Commons opens second reading of budget bill amid job losses

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
   The EconomyMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Mr. Ted Menzies (Conservative). rhetorical question.Answer clarifies the statements but pivots to urging passage of the budget without resolving the perceived contradiction.It is incredibly important to Canadians that we get on with passing this budget so that we can actually help Canadians.
2. misdirected
   The EconomyMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Mr. Ted Menzies (Conservative). rhetorical question.Answer ignores the contradiction claim and attacks opposition parties instead of addressing the Prime Minister's statements.The only contradiction in this House of Commons is the fact that we have two parties, the Bloc and the NDP, that are refusing to work with the majority representation of Canadians
3. partly answered
   The EconomyMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Mr. Ted Menzies (Conservative). substantive question.Answer acknowledges the local issue and references the economic plan but offers no specific new commitment for Mackenzie.We have an economic action plan that will help stem the tide of job losses and retrain individuals so that they can be employed in another community or industry.
4. deflected
   The EconomyMarlene Jennings (Liberal) asked Mr. Ted Menzies (Conservative). loaded question.Answer dismisses the questioner as an economist and quotes a third party rather than addressing forecast reliability.We will avoid using the hon. member for Markham—Unionville when we talk about that.
5. partly answered
   The EconomyMarlene Jennings (Liberal) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.Answer expresses disappointment and notes new jobs announced but does not explain the Minister of Industry's prior statement.However, last week, Bombardier told us that 730 new, permanent jobs will be created in Montreal.
6. deflected
   The EconomyMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Mr. Ted Menzies (Conservative). loaded question.Answer shifts to defending tax policy for competitiveness and ignores the waiting period and stimulus funding inconsistency.This is so important for Canadian industries to be able to compete internationally.
7. misdirected
   The EconomyMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Mr. Ted Menzies (Conservative). loaded question.Answer quotes another MP to question the Bloc's position instead of explaining the policy reversal on tax havens.On which side of this challenging debate are those members?
8. answered
   The EconomyMr. Jean-Yves Laforest (Bloc) asked Mr. Ted Menzies (Conservative). substantive question.Answer directly explains the expert panel recommendations and resulting actions on tax information exchange.We have improved tax information exchanges in agreements with other countries.
9. misdirected
   The EconomyMr. Jean-Yves Laforest (Bloc) asked Mr. Ted Menzies (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the questioner for a supposed personal attack rather than addressing panel composition.we had the same sort of personal attack last Friday on prominent, eminent Canadians, and it is unacceptable.
10. misdirected
    The EconomyJack Layton (NDP) asked Mr. Ted Menzies (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the NDP for not providing input instead of addressing the scale of job losses versus stimulus.It is an embarrassment that we share the House with two parties that refuse to act when they are given the opportunity.
11. partly answered
    Employment InsuranceJack Layton (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses EI access rates and new measures but disputes the quoted statistic without fully engaging the core claim.In fact, over 80% of those who pay EI premiums are able to collect on them, and we are working hard to ensure they get even more benefit.
12. deflected
    Employment InsuranceJack Layton (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer pivots to defending five weeks of benefits and criticizes the NDP rather than addressing the two-week waiting period.We are offering five weeks. Why will he not take yes for an answer?
13. deflected
    The EconomyJohn McCallum (Liberal) asked Mr. Ