All sittings← 2008-04-072008-04-09 →
Tuesday, April 8, 2008 · sitting No. 74
Liberals move motion for special Afghanistan committee on opposition day
The House spent the largest share of its sitting on a Liberal motion to create a 12-member special committee to examine the Canadian mission in Afghanistan. Bob Rae moved the motion under government business, which would grant the committee full standing-committee powers and require party whips to name members.
In Question Period, Liberal leader Stéphane Dion pressed the government on whether it had told NATO allies that the military mission in Kandahar would end in 2011. Government House leader Peter Van Loan replied that the Prime Minister and the House had been clear the mission ends in 2011.
Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe questioned the scope of the proposed inquiry into the Mulroney-Schreiber affair, arguing that only a fully public process could restore confidence. Van Loan said the government would follow independent adviser David Johnston's recommendations for an efficient public inquiry.
Decided that day
- Third Report of the Standing Committee on Status of Women passed
- Special committee on the Canadian mission in Afghanistan created
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 · 2008-04-08
64Supply debate yields two quiet votesThe House spent most of its time on business of supply yet still passed two recorded motions and advanced three bills a stage. Question period produced few direct answers while the Speaker issued six 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
Business of Supply
Bob Rae told the House that little progress had been made at committee since the March 13 motion and that the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs appeared reluctant to reach conclusions.
Read the exchangePetitions
NDP MP Denise Savoie presented petitions urging the government to reduce federal student-loan interest rates and create an ombudsperson for the Canada student loan system.
Read the exchangePetitions
Liberal MP Paul Szabo tabled an income-trust petition reminding the Prime Minister of his promise not to tax the vehicles and calling for admission that the 31.5-per-cent tax was based on flawed methodology.
Read the exchangeAutomotive Industry
Liberal MP Judy Sgro asked when the government would match Ontario's support for reopening and expanding the Ford plant in Essex; Industry Minister Jim Prentice pointed to the automotive innovation fund.
Read the exchangeThe Environment
Conservative MP James Lunney criticized the new Liberal MP for Vancouver Quadra for previously approving the pumping of raw sewage into waters off Victoria; Environment Minister John Baird said new federal regulations would ban the practice.
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
- answeredAfghanistanStéphane Dion (Liberal) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly confirms agreement and intent to establish the committee as requested.
Of course we intend to move forward with it.
- deflectedAfghanistanStéphane Dion (Liberal) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). substantive question.The answer restates the mission end date without addressing whether NATO allies were told.
Our military mission will end in 2011.
- deflectedAfghanistanStéphane Dion (Liberal) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). substantive question.The answer begins with an insult and does not engage the specific questions on timelines and costs.
I appreciate the pouting professor has time coming to positions.
- deflectedAfghanistanMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.The answer avoids the yes/no question by inviting rereading of the motion instead of confirming what was said to NATO.
I would invite the deputy leader of the party opposite to reread the motion.
- partly answeredAfghanistanCarolyn Bennett (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses the transformation focus but dismisses the asker before doing so.
There is greater emphasis on redevelopment and reconstruction and greater emphasis on the training
- deflectedAfghanistanMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.The answer discusses general changes and improvements without confirming the specific message to NATO allies.
it is clear that there are changes.
- deflectedAirbusMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). substantive question.The answer quotes the report on efficiency but does not state the government's position on a fully public inquiry.
While I would not wish to tie the Commissioner's hands, and I maintain the recommendation that the Commissioner be authorized to determine his or her own procedure
- deflectedAirbusMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). substantive question.The answer emphasizes the commissioner's discretion and cost control without addressing public confidence or breadth of inquiry.
The decision will ultimately be made by the inquiry commissioner.
- deflectedAirbusMrs. Carole Lavallée (Bloc) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). substantive question.Answer restates government plan to follow Johnston without addressing call for broad inquiry on Airbus.
the government chose to ask an independent third party who was not affected by partisan interests to advise it on the best way to conduct a public inquiry that would be meaningful to Canadians.
- deflectedAirbusMrs. Carole Lavallée (Bloc) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). loaded question.Answer repeats commitment to Johnston recommendations and avoids engaging with accusation of sweeping issues under the rug.
the government indicated from the start that it would follow the recommendations made by Mr. Johnston as an independent third party, and that is what we intend to do.
- partly answeredAirbusJack Layton (NDP) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). substantive question.Answer addresses the public nature and scope of inquiry but adds qualifiers about efficiency that partially sidestep the full request.
the inquiry will be public and it will have the ability to look into whatever matters the commissioner sees fit.
- misdirectedCanada-U.S. RelationsJack Layton (NDP) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). loaded question.Answer shifts to criticizing the questioner’s prior statement about Johnston instead of addressing the investigation timeline or report.
I am alarmed to hear the comments of the leader of the NDP with regard to Professor Johnston, because it was not long ago that he actually said, "Everything I know about Mr. Johnston suggests that he's a good person to be involved here".
- deflectedCitizenship and ImmigrationMaria Minna (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.Answer discusses court ruling and future process but does not explain how reforms tackle the existing backlog.
Going forward we will be able to set categories after consulting with the provinces and territories, after consulting with other departments, and after getting cabinet approval.
- misdirectedCitizenship and ImmigrationMaria Minna (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.Answer attacks Liberals’ past record and quotes a third party instead of addressing accountability or power grab claims.
let us see what Angelo Persichilli said about this in the Hill Times : --what we don't need are lectures from the Liberals on this issue because, again, according to the numbers, not the demagoguery, they too badly mismanaged this issue for political reasons.
- partly answeredCitizenship and ImmigrationMaurizio Bevilacqua (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.Answer gives general principles for categories but provides no concrete examples as requested.
We will designate which categories of people the country needs.
