Commons debates budget bill as Liberals and Bloc press Afghanistan withdrawal

Other moments

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
   AfghanistanMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer mourns losses and praises equipment but never addresses replacing the minister.We have been very generous in terms of new equipment.
2. partly answered
   AfghanistanMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer clarifies the 2009 extension but sidesteps the question of post-2009 intentions.
3. misdirected
   AfghanistanMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the Liberals and Elizabeth May instead of pledging an end date.I note that the policy of Elizabeth May and the Green Party is to cut the Canadian Forces budget by 50%.
4. answered
   AfghanistanDenis Coderre (Liberal) asked Gordon O'Connor (Conservative). loaded question.The answer directly rebuts the escalation claim with facts about the tank replacement.We have a squadron of tanks over there now, Leopard 1s.
5. answered
   AfghanistanDenis Coderre (Liberal) asked Gordon O'Connor (Conservative). loaded question.The answer restates the February 2009 commitment and planning for other missions.our military commitment in Afghanistan is to the end of February 2009.
6. deflected
   Aerospace IndustryMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Maxime Bernier (Conservative). substantive question.The answer expresses confidence in Quebec firms but avoids confirming or denying regional quotas.We are confident that they will be able to get their fair share of the contracts from the industrial spinoffs.
7. misdirected
   Aerospace IndustryMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Maxime Bernier (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the Bloc's relevance instead of addressing the quota figures or tabling the contract.since March 26, the Bloc Québécois has been trying to determine its purpose here in Ottawa.
8. deflected
   Aerospace IndustryMs. Paule Brunelle (Bloc) asked Maxime Bernier (Conservative). substantive question.The answer criticizes the Bloc's platform rather than explaining the 15% spinoff figure.in its last election platform, the Bloc Québécois advocated cutting military spending.
9. deflected
   Aerospace IndustryMs. Paule Brunelle (Bloc) asked Maxime Bernier (Conservative). loaded question.The answer shifts focus to past Liberal patronage and elections instead of addressing contract allocations to Quebec.They are asking us to engage in patronage. We do not believe in patronage.
10. partly answered
    AfghanistanJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer confirms parliamentary approval and mission importance but ignores concerns over escalation and lack of debate.the mission in Afghanistan was approved by Parliament.
11. partly answered
    AfghanistanJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer restates the 2009 end date and seeks parliamentary approval for extensions but avoids specifying future commitment length.this Parliament extended the military mission in Afghanistan to February 2009.
12. answered
    AfghanistanKaren Redman (Liberal) asked Gordon O'Connor (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly reaffirms the February 2009 commitment and rejects the premise of an extended timeline.Our military commitment in Afghanistan is to the end of February 2009.
13. answered
    AfghanistanKaren Redman (Liberal) asked Gordon O'Connor (Conservative). substantive question.The answer repeatedly confirms the February 2009 end date without evasion.our commitment is the end of February 2009.
14. misdirected
    National DefenceAlbina Guarnieri (Liberal) asked Gordon O'Connor (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the member for playing with soldiers' lives rather than addressing support funding or extension plans.I find it outrageous that the member is playing with the soldiers' commitment to Afghanistan and their families.
15. answered
    National DefenceAlbina Guarnieri (Liberal) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.The answer cites specific budget measures including new clinics to support military families.we also have in the budget five new operational stress injury clinics to be located where military forces are to help the children, the families and the members involved in the military.
16. answered
    AfghanistanMr. Claude Bachand (Bloc) asked Gordon O'Connor (Conservative). substantive question.The answer confirms that allies know the February 2009 commitment deadline.all our allies, all NATO allies, including the group that met in Quebec City, know that our military commitment is to the end of February 2009.
17. deflected
    AfghanistanMr. Claude Bachand (Bloc) asked Gordon O'Connor (Conservative). substantive question.The answer discusses equipment instead of addressing the troop shortage issue.our soldiers are the best equipped in NATO.
18. partly answered
    Official LanguagesMr. Richard Nadeau (Bloc) asked Greg Thompson (Conservative). loaded question.The response explains the action taken but does not address the capability or affront claim.we took action immediately to have those signs removed.
19. deflected
    Official LanguagesMr. Richard Nadeau (Bloc) asked Gordon O'Connor (Conservative). loaded question.The answer promotes government actions without directly responding to the claim about French being least concern.our government supports the Official Languages Act.
20. partly answered
    Royal Canadian Mounted PoliceSue Barnes (Liberal) asked Stockwell Day (Conservative). substantive question.Addresses the preference for quick answers over a lengthy inquiry but does not detail the investigator's effectiveness.A full public inquiry could take years.
21. misdirected
    Royal Canadian Mounted PoliceSue Barnes (Liberal) asked Stockwell Day (Conservative). substantive question.The response shifts to criticizing the opposition and the asker instead of addressing the call for inquiry.When that member was the parliamentary secretary involved in legal matters and items related to policing, she did nothing to raise these questions.
