Commons debates budget as protectionism concerns surface in question period

Other moments

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
   TradeMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). rhetorical question.Answer opens by dodging the embassy criticism with a quip before shifting to general concerns.Mr. Speaker, the last time I looked the United States Congress was independent of embassies.
2. answered
   TradeMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Answer directly describes coordinated federal-provincial actions with the US on auto sector support.this is precisely why in December the Premier of Ontario and I made it clear that we are working together and working with our colleagues in both the outgoing and now the incoming administration to ensure that we are on the same page in terms of helping the auto sector
3. partly answered
   TradeMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Answer affirms the need to oppose protectionism but does not specify what will be said to Obama.We will see further changes, plans and proposals. United with every country in the world, we will insist that the United States respect its obligations with respect to the World Trade Organization.
4. answered
   Genome CanadaMr. Marc Garneau (Liberal) asked Gary Goodyear (Conservative). substantive question.Answer states existing multi-year funding commitments to Genome Canada.This government has in place two five-year contracts with Genome Canada, with almost $250 million remaining for science research.
5. answered
   Genome CanadaMr. Marc Garneau (Liberal) asked Gary Goodyear (Conservative). loaded question.Answer rebuts the premise with specific annual funding figures and notes opposition votes.The government supports Genome Canada. It will receive $106 million this year and $108 million next year.
6. deflected
   SecuritiesMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Answer ignores the Toronto-concentration claim and pivots to voluntary participation and national regulation.As for the Canada-wide securities commission, we are clear: participation is voluntary.
7. deflected
   SecuritiesMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Answer repeats the voluntary claim and constitutional duty without addressing the slow-death allegation.participation is entirely voluntary. It is our constitutional responsibility to strengthen Canada's economic union.
8. misdirected
   IndustryMr. Robert Bouchard (Bloc) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). loaded question.Answer shifts to contrasting loans versus grants and US agreements instead of addressing regional favoritism.The automobile industry in Ontario is receiving loans whereas the forestry industry in the rest of the country is receiving grants and financial support.
9. deflected
   IndustryMr. Robert Bouchard (Bloc) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). substantive question.Answer shifts focus to forestry support instead of addressing conditions on auto sector aid.the automobile industry is supported by loans whereas the forestry industry is supported by monies provided for marketing
10. partly answered
    Pay equityJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Answer defends the pay equity changes but does not address the claim of an attack or its economic impact.the proposals in the budget concerning pay equity will ensure that decisions about equity will be made much more quickly than they are now
11. deflected
    Pay equityJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Answer pivots to attacking the NDP's consistency rather than addressing women's issues in the budget.
12. misdirected
    Pay equityJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Answer attacks the questioner's record instead of responding to the pay equity comparison with Obama.It is the leader of the NDP, who a month ago was prepared to support the mission in Afghanistan
13. partly answered
    Equalization PaymentsGerry Byrne (Liberal) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). loaded question.Answer addresses equalization growth controls but ignores the revenge premise and specific $1.5 billion cut.ensuring that we control the rate of growth of equalization
14. answered
    Equalization PaymentsGerry Byrne (Liberal) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). substantive question.Answer directly denies side deals and provides figures on offset payments for the province.
15. deflected
    Equalization PaymentsMr. Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). loaded question.Answer highlights transfer totals but avoids the broken-promise and trust question on equalization changes.transfers this year from the Government of Canada to the provinces will be in excess of $50 billion
16. deflected
    Equalization PaymentsMr. Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). loaded question.Answer recommends reading the budget instead of addressing the open federalism and provincial conflict claims.I commend to the member opposite the section on equalization in the budget
17. answered
    Genome CanadaMr. Pierre Paquette (Bloc) asked Gary Goodyear (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly confirms ongoing funding amounts and timeline through 2013.It is receiving $106 million this year and $108 million next year.
18. partly answered
    The EnvironmentMs. Christiane Gagnon (Bloc) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.The answer discusses ongoing work and spending but does not address compensation or full responsibility.Upwards of $19 million have been spent with respect to this issue.
19. deflected
    The BudgetMs. Nicole Demers (Bloc) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). loaded question.The answer shifts to disputing the 15-year claim and restates government commitment instead of explaining the budget's impact.It has been clear from a task force that the Liberals put forward in 2004 that there needs to be a proactive system of resolving pay equity complaints.
20. deflected
    The BudgetMr. Luc Desnoyers (Bloc) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). substantive question.The answer avoids confirming or denying intent to alter agreements and instead praises union attitudes.I believe the unions have taken a responsible attitude toward their collective agreements and the settlements they have entered into with the Government of Canada.
21. partly answered
    Nuclear EnergyGeoff Regan (Liberal) asked Lisa Raitt (Conservative). substantive question.The answer states no leak into the river and notes a report was requested but does not explain why the cause remains unknown.Indeed, today, the CNSC, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, has assured me that there is no leak into the Ottawa River
22. deflected
    Nuclear EnergyGeoff Regan (Liberal) asked Lisa Raitt (Conservative). loaded question.The answer repeats the request for a report without addressing why the public or reporters knew more than officials.That is why we have asked the department officials as well as the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission to get to the bottom of this and to report their results to me.
