All sittings← 2008-04-112008-04-15 →
Monday, April 14, 2008 · sitting No. 78
Commons advances Judges Act amendments after lengthy debate
The House spent the largest share of its sitting on government orders for Bill C-31, which would increase the number of superior court judges from 30 to 50. NDP MP Joe Comartin said the bill addresses family-law pressures in Ontario and the Atlantic provinces as well as demands in aboriginal communities. Liberal MP Paul Szabo raised concerns that new federal laws could impose unfunded costs on the provinces and threaten judicial independence.
In Question Period, Liberal leader Stéphane Dion pressed the government on its refusal to release documents to the Military Police Complaints Commission investigating allegations of detainee torture in Afghanistan. Defence Minister Peter MacKay said more than 1,300 documents had already been disclosed and that the commission was acting outside its jurisdiction on the matter.
Conservative MP Rob Clarke accused the Liberals of delaying Bill C-21, which would extend Canadian Human Rights Act protections to first nations people on reserve. Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl said first nations had waited 30 years for the measure and that the Liberals had done nothing during their 13 years in office.
Decided that day
- C-31 advanced in first chamber
- C-53 introduced
- C-298 advanced in second chamber
- S-221 passed second reading
- S-222 passed second reading
- S-233 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 · 2008-04-14
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
Treatment of Rare Disorders
Liberal MP Don Bell described how his grandson's diagnosis with pulmonary hypertension prompted his motion calling for a national Chance for Life Fund and a definition of rare disorders as those affecting fewer than one in 2,000 Canadians.
Read the exchangeThe Environment
Liberal MP Nancy Karetak-Lindell said the government had ignored its scientists by refusing aggressive greenhouse-gas targets, while Environment Minister John Baird replied that the government would achieve an absolute 20 per cent reduction by 2020.
Read the exchangeHealth
NDP MP Libby Davies urged the government to keep Insite open after its own advisory committee found the facility reduced health risks, while Health Minister Tony Clement's parliamentary secretary Steven Fletcher said a review of the research was under way.
Read the exchangeThe Senate
NDP MP Charlie Angus criticized $3 million in Senate travel and hospitality costs and single-source contracts, while Government House Leader Peter Van Loan said the government was proposing term limits and elections to improve accountability.
Read the exchangeInfrastructure
Liberal MP Martha Hall Findlay accused Finance Minister Jim Flaherty of directing a disability fund so that only an organization in his own riding could qualify, while Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon said the government had committed $33 billion to infrastructure.
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
- deflectedAfghanistanStéphane Dion (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.Answer pivots to jurisdiction and claims of disclosure without addressing the transparency or shutdown allegation.
On this particular mandate subject, we believe the commission is outside its jurisdiction.
- deflectedAfghanistanStéphane Dion (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.Answer repeats disclosure numbers and attacks the asker rather than addressing the two-year delay in revealing troop shortages.
despite the righteous indignation from the member opposite.
- deflectedAfghanistanStéphane Dion (Liberal) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). loaded question.Answer begins to restate a talking point on sovereignty without engaging the contradictions raised.
- deflectedAfghanistanMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.Answer lists briefings and debates but sidesteps why jurisdiction was challenged only after public hearings were announced.
The member should get his truth in order before he starts throwing stones.
- partly answeredAfghanistanMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.Answer clarifies the challenge is limited to public hearings on current operations and notes other investigations continue.
It is the mandate with respect to operations going on in Afghanistan with respect to today that we are suggesting is outside the mandate
- deflectedAfghanistanMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). substantive question.Answer restates that Afghanistan is sovereign without addressing why the governor's performance was praised then criticized.
Afghanistan is a sovereign country that makes its own decisions about government appointments.
- deflectedAfghanistanMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). loaded question.Answer repeats the sovereignty line and insults the asker instead of addressing concealment during the extension debate.
I understand that the leader of the Bloc Québécois has problems with the concept of sovereignty
- deflectedAfghanistanMr. Claude Bachand (Bloc) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.Answer again narrows the issue to public hearings announced a month ago without explaining the timing of the jurisdiction challenge.
This deals specifically with what was announced just a month ago: that it was having public hearings.
- deflectedAfghanistanMr. Claude Bachand (Bloc) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.Lists activities but sidesteps the jurisdiction challenge and transparency issue.
There are now three inquiries into this issue.
- partly answeredAfghanistanJack Layton (NDP) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.Provides details on cooperation but maintains position on jurisdiction without addressing the 'lie' accusation.
We have disclosed 1,300 documents.
- answeredAfghanistanJack Layton (NDP) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.Explains the court application and jurisdiction stance clearly.
we have cooperated thus far for disclosures.
- answeredAfghanistanBob Rae (Liberal) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). substantive question.Clearly states the government's position on not interfering.
- misdirectedAfghanistanBob Rae (Liberal) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). substantive question.Turns to criticizing the Liberal Party rather than addressing the contradiction.
What is difficult to understand is any position on almost any issue coming from the Liberal Party.
- deflectedAfghanistanBryon Wilfert (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.Deflects to past actions and attacks opposition instead of explaining the delay.
The Government of Canada and the Department of National Defence have been asking NATO and our allies for additional troops in Afghanistan certainly since we came to office.
- deflectedAfghanistanBryon Wilfert (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.Continues to emphasize their efforts while insulting the member.
We have been on the job, doing the job.
