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Monday, November 19, 2007 · sitting No. 19
Commons debates security certificate bill amid opposition concerns
The House spent the largest share of the sitting on second reading of Bill C-3, which amends the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to address Supreme Court rulings on security certificates and the role of special advocates. Conservative MP Dave MacKenzie said the bill meets the court's concerns while allowing deportation of individuals who pose a threat. NDP MP Dawn Black and Bloc Québécois MP Serge Ménard raised objections over secret hearings, indefinite detention and the absence of trials in Canada for alleged offences.
Question period focused on allegations that the government had evidence of detainee torture in Afghanistan months before it acknowledged the information. Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion and Liberal MP Michael Ignatieff accused the Prime Minister of misleading the House. Prime Minister Stephen Harper replied that the government learned of one recent case only weeks earlier and is investigating under the existing arrangement with Afghan authorities.
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 · 2007-11-19
69Bills Tabled, Answers SkippedThe House spent most of its time on substantive debate and introduced four bills, yet recorded no votes and saw many Question Period replies miss the mark. Four calls to order punctuated an otherwise orderly sitting.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
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
NDP Leader Jack Layton asked whether the RCMP had been directed to stop using tasers pending a review after the death of Robert Dziekanski at Vancouver airport. Prime Minister Stephen Harper said operational decisions rest with the force and that multiple reviews are under way.
Read the exchangeFood and Drugs Act
Liberal MP Paul Szabo moved second reading of Bill C-251 to require warning labels on alcoholic beverages about fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Conservative MP Steven Fletcher said a previous health committee study found labels would not reduce hazardous drinking.
Read the exchangeThe Environment
Bloc Québécois MP Bernard Bigras pressed the government to adopt Kyoto targets before the Bali conference. Environment Minister John Baird replied that the government is regulating large emitters for the first time after 13 years of Liberal inaction.
Read the exchangeJustice
Liberal MP Carolyn Bennett asked whether Canada would intervene to spare a Canadian facing execution in Montana. Justice Minister Rob Nicholson answered that it would not.
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
- misdirectedAfghanistanStéphane Dion (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer changes the subject to condolences for fallen soldiers instead of addressing the allegation of misleading the House.
Mr. Speaker, first I would like to take this opportunity to offer my sincere condolences to the loved ones of Corporal Beauchamp and Private Lévesque, who were killed by the Taliban last Friday.
- deflectedAirbusStéphane Dion (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer restates the government's position on a recent case without addressing the broader claim of repeated misleading on Mulroney or torture.
There is evidence of allegations in a case we learned about recently, two weeks ago.
- deflectedAirbusStéphane Dion (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the questioner's credibility and lists Liberal inconsistencies rather than committing to testify.
when the Leader of the Opposition alleges vast conspiracies and then votes by abstaining to keep the government in office, nobody takes his allegations seriously.
- partly answeredAfghanistanMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly rebuts the claim of prior knowledge and states when evidence was learned, though without new details.
As the government already has said, we learned of evidence of abuse in one recent case in the past couple of weeks.
- answeredAfghanistanMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses the legal compliance and monitoring improvements for detainee transfers including minors.
We have an enhanced agreement that allows for greater tracking of these individuals and greater monitoring.
- partly answeredAfghanistanMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer clarifies the timeline of discovering evidence but does not explain the months of denial.
Recently, we discovered a case where there is evidence to support the allegations.
- deflectedAfghanistanMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer disputes the premise about Karzai but avoids committing to a moratorium on transfers.
President Karzai has clearly indicated that he is opposed to torture and that he is working to make sure it is not practised in Afghanistan.
- deflectedNational DefenceMr. Claude Bachand (Bloc) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.The answer questions the asker's intent rather than explaining the inconsistent security criteria for disclosure.
I am not sure whether the hon. member is complaining because there is too much information or not enough.
- deflectedNational DefenceMr. Claude Bachand (Bloc) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.The answer explains the contracting process but does not commit to publishing a complete list of suppliers.
We make these contracts available on the website after they have been awarded.
- partly answeredRoyal Canadian Mounted PoliceJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The response acknowledges the issue and notes ongoing inquiries without directly addressing the specific requests regarding taser use and retraining.
As he will know, the government does not interfere in the operational activities of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
- partly answeredRoyal Canadian Mounted PoliceJack Layton (NDP) asked Stockwell Day (Conservative). substantive question.Details ongoing reviews but sidesteps the call for immediate action on policy and retraining.
A number of reviews are ongoing right now.
- deflectedAirbusMr. Mark Holland (Liberal) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). loaded question.The answer rejects the premise of owing a career to Mulroney and declines to comment on extradition.
first, I owe my political career to the good people of Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake and Fort Erie, who were good enough to send me to Parliament.
- deflectedAirbusMr. Mark Holland (Liberal) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). loaded question.The answer refuses to comment on extradition and defends the inquiry process without addressing the request to keep Schreiber in Canada.
as I indicated with respect to the extradition matters, it would be inappropriate to comment on that.