23. misdirected
    InfrastructureMs. Joyce Murray (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer pivots to job creation and a third-party endorsement instead of confirming whether funding was delivered.I asked the man appointed by Dalton McGuinty to head up this project if he was he satisfied with all the support he was getting from the federal government, and he said yes.
24. misdirected
    InfrastructureMs. Joyce Murray (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer changes the subject to a different project in the asker's riding rather than addressing the low disbursement rate.this government was very pleased to support the Canada Line that goes through guess who's riding?
25. deflected
    Steel IndustryMr. Brian Masse (NDP) asked Stockwell Day (Conservative). substantive question.The answer pivots to general anti-protectionism and trade obligations without addressing the proposed buy-Canadian program or Navistar example.We are going to ensure that the United States lives up to its obligations under the WTO and under NAFTA.
26. deflected
    Steel IndustryMr. Wayne Marston (NDP) asked Stockwell Day (Conservative). substantive question.The answer cites G20 declarations and historical depression risks but avoids any commitment to buy-Canadian provisions.There are clear legal obligations that countries, which belong to the WTO and certainly to NAFTA, as the United States does, must follow and we will engage with them to ensure they respect those obligations.
27. deflected
    InfrastructureMr. Jean Dorion (Bloc) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). substantive question.The answer asserts respect for jurisdictions without explaining how direct municipal loans achieve that or addressing the overreach concern.programs that are put in place have always respected the municipalities, stakeholders in Quebec and all the provinces.
28. deflected
    InfrastructureMr. Mario Laframboise (Bloc) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). substantive question.The answer again defers to future program details without clarifying respect for Quebec or municipal jurisdictions.as I just said, the programs will be unveiled in the coming days, and we will respect our partners, as usual.
29. answered
    RCMPKeith Martin (Liberal) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly justifies the wage decision as consistent treatment across federal employees during economic uncertainty.It is reasonable and responsible for the government to apply the same wage increase guidelines for every federal employee.
30. misdirected
    RCMPMr. Mark Holland (Liberal) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). substantive question.The answer shifts to criticizing past Liberal actions on RCMP training instead of addressing the current wage agreement promise.I find it ironic coming from a Liberal, the government that cut the funding for recruits and training, the government that cut Depot, in fact closed down Depot in 1998 and never restored the amount of training required.
31. partly answered
    Science and TechnologyMs. Niki Ashton (NDP) asked Gary Goodyear (Conservative). substantive question.The answer notes increased science funding but does not address the specific uncertainty around Genome Canada or commit to stable or greater future funding.this Prime Minister brought forward a science and tech strategy in 2007 and backed it up with increased funding for science and technology in every budget, including this week with $3.4 billion in new funding for science and technology
32. deflected
    Science and TechnologyMs. Niki Ashton (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer discusses training and skills programs without addressing research funding, debt load reduction, or post-secondary vision.Our skills and training transition program will help those who are in school stay in school.
33. deflected
    Pay EquityMs. Ruby Dhalla (Liberal) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the opposition's record on pay equity instead of addressing the request to ensure equal pay.why that member chooses to stand with her colleagues and insist that women should have to wait 15 years in order for a pay equity complaint to be resolved.
34. answered
    375th anniversary of Trois-RivièresMs. Paule Brunelle (Bloc) asked James Moore (Conservative). loaded question.The answer directly confirms the $2 million funding requested for the anniversary.They asked for $2 million, and they will receive $2 million.
35. misdirected
    InfrastructureMr. Dennis Bevington (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the questioner's voting record rather than addressing whether municipalities will receive the promised funds.What did that member do? He refused to even read the budget and is saying he will vote against it.
36. partly answered
    Equalization PaymentsMr. Bill Casey (Independent) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses the total cash commitment but does not table details or clarify if payments continue each year to 2014.The commitment of our government was that we would ensure that total cash payments in 2009-10 are no lower than in 2008-09.
37. deflected
    Equalization PaymentsMs. Judy Foote (Liberal) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). loaded question.The answer restates offset payment figures without addressing the moral authority or side-deal accusation.Newfoundland and Labrador will still receive a projected $1.2 billion in offset payments between 2009-10 and 2011-12.
38. answered
    Business of the HouseRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked Jay Hill (Conservative). substantive question.The answer provides the schedule for budget debate and related votes as requested.This afternoon we intend to continue with day two of the budget debate and dispose of the subamendment at 6:30 p.m.
39. deflected
    Business of the HouseMs. Libby Davies (NDP) asked Jay Hill (Conservative). substantive question.The answer avoids committing to a special sitting day and instead notes irony and defers to House leaders' meetings.I find it more than a little ironic that we were about to undertake yet another House leaders meeting