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Friday, April 11, 2008 · sitting No. 77

Commons debates Canada Marine Act amendments at third reading

The House spent the largest share of its sitting on third reading of Bill C-23, amendments to the Canada Marine Act that would give port authorities greater flexibility in borrowing and access to federal infrastructure programs. Conservative MP Brian Jean said the changes would increase productivity and help Canadian ports compete with American facilities. Liberal MP Derek Lee asked why the word productivity appeared so rarely in the parliamentary secretary's remarks while Bloc Québécois MP Mario Laframboise said the Bloc supports more powers for ports but distrusts the Conservative government to distribute infrastructure money fairly across regions.

In Question Period the official opposition pressed Secretary of State for Multiculturalism Jason Kenney over remarks he made eight years ago questioning the motives of Sikhs who raised concerns about Heritage Front ties. Liberal MP Bob Rae accepted the apology but asked how the minister could explain a pattern of private comments that differed from public statements. Kenney replied that his 2000 campaign had fielded more visible-minority and Sikh candidates than the Liberals and pointed to a 1992 Liberal organizer's comment on Sikh influence in nominations.

Decided that day

  • C-535 introduced
  • C-536 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 · 2008-04-11

Government (Conservative)OppositionOver the day: government 42%, opposition 58% of the words spokenGovernment businessQuestion PeriodGovernment business▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 10:0011:0012:0013:00Last speech 13:45Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 3 h 45 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
52Marine Act talk, two bills tabledThe sitting devoted most time to substantive debate on the Canada Marine Act and related topics, with a high share of words on business and no procedural interruptions. Only two bills were introduced and Question Period saw more deflections than clear answers, with no votes recorded.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

Darfur

Liberal MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj said the number of dead in Darfur may approach half a million and called for the international community to focus on children affected by the conflict ahead of the Global Day for Darfur.

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Securities industry

Bloc Québécois MP Pierre Paquette said Quebec and all provinces except Ontario reject a single securities regulator and urged Finance Minister Jim Flaherty to drop the plan.

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Government Programs

NDP MP Libby Davies said the $45-million program appears designed so that only one organization, located in the finance minister's riding, qualifies and asked for an extended deadline.

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Afghanistan

Bloc Québécois MP Robert Bouchard said General Hillier told the foreign affairs committee that the government knew an extra 1,000 troops were needed when Parliament voted to extend the mission.