- answeredHeritage BuildingsMs. Christiane Gagnon (Bloc) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.Affirms commitment and outlines actions taken.
we have made a firm commitment.
- answeredHeritage BuildingsMs. Christiane Gagnon (Bloc) asked Josée Verner (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly states the plan to clear the site and hold celebrations.
They will ensure that the site is properly cleared and that the celebrations take place as planned.
- deflectedSecuritiesMr. Paul Crête (Bloc) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). loaded question.The answer avoids the accusation of hypocrisy by restating the government's general position on regulation.
We believe that the constitutional jurisdictions of each level of government must be respected.
- partly answeredSecuritiesMr. Paul Crête (Bloc) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). loaded question.The answer addresses jurisdiction but shifts focus to provincial regulators rather than federal inaction.
Most of the entities who were selling the non-bank, asset-backed commercial paper were under the jurisdiction of the provincial securities regulators.
- deflectedWorld Food ProgramJohn McKay (Liberal) asked Bev Oda (Conservative). substantive question.The answer avoids the question by criticizing the opposition's past actions instead of outlining current plans.
I find it ironic to hear this from the opposition, since we know that my colleague from Calgary East proposed that we study this issue, and they were opposed to it.
- deflectedWorld Food ProgramJohn McKay (Liberal) asked Bev Oda (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the opposition's lack of policy rather than confirming any budget increase.
Now, because the Liberals have no policy, they want to raise it in question period.
- partly answeredThe EnvironmentMs. Nancy Karetak-Lindell (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer outlines some actions but also criticizes the prior government's record instead of focusing solely on new targets.
We are taking aggressive action to respond to global warming.
- misdirectedThe EnvironmentMs. Nancy Karetak-Lindell (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer turns to attacking the previous Liberal government rather than addressing the plan's weaknesses.
We will be judged by our action just as the previous Liberal government will be judged harshly by its inaction.
- deflectedThe SenateMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). substantive question.The answer agrees with the concern but pivots to the government's unrelated Senate reform proposals.
but that is why we are proposing changes to make the Senate more accountable, by giving Canadians a say in who they would have representing them in the Senate and reducing senators' terms from the current 45 years to 8 years.
- partly answeredThe SenateMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). loaded question.The answer states a preference for reform but does not address the call for a referendum or abolition timeline.
We would prefer to see if it is possible to reform the Senate.
- deflectedInfrastructureMs. Martha Hall Findlay (Liberal) asked Lawrence Cannon (Conservative). loaded question.The answer ignores the specific pork-barrel allegations and pivots to a general spending claim.
we Conservatives have put $33 billion on the table.
- misdirectedInfrastructureMs. Martha Hall Findlay (Liberal) asked Monte Solberg (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the questioner for raising the conflict issue instead of addressing the criteria or consultation claims.
The fact is that all proposals for the enabling accessibility fund will have the exact same terms and conditions.
- deflectedEthicsDiane Marleau (Liberal) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). rhetorical question.The answer dismisses the taped statements as imaginary scandals and attacks Liberal policy instead of explaining the discrepancies.
What is being referred to, by and large, are imaginary scandals that the Liberals conjure up for one very simple reason: they do not have any policy to talk about.
- answeredEthicsDiane Marleau (Liberal) asked Mr. James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly states the only offer made to Cadman was rejoining the caucus.
the only offer we made to Chuck Cadman on May 19, 2005, was to rejoin the Conservative caucus, run for us as a candidate and get re-elected as a Conservative.
- answeredBroadcasting IndustryMs. Johanne Deschamps (Bloc) asked Josée Verner (Conservative). substantive question.The answer confirms ongoing talks with partners including France on the TV5 issue.
for several months now, government officials have been in talks with the various partners, including French officials, and we will continue to work together.
- deflectedBroadcasting IndustryMs. Johanne Deschamps (Bloc) asked Bev Oda (Conservative). substantive question.The answer discusses general food-crisis talks but does not address placing the issue on the Francophonie summit agenda.
Canada will be fully engaged and work with its partners around the world to address the situation as it develops.
- answeredCourt Challenges ProgramMr. Jean-Claude D'Amours (Liberal) asked Josée Verner (Conservative). substantive question.The answer states the case is before the courts and no judgment has been issued.
the case is currently before the courts.
- deflectedHealthMs. Libby Davies (NDP) asked Mr. Steven Fletcher (Conservative). substantive question.The answer states facts about the exemption extension and review but avoids any commitment on keeping Insite open.
- misdirectedHealthMs. Libby Davies (NDP) asked Mr. Steven Fletcher (Conservative). substantive question.The answer repeats the review line then pivots to attacking the Liberal Party instead of addressing the report edit.
the Liberal Party and its leader have no policy, no leadership and no vision for the country.
- answeredForeign AffairsGeoff Regan (Liberal) asked Jason Kenney (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly states the current condition and details actions taken to secure release or transfer.
her condition is that unfortunately she continues to be detained in the Mexican penal system.
- partly answeredFederal Protected AreasMs. Louise Thibault (Independent) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer discusses general enforcement and funding but does not address restoring the specific Pointe-au-Père site.
we are more than ready to work with our colleague from Rimouski.
- deflectedAboriginal AffairsAnita Neville (Liberal) asked Chuck Strahl (Conservative). loaded question.The answer reports general compensation statistics and process but ignores the specific promise and alleged breach.
Our government believes in properly compensating the victims of that residential schools era.