- deflectedCitizenship and ImmigrationMaurizio Bevilacqua (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.Answer addresses IRB appointments and refugee policy but ignores specific dates for backlog elimination and immigrant numbers.
our government is committed to helping genuine refugees.
- deflectedManufacturing SectorMs. Paule Brunelle (Bloc) asked Jean-Pierre Blackburn (Conservative). substantive question.The answer lists general programs without addressing the specific job losses or lowest point in 10 years in Beauce.
We put new tools in place and we also created a $1 billion trust to better support the manufacturing sector, in addition to bringing in capital cost allowance measures to enable entrepreneurs to buy new equipment and benefit from accelerated amortization.
- deflectedManufacturing SectorMs. Paule Brunelle (Bloc) asked Jim Prentice (Conservative). substantive question.The answer shifts to aerospace successes and tells the asker to celebrate rather than address tax cuts for manufacturing or oil companies.
Instead of naysaying what is happening and what we are achieving in the Canadian economy, we should celebrate our successes.
- deflectedMining IndustryMr. André Bellavance (Bloc) asked Jean-Pierre Blackburn (Conservative). substantive question.The answer cites overall Quebec projects and jobs but ignores the Jeffrey mine closure and older worker program request.
Of course we have tools in place and soon the Blackburn II plan will arrive with new tools.
- deflectedMining IndustryMr. André Bellavance (Bloc) asked Monte Solberg (Conservative). substantive question.The answer promotes general training and job creation stats without addressing the Bell mine closure or POWA program.
I would remind the member that over 90,000 net new jobs have been created in Quebec over the last year.
- partly answeredEthicsRobert Thibault (Liberal) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). substantive question.The answer confirms the inquiry will be public and references the 17 questions but does not confirm full Inquiries Act powers.
- partly answeredEthicsRobert Thibault (Liberal) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). substantive question.The answer defends the independent process and following recommendations but does not confirm coverage of Fred Doucet or broad mandate.
His recommendations are on the table.
- misdirectedEthicsKen Dryden (Liberal) asked Mr. James Moore (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the Liberals' record instead of addressing the alleged offer to Cadman.
With political enemies like that, who needs friends.
- misdirectedEthicsKen Dryden (Liberal) asked Mr. James Moore (Conservative). loaded question.The answer dismisses the question as imagination and refuses comment on the analogy rather than addressing the Cadman allegation.
The reality is there was no offer of a million dollar life insurance bribe to Chuck Cadman.
- partly answeredAirline IndustryMr. Brian Masse (NDP) asked Lawrence Cannon (Conservative). substantive question.Mentions new legislation but does not address using existing powers as asked.
We brought in the Transportation Act.
- deflectedAirline IndustryMr. Brian Masse (NDP) asked Lawrence Cannon (Conservative). loaded question.Ignores the question on current authority and pivots to open skies policy.
I will tell my hon. colleague as well as members of the House that we have put in place an open skies policy.
- misdirectedAutomotive IndustryJudy Sgro (Liberal) asked Jim Prentice (Conservative). substantive question.Attacks the prior Liberal government instead of outlining a specific auto plan.
Frankly, the main issues facing the automotive industry and manufacturing are competitiveness issues, issues that the Liberals never previously addressed.
- partly answeredAutomotive IndustryJudy Sgro (Liberal) asked Jim Prentice (Conservative). substantive question.Mentions the innovation fund but sidesteps the Ontario funding partnership request.
the most recent budget contained an automotive innovation fund.
- misdirectedAutomotive IndustryMs. Martha Hall Findlay (Liberal) asked Jim Prentice (Conservative). substantive question.Shifts focus to a bridge project and blames the prior government rather than addressing job losses.
The Detroit-Windsor bridge crossing is a single bridge built before the Great Depression and carries more trade than the entire United States-Japanese trading relationship.
- deflectedAutomotive IndustryMs. Martha Hall Findlay (Liberal) asked Jim Prentice (Conservative). substantive question.Links the bridge to jobs but avoids any direct plan for auto sector employment.
if I can assist the hon. member in bridging from bridges to jobs, the truth of the matter is that this bridge is central to our automotive industry and to the competitiveness of our industry.
- partly answeredHeritage BuildingsMr. Michel Guimond (Bloc) asked Josée Verner (Conservative). substantive question.Notes discussions with partners but offers no specific proposals for the site.
We are working and holding discussions with various local partners.
- partly answeredHeritage BuildingsMr. Michel Guimond (Bloc) asked Josée Verner (Conservative). substantive question.Repeats commitment to a solution without detailing any alternate proposals.
we are already working hard to find a solution so that the site continues to be a source of pride during the 400th anniversary celebrations
- deflectedGrain TransportationWayne Easter (Liberal) asked Lawrence Cannon (Conservative). substantive question.The answer discusses hopper cars from the prior government instead of addressing the request for a rail costing review.
One of the first initiatives we took was to stop the sale of hopper cars, which was something the previous government wanted to do.
- partly answeredThe EnvironmentMs. Catherine Bell (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer lists specific actions on sewage and funding but does not address enacting a water law with real teeth.
We are bringing in regulations to ban the dumping of secondary raw sewage into our lakes, rivers and oceans.
- deflectedThe EnvironmentMs. Catherine Bell (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer shifts to accusing the NDP of voting against clean water instead of addressing national water standards.
When we brought forward funding for the Great Lakes, cleaning up Lake Winnipeg and finally taking real action on fighting bad water quality, the NDP could be counted on every single time to stand up and vote against clean water.
- partly answeredNatural ResourcesMr. Bernard Patry (Liberal) asked Gary Lunn (Conservative). substantive question.The answer states consultations occurred and an announcement is coming soon but provides no timeline or details.
We are moving forward on this file. We believe we will have something very good to announce shortly to the Canadian people for the extractive sector.