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Wednesday, February 13, 2008 · sitting No. 50

Commons advances bill to adjust House seat distribution

The House spent the largest portion of the sitting debating Bill C-22 at second reading. The legislation proposes to amend the Constitution Act 1867 to bring representation by population closer to equality while protecting the existing seat counts of smaller provinces. Government House leader Peter Van Loan said the measure restores fairness without a pure representation-by-population formula that would cut seats from some provinces. Liberal MP Omar Alghabra countered that the formula remains unfair to Ontario.

Question period featured exchanges on the future of the Afghanistan mission. Liberal leader Stéphane Dion pressed Prime Minister Stephen Harper to confirm that upcoming debate would rest on Liberal conditions for greater competence and accountability. Harper replied that the government's approach follows the Manley panel report and maintains bipartisan support for Canadian personnel.

Other exchanges in question period addressed the budget surplus, manufacturing job losses and cancer-care wait times, with ministers defending the government's record of balanced budgets and new investments.

Decided that day

  • Bill referred to Standing Committee on Environment passed
  • Bill referred to legislative committee passed
  • C-8, C-42, C-40, C-474 and C-469 advanced a stage
  • C-505 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 · 2008-02-13

Government (Conservative)OppositionOver the day: government 43%, opposition 57% of the words spokenGovernment businessEmergency Debate▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 14:0516:0017:0018:0019:0020:0021:0022:00Last speech 23:35Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 9 h 30 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
62Bills Creep Forward Amid Livestock TalkSeveral pieces of legislation advanced through first or second reading and committee referrals while the livestock industry consumed the largest share of speaking time. Question Period produced more deflected answers than clear ones and only a modest portion of debate qualified as substantive business.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 leader Stéphane Dion asked whether debate on the Afghanistan mission would incorporate Liberal demands for greater transparency and honesty in governance.

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The Budget

Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe urged the government to use part of the current surplus for immediate aid to businesses and regions rather than allocating the entire amount to debt reduction.

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Manufacturing and Forestry Industries

Bloc Québécois MP Paul Crête said tax cuts alone would not help forestry firms such as Tembec and called for a refundable research-and-development tax credit.

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Health

NDP leader Jack Layton asked when the government would deliver on promised reductions in cancer-care delays after a new report card highlighted rising drug costs and access problems.

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Political Donations

Conservative MP Daryl Kramp questioned whether the Liberal Party's planned auction fundraiser would circumvent the 2006 anti-corruption law limiting corporate and individual donations.