- deflectedAirbusMarlene Jennings (Liberal) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). loaded question.The answer ignores the question about praising Mulroney and restates the inquiry process.
once a sworn allegation in an affidavit came to light, just about a week ago, the Prime Minister set in motion a procedure, which I think most Canadians will find reasonable
- misdirectedAirbusMarlene Jennings (Liberal) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). loaded question.The answer ignores the dinner and Mulroney praise questions entirely and redirects to the inquiry parameters.
the hon. member may not have heard it the first time, but a process has been put in place with Dr. Johnston.
- misdirectedPaillé ReportMr. Michel Guimond (Bloc) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). substantive question.The answer mocks the question about the Paillé report and pivots to defending Johnston instead of providing a timeline.
It seems to me that we have to prepare the report first.
- answeredPaillé ReportMr. Michel Guimond (Bloc) asked Mr. James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly responds to the timing of the report.
- partly answeredThe EnvironmentMr. Bernard Bigras (Bloc) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.States a position briefly then pivots to attacking prior governments.
the government will take the same position as this report, which was the inspiration for real action by the Government of Canada
- deflectedThe EnvironmentMr. Bernard Bigras (Bloc) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.Ignores the specific criticism of the plan and repeats attacks on past governments.
We do not just carry out studies and attend international conferences; we take real action in Canada.
- partly answeredAfghanistanDenis Coderre (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.Addresses the juvenile transfer policy but avoids confirming knowledge of torture.
we have a strict policy in place. Canadian Forces in Afghanistan have clear instructions on what to do
- misdirectedAfghanistanDenis Coderre (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.Ignores the question on stopping transfers and instead attacks the asker.
what is absolutely abhorrent is the member's fixation, knowing that the blood of Canadian soldiers and innocent Afghans are on the hands of the Taliban.
- misdirectedAfghanistanBryon Wilfert (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.Avoids the evidence question and attacks the prior Liberal record instead.
When we came to office, the Canadian Forces had been hollowed out.
- deflectedAfghanistanBryon Wilfert (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.Ignores the call to stop transfers and pivots to general human-rights benefits of the mission.
it is exactly human rights that we are in Afghanistan to protect.
- deflectedAirbusMr. Pat Martin (NDP) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). substantive question.Avoids any action on recouping funds and redirects to the upcoming inquiry.
The government readily agreed to having a public inquiry with the terms set by Dr. Johnston.
- deflectedAirbusMr. Pat Martin (NDP) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). loaded question.The answer ignores the demand to reclaim the $2.1 million and pivots to criticizing the NDP over the inquiry.
I can tell they were a little bit disappointed when they actually got what they asked for.
- answeredRoyal Canadian Mounted PoliceUjjal Dosanjh (Liberal) asked Stockwell Day (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly addresses the concern by confirming multiple independent reviews are underway.
That is one of the reasons there are at least three independent reviews going on right now in terms of what took place.
- misdirectedRoyal Canadian Mounted PoliceUjjal Dosanjh (Liberal) asked Stockwell Day (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the questioner personally over past BC policy instead of addressing the call for a taser review.
That was done while that particular member was the attorney general and while there were many concerns being raised about taser use.
- deflectedThe EnvironmentJohn Godfrey (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer rejects the premise and shifts to criticizing the previous Liberal government rather than addressing current support for UN scientists.
I reject totally the premise of the member's question.
- deflectedThe EnvironmentJohn Godfrey (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks Liberal inaction instead of responding to the request for a science-based plan.
All the Liberal Party wants to do is examine, investigate, probe, commission reports, analyze, debate and study.
- answeredThe EnvironmentMs. Paule Brunelle (Bloc) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly rebuts the premise about the carbon tax applying to Canada.
France's prime minister, president and minister of the environment have all been very clear: these measures would not apply to Canada.
- partly answeredThe EnvironmentMs. Paule Brunelle (Bloc) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer states the 2020 target but then pivots to criticizing the Bloc and Liberals rather than addressing Quebec exporters.
this government is going to keep its commitment to reduce in absolute terms the number of greenhouse gas emissions in this country by 20% by 2020.
- answeredJusticeCarolyn Bennett (Liberal) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly responds to both questions with a clear no.
Mr. Speaker, the answer to both those questions is: no.
- deflectedAfghanistanMs. Dawn Black (NDP) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.The answer discusses monitoring and segregation practices but avoids the question's request for the date or order to stop transfers.
With respect to detainees or prisoners taken by Canadian Forces, we take a similar practice.
- answeredAfghanistanMs. Dawn Black (NDP) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.The answer directly rejects the premise before shifting to criticism and unrelated positives.
- answeredJusticeMs. Colleen Beaumier (Liberal) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). loaded question.The answer corrects the false premise and confirms support for the motion as asked.
In fact, Mr. Speaker, we do support the UN motion.