then pivots to agreement on over-taxation without addressing program cuts or transfers.
I am not sure if there was a question there.
- misdirectedFinanceJohn McCallum (Liberal) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). loaded question.The answer demands an apology for the insult instead of addressing the tax or surplus question.
I insist that the member opposite apologize for calling me a raving socialist finance minister.
- deflectedFinanceMs. Yasmin Ratansi (Liberal) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). loaded question.The provided answer is truncated and offers no substantive reply to the tax or program questions.
- deflectedFinanceRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). rhetorical question.The interjection is not a question and the reply dismisses it without engagement.
Ralph, relax, we are going to deal with it.
- deflectedFinanceMs. Yasmin Ratansi (Liberal) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). loaded question.The answer returns to general tax reduction claims and ignores the specific program reinstatement demand.
We did that in budget 2006 by reducing consumption taxes, reducing income taxes, reducing corporate taxes, reducing excise taxes, reducing every kind of tax that the Government of Canada takes from the people of Canada.
- answeredDemocratic ReformMs. Catherine Bell (NDP) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). loaded question.The answer directly clarifies the goal of a representative sample excluding special interests while naming the demographics sought.
It should be representative of the population in terms of women, in terms of aboriginals, in terms of regions, in terms of income, in terms of ethnicity.
- misdirectedDemocratic ReformMs. Catherine Bell (NDP) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). loaded question.The answer shifts to attacking the NDP's past actions instead of addressing the contract or think tank's role.
What I want to know is why the member's party, the NDP, barred Canadians from participating in a consultation by the parliamentary committee.
- partly answeredGovernment ProgramsRaymond Simard (Liberal) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the importance of post-secondary education and upcoming budget discussions but does not address the specific funding shortfall or guarantee.
I look forward to moving forward on that issue when we have the budget in the House in two weeks.
- misdirectedGovernment ProgramsRaymond Simard (Liberal) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). loaded question.The answer pivots to praising infrastructure spending in the asker's constituency rather than addressing program cuts.
I am sure the member opposite would not refer to his constituents as victims, since they just were the beneficiaries of $170 million in infrastructure funding announced by my colleague
- deflectedStatus of WomenJudy Sgro (Liberal) asked Bev Oda (Conservative). loaded question.The answer lists unrelated government actions on women instead of addressing the budget cuts to Status of Women Canada.
In fact, in one year this government has done more for women.
- deflectedStatus of WomenJudy Sgro (Liberal) asked Bev Oda (Conservative). loaded question.The answer restates actions on aboriginal women and funding increases without addressing the budget promise or protests.
In fact, the $5 million will be going to help women, which is almost a 50% increase toward women and their needs.
- answeredSoftwood LumberMr. Serge Cardin (Bloc) asked David Emerson (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly explains the binational committee's role in reviewing the anti-circumvention issues under the agreement.
These provincial practices will be discussed there.
- deflectedSoftwood LumberMr. Serge Cardin (Bloc) asked David Emerson (Conservative). loaded question.The answer defends the agreement's benefits without addressing the specific U.S. allegations or proposed government response.
Therefore, it offers a lot of protection, a lot of stability and a lot of security for the next seven to nine years.
- deflectedOil and Gas IndustryDan McTeague (Liberal) asked Gary Lunn (Conservative). loaded question.The answer discusses supply disruptions and mitigation efforts but ignores the explicit request for a full inquiry instead of the Competition Bureau.
We are working with the industry and the provinces affected to do every thing we can to mitigate any shortages.
- partly answeredArctic SovereigntyMr. Dennis Bevington (NDP) asked Gordon O'Connor (Conservative). substantive question.The answer identifies multiple departments involved but does not name a single person or lead in charge.
a number of departments and ministers are involved in enforcing our sovereignty in the north.
- answeredArctic SovereigntyMr. Dennis Bevington (NDP) asked Gordon O'Connor (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly addresses the request for northern consultation in sovereignty planning.
Any action we take, no matter which department, we will always consult the people up there.
- partly answeredCitizenship and ImmigrationJim Karygiannis (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.The answer provides some actions taken but does not address the scale of the problem or admit lack of a full plan.
That is why we are taking action by having a dedicated line in our call centre.
- partly answeredGovernment ProgramsMs. Judy Wasylycia-Leis (NDP) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the issue and offers future consultation but does not commit to fixing the weekly pass loophole.
I look forward to consulting with the member about it.