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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
    AfghanistanStéphane Dion (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer restates general support without confirming debate terms requested.We have been absolutely clear and transparent in our unqualified support for the men and women in uniform who are doing this mission and we will continue to support them.
  2. partly answered
    AfghanistanStéphane Dion (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Mentions NATO assistance but does not address rotation principle or specific assurance.We need to do all this in order to improve the situation, and the government will seek NATO assistance to that end.
  3. answered
    AfghanistanStéphane Dion (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Directly states intent to end mission in 2011 as requested.We said in the throne speech that our intent was to end the mission in 2011.
  4. partly answered
    AfghanistanMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Addresses general timing but avoids exact dates for training or mission end.we are both seeking an end to the mission around 2011.
  5. partly answered
    AfghanistanMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Discusses consensus but does not acknowledge need to reach out specifically.this government will work towards establishing this consensus.
  6. deflected
    The BudgetMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Shifts focus to deficit avoidance instead of surplus allocation.That is also this government's policy.
  7. deflected
    The BudgetMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Restates general policy and accuses opposition rather than addressing immediate surplus use.I know that the Bloc and the other opposition parties always want to spend more.
  8. misdirected
    Manufacturing and Forestry IndustriesMr. Paul Crête (Bloc) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). substantive question.Pivots to deficit concerns instead of responding to R&D tax credit request.what the hon. member is suggesting is that his party would run a deficit in 2008-09.
  9. deflected
    Manufacturing and Forestry IndustriesMr. Paul Crête (Bloc) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). substantive question.The answer pivots to deficit warnings instead of addressing the requested assistance plan.The assumption is that there will be a $10 billion surplus, at least, in 2008-09, which is unlikely.
  10. partly answered
    HealthJack Layton (NDP) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.The answer mentions investments in cancer and wait times but does not address the specific promise on wait lists.This government has invested in wait time reductions.
  11. deflected
    HealthJack Layton (NDP) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.The answer shifts blame to the previous government rather than addressing the current wait-time guarantee status.under the previous Liberal government, delays and wait times doubled in this country.
  12. misdirected
    The EconomyJohn McCallum (Liberal) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the prior Liberal record instead of responding to the question about current economic conditions.That is what the Liberals did to Canada.
  13. deflected
    The EconomyJohn McCallum (Liberal) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). loaded question.The answer dismisses the question with a personal remark and pivots to spending and deficits.I am not going to get into a debate with the hon. member on Viagra.
  14. misdirected
    Automotive IndustryScott Brison (Liberal) asked Jim Prentice (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the previous Liberal government instead of addressing the Prime Minister's response to the union.the largest automotive plant closures that have happened in Canada happened in 2002, 2003, 2004 when there was a Liberal government
  15. misdirected
    Automotive IndustryScott Brison (Liberal) asked Jim Prentice (Conservative). loaded question.The answer again blames the prior Liberal government rather than addressing the Prime Minister's plan for manufacturing workers.why the former Liberal government at the time that it was in office did not deal with the issues.
  16. answered
    AfghanistanMr. Claude Bachand (Bloc) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly addresses the equipment concerns raised in the question.Our government is always looking for ways to improve the equipment for soldiers deployed in the field in Afghanistan.
  17. answered
    AfghanistanMr. Claude Bachand (Bloc) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly addresses concerns about holsters and ongoing equipment upgrades for soldiers.We are constantly in the process of upgrading equipment, including vests, holsters, boots, personal equipment of the soldiers, and testing new processes, new equipment with respect to Kevlar, the type of protection and location on the body.
  18. deflected
    AfghanistanMrs. Vivian Barbot (Bloc) asked Maxime Bernier (Conservative). loaded question.The response avoids the accusation of concealing information and instead discusses general anti-drug efforts.we are working with the Afghan government. The Afghan government has an anti-drug policy.
  19. misdirected
    AfghanistanMrs. Vivian Barbot (Bloc) asked Maxime Bernier (Conservative). substantive question.The answer shifts focus to attacking the Bloc Québécois for not supporting a motion rather than addressing the drug issue.Why does the Bloc Québécois not want to support our soldiers?
  20. deflected
    InfrastructureMr. Paul Zed (Liberal) asked Lawrence Cannon (Conservative). loaded question.The answer compares past spending figures but does not address the infrastructure deficit or respect for mayors.from the period of 2002 to 2005, for instance, in the urban transit sector, the Liberals put $46 million a year into it. Under our government, it is $1 billion a year for urban transit.
  21. deflected
    InfrastructureMr. Paul Zed (Liberal) asked Lawrence Cannon (Conservative). loaded question.The response offers a specific project example and mayor quote instead of addressing the broader criticisms of the fund.I am very thankful for the support that the Government of Canada has announced today
  22. answered
    InfrastructureMr. Jean-Claude D'Amours (Liberal) asked Lawrence Cannon (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses long-term funding by noting signed provincial cooperation agreements under the Building Canada Fund.So far, I am pleased to say that five provinces have signed a cooperation agreement with us under the terms of the Building Canada Fund.
  23. answered
    InfrastructureMr. Jean-Claude D'Amours (Liberal) asked Lawrence Cannon (Conservative). substantive question.The answer provides concrete examples of infrastructure projects and investments to demonstrate action.We were able to open and inaugurate the Trans-Canada Highway.
  24. answered
    Chalk River Nuclear FacilitiesMs. Judy Wasylycia-Leis (NDP) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.The answer explains the timeline and actions taken once the isotope shortage was recognized as a crisis.As soon as we learned that this was not just a shortage but a crisis that was going to affect the health and safety of Canadians, we acted.
  25. deflected
    Chalk River Nuclear FacilitiesMs. Judy Wasylycia-Leis (NDP) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). loaded question.The answer avoids the timeline accusation by shaming the asker instead of addressing the facts raised.The hon. member now wants to sully what was a unanimous agreement in the House. Shame on her.
  26. deflected
    HomelessnessJudy Sgro (Liberal) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). loaded question.The answer shifts to listing programs without addressing the accusation about helping only cronies.This is a very important body that will help address important issues in Canada, including homelessness, which, as members know, relates, to a significant degree, to mental illness and mental challenges faced by people living on the streets.
  27. deflected
    HomelessnessJudy Sgro (Liberal) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). loaded question.The answer cites external praise for a program but ignores the question about whether a poverty plan exists.As the United Way of Greater Toronto said, with respect to the working income tax benefit, WITB is a positive change "that will help to improve the situations of low-income families".
  28. misdirected
    Government ProgramsKen Dryden (Liberal) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). substantive question.The answer pivots to attacking the Liberal Party's fundraising instead of addressing the funding cuts for community groups.Who is it that the Liberal Party listens to? Who has a voice there? Who gets to talk to the member for York Centre ? A corporation that is willing to pay the sky is the limit donation tonight to his party.
  29. misdirected
    Government ProgramsKen Dryden (Liberal) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). rhetorical question.The answer counters with historical Liberal scandals rather than responding to the question about acting like a prime minister.from time immemorial, the Liberals' game has been a cynical game. They use power to line their pockets, as they did in the sponsorship scandal, and find every way they can to break the rules for their own personal benefit.
  30. partly answered
    Government contractsMs. Diane Bourgeois (Bloc) asked Lawrence Cannon (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses the appointment process but does not address the broader claim of political interference.regarding the appointment of the CEO of the Port of Montreal, as my colleagues in this House know, that decision was made by the port's board of directors, which followed a procedure that they themselves had established.
  31. answered
    Government contractsMs. Meili Faille (Bloc) asked Lawrence Cannon (Conservative). loaded question.The answer directly denies interference and states the board chose the best candidate from multiple options.there was no interference, cronyism or patronage. The board of directors had a number of candidates to choose from. And that is what it did. It chose the best candidate.
  32. partly answered
    Aboriginal AffairsAnita Neville (Liberal) asked Chuck Strahl (Conservative). substantive question.The answer confirms commitment to an apology but does not specify when it will occur.our Conservative government is committed to delivering a respectful and meaningful apology to all former students of residential schools in Canada.