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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. partly answered
    MulticulturalismBob Rae (Liberal) asked Jason Kenney (Conservative). substantive question.The answer admits using the words and expresses regret but then attacks the opposition and media for raising old quotes.I think it is unfortunate that a particular media outlet and now the official opposition are resorting to using eight year old material from Canada's version of the National Enquirer , called Frank magazine, for question period material.
  2. deflected
    MulticulturalismBob Rae (Liberal) asked Jason Kenney (Conservative). substantive question.The response ignores the asked pattern in the minister's remarks and instead attacks the Liberal Party with unrelated historical quotes.Perhaps the member could explain why the Liberal Party's actions do not comport with its members' words.
  3. misdirected
    MulticulturalismBob Rae (Liberal) asked Jason Kenney (Conservative). loaded question.The answer pivots to attacking a different Liberal member with an old quote rather than addressing the secretary's own comments.Four years ago, another secretary of state for multiculturalism said the following: The Chinese community is very different from the Indo-Canadian community.
  4. deflected
    Canadian HeritageMr. Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). substantive question.The answer avoids explaining the minister's position on the bill and instead attacks the Liberals for past inconsistency.It is the exact same pattern as their opposition this week in which they said they were adamantly opposed to our immigration reforms.
  5. deflected
    Canadian HeritageMr. Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). loaded question.The response sidesteps the question about the minister's views and attacks the Liberals for changing positions.Why did the Liberals change their position one more time?
  6. partly answered
    Securities industryMr. Pierre Paquette (Bloc) asked Lawrence Cannon (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses the plan by stating a consultation will occur and jurisdictions will be respected but does not directly respond to dropping the plan.A consultation will indeed be held and we will see what happens from there.
  7. deflected
    Securities industryMr. Pierre Paquette (Bloc) asked Lawrence Cannon (Conservative). substantive question.The answer repeats a general claim about respecting jurisdictions without engaging the specific concerns about veto rights or the Montreal exchange.I repeat; this government respects provincial jurisdictions.
  8. deflected
    Securities industryMs. Meili Faille (Bloc) asked Mr. Ted Menzies (Conservative). loaded question.The response claims respect for jurisdiction but pivots to unrelated investor protection issues without addressing the Quebec jurisdiction concern.We do not have a system that protects our investors all across the country.
  9. deflected
    Securities industryMs. Meili Faille (Bloc) asked Mr. Ted Menzies (Conservative). loaded question.The question assumes unproven political motives and attacks the minister personally rather than seeking information.I will repeat that this finance minister is absolutely respecting provincial jurisdiction, including that of Quebec, most importantly, but we do need to remember that we need to protect investors across the country.
  10. partly answered
    Government ProgramsMs. Libby Davies (NDP) asked Mrs. Lynne Yelich (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses the deadline but ignores the core allegation of favoritism and insider connections.the deadline has not even passed yet.
  11. misdirected
    Government ProgramsMs. Libby Davies (NDP) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the opposition's consistency instead of addressing the patronage and trust issues raised.Apparently they are like the Liberals and they too are changing their minds every day on where they stand on the issues.
  12. answered
    Canada Border Services AgencyRobert Thibault (Liberal) asked Mr. Dave MacKenzie (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly addresses the concern about erased footage and outlines the minister's response.The Minister of Public Safety has asked that the CBSA immediately review its procedures in these instances.
  13. answered
    Canada Border Services AgencyRobert Thibault (Liberal) asked Mr. Dave MacKenzie (Conservative). substantive question.The answer confirms investigators had access to the footage and notes the review of procedures.I would tell my hon. colleague again that the investigators had full and complete access to the original video footage prior to it being erased.
  14. misdirected
    Government PoliciesRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). loaded question.The answer pivots to attacking the Liberals' lack of policy rather than addressing the tape and evidence concerns.However, there is a pattern emerging, a pattern of a Liberal Party that has no policies, takes no position on issues, does not even bother to vote in the House and raises imaginary scandals one after another.
  15. deflected
    Government PoliciesRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked Mr. James Moore (Conservative). loaded question.The answer mocks the questioner and lists unrelated Liberal votes instead of addressing accountability for taped statements.Do members know what else is on tape? Liberals supporting our budget is on tape.
  16. deflected
    AfghanistanMr. Robert Bouchard (Bloc) asked Mr. Laurie Hawn (Conservative). loaded question.The answer discusses general military priorities but avoids the specific claim that information was hidden from the House.General Hillier, like all military leaders, took those two priorities into consideration.
  17. deflected
    AfghanistanMr. Robert Bouchard (Bloc) asked Mr. Laurie Hawn (Conservative). loaded question.The answer restates government actions on the mission without addressing the manipulation claim or whether to end it.General Hillier, like any military commander, has two things in mind, mission accomplishment and safety of the troops.