22. partly answered
    Royal Canadian Mounted PoliceMr. Borys Wrzesnewskyj (Liberal) asked Stockwell Day (Conservative). substantive question.Explains the timeline preference and future options but does not directly justify blocking or address the powerless claim.If at the end of the next couple of months, it is deemed that there needs to be more powers to pursue this further, then we will take a look at that.
23. misdirected
    Royal Canadian Mounted PoliceMr. Borys Wrzesnewskyj (Liberal) asked Stockwell Day (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the questioner's past record instead of addressing the inquiry request.I might appreciate my hon. friend's sincerity a little more if it had been shown that when he was in the party in government he would have raised these questions, but he did not.
24. deflected
    Court Challenges ProgramMs. Alexa McDonough (NDP) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). substantive question.The response highlights other initiatives rather than addressing the court challenges program specifically.Just recently, for instance, to ensure that people's rights are heard, we have announced the federal victims' ombudsman so individuals who have concerns will have somebody advocating on their behalf.
25. deflected
    Court Challenges ProgramMs. Alexa McDonough (NDP) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). loaded question.The answer praises party history on rights but sidesteps any direct statement on the Charter or court challenges program.The charter of rights is a part of that proud history, and I am very proud to be associated with it.
26. answered
    Minister of Public Works and Government ServicesMr. Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal) asked Mr. James Moore (Conservative). loaded question.The answer directly states the minister had no involvement in the contract process, addressing the conflict allegation.the Minister of Public Works and Government Services has not been involved either directly or indirectly in the selection process for this contract or for any other contracts since he became Minister of Public Works last February.
27. deflected
    Minister of Public Works and Government ServicesMr. Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal) asked Mr. James Moore (Conservative). loaded question.The answer shifts to mocking the opposition and referencing another MP instead of addressing the inquiry request.Quite a change of attitude on that side of the House, Mr. Speaker.
28. misdirected
    Rail TransportationJoseph Volpe (Liberal) asked Lawrence Cannon (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the previous Liberal government rather than addressing current rail safety actions or the committee issue.For 13 years the Liberals sat by and watched rail safety in this country go down the tube.
29. partly answered
    Rail TransportationJoseph Volpe (Liberal) asked Jean-Pierre Blackburn (Conservative). substantive question.The answer notes Labour's role in strikes and mentions government efforts but does not address the minister's personal involvement in rail safety.Our government has been very active in trying to help the two parties reach a negotiated settlement in this labour dispute.
30. deflected
    Employment InsuranceMr. Yves Lessard (Bloc) asked Monte Solberg (Conservative). substantive question.The answer discusses costs of opposition bills but avoids the royal recommendation request for Bill C-269.the opposition has now come out in support of different initiatives regarding employment insurance private members' bills to the tune of about $6.2 billion a year if they were all implemented.
31. misdirected
    Employment InsuranceMr. Yves Lessard (Bloc) asked Monte Solberg (Conservative). loaded question.The answer accuses the member of being wrong and attacks the prior Liberal record instead of addressing the surplus use.
32. deflected
    JusticeMr. Jean-Claude D'Amours (Liberal) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). substantive question.The answer lists unrelated Conservative actions on rights and legal aid but does not address improving access or the court challenges program.we do not need any lessons from the Liberal Party with respect to defending people's rights.
33. deflected
    Financial InstitutionsMs. Judy Wasylycia-Leis (NDP) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). loaded question.The answer highlights specific bank actions for students and seniors but sidesteps any direct stance on ATM fees themselves.These are important steps in the right direction by these banks.
34. deflected
    Financial InstitutionsMs. Judy Wasylycia-Leis (NDP) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). loaded question.The minister states a preference for competition without addressing the call to end ATM fees or take a regulatory stand.I am on the side, as our government is, of competition and choice in financial services in Canada.
35. misdirected
    Court Challenges ProgramMaria Minna (Liberal) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). substantive question.The response commemorates the charter anniversary and touts past Conservative records instead of addressing restoration of the court challenges program.This party has had a longstanding commitment to human rights, and has this government and previous Conservative administrations.
36. partly answered
    Paillé ReviewMr. Jean-Yves Laforest (Bloc) asked Mr. James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.The answer briefly claims nothing is hidden and cites a campaign promise but offers no explanation for limiting the review to post-2003 or excluding the current government.During the election campaign, we made a promise to Canadians that we are keeping.
37. deflected
    HealthMs. Penny Priddy (NDP) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.The minister notes a review and claims no violation but pivots to an unrelated comparison with the NDP leader rather than committing to action.I see no double standard in that.
38. misdirected
    Points of OrderMaria Minna (Liberal) asked Mr. Mike Lake (Conservative). substantive question.The reply shifts blame to the Liberal Party and denies any personal attack instead of addressing the procedural concern about statements targeting non-members.Obviously my attack was directed toward the Liberal Party of Canada for giving $2.2 million of taxpayers' hard-earned money to an organization that created absolutely zero child care spaces.