  18. answered
    Foreign AffairsMs. Pauline Picard (Bloc) asked Mr. Deepak Obhrai (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly states Canada's expectation and call for China to allow the visit at the earliest date.We call upon China to receive the High Commissioner for Human Rights at the earliest possible data.
  19. answered
    Foreign AffairsMs. Pauline Picard (Bloc) asked Mr. Deepak Obhrai (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly addresses the hostage situation by calling for release and acceptance of the medical team.We call upon the rebels to release the hostage as quickly as possible and also to accept the medical team that the French government was sending.
  20. deflected
    Child CareMr. Mark Holland (Liberal) asked Mrs. Lynne Yelich (Conservative). loaded question.The answer shifts blame to the previous Liberal government instead of addressing restoration of spaces or current cuts.that report was an indictment of the record of the previous Liberal government.
  21. deflected
    Child CareMr. Mark Holland (Liberal) asked Mrs. Lynne Yelich (Conservative). loaded question.The answer promotes the government's program and attacks the opposition leader without addressing reversal of cuts.We are giving choice for parents in child care, in fact, $1,200 to each and every child under the age of six.
  22. deflected
    Government ProgramsMs. Yasmin Ratansi (Liberal) asked Mrs. Lynne Yelich (Conservative). loaded question.The answer explains general requirements but avoids addressing the rigging allegation or specific favoritism.All projects have to meet the same conditions and terms, and that is, the program including community support, feasibility and sustainability.
  23. deflected
    Government ProgramsMs. Yasmin Ratansi (Liberal) asked Mrs. Lynne Yelich (Conservative). loaded question.The answer restates the program's purpose and status without addressing the rigging or board membership claims.budget 2007 proposed the creation of the enabling accessibility fund to contribute to the capital costs of construction and renovation projects to improve the accessibility of people with disabilities.
  24. deflected
    Arts and CultureMr. Bill Siksay (NDP) asked Jim Abbott (Conservative). substantive question.The answer cites past Liberal positions instead of addressing withdrawal of the amendment or censorship concerns.The existing public policy and acceptable share of revenues test, which is presently found in the draft regulations, will be incorporated in the act
  25. partly answered
    Arts and CultureMr. Bill Siksay (NDP) asked Jim Abbott (Conservative). substantive question.Addresses report review but shifts focus to CBC executives appearing before committee instead of funding commitment.with respect to the decisions of the CBC, as the member well knows, as he is a member of the committee, we have invited the executives of the CBC to come before the committee to explain to us their future plans with respect to the CBC.
  26. answered
    Foreign AffairsMr. Brian Murphy (Liberal) asked Jason Kenney (Conservative). loaded question.Details multiple high-level diplomatic interventions and current status of the case.I do not know of a single consular case in recent memory which has received more attention from a government.
  27. partly answered
    Foreign AffairsMr. Brian Murphy (Liberal) asked Jason Kenney (Conservative). loaded question.Repeats diplomatic steps taken but does not address specific claims about the secretary of state or a doctor visit.The Secretary of State (Foreign Affairs and International Trade) has had some 20 meetings with Mexican government officials.
  28. deflected
    Natural ResourcesJoe McGuire (Liberal) asked Gary Lunn (Conservative). substantive question.Ignores the specific funding cut and pivots to attacking Liberal record on energy and emissions.The Liberals should be ashamed of their record after 13 years of inaction.
  29. deflected
    Natural ResourcesJoe McGuire (Liberal) asked Gary Lunn (Conservative). substantive question.Again avoids the funding question and attacks Liberal environmental record instead.The Liberals allowed greenhouse gases to rise by 35% in their 13 years in office.
  30. answered
    Official LanguagesMr. Richard Nadeau (Bloc) asked Mr. James Moore (Conservative). loaded question.Directly assures that the 2010 Games will be bilingual and acknowledges the concern raised.I can assure my Bloc colleague that our government is fully aware of the situation and that the 2010 Olympic Games will be completely bilingual.
  31. partly answered
    French language TelevisionMr. Luc Malo (Bloc) asked Jim Abbott (Conservative). substantive question.Notes the issue is under consideration but provides no detail on arguments made to France.the heritage minister has taken note of these issues and it is under consideration.
  32. misdirected
    Franco-Ontarian AssociationMr. Anthony Rota (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.Turns the question back on the Liberal record rather than addressing current funding decisions.it was the Liberal government that slashed funding for Ontario's francophones.
  33. deflected
    Forestry IndustryMr. Alex Atamanenko (NDP) asked Gary Lunn (Conservative). substantive question.The answer discusses general funding delivery and other programs without addressing qualification or release timing for the named communities.We are delivering for our forest communities.
  34. deflected
    The EnvironmentMr. Dennis Bevington (NDP) asked Mr. Rod Bruinooge (Conservative). loaded question.The answer avoids the specific appointment and instead defends the government's northern record while questioning the member's support.I find it hard to imagine why that member is not supportive of the initiatives we have taken in the north.
  35. partly answered
    Cluster BombsMr. Mario Silva (Liberal) asked Mr. Deepak Obhrai (Conservative). substantive question.The answer confirms ongoing work with partners on the issue but provides no timeline or commitment to a ban.We have been working with Norway and our partners to ensure that we can come to a proper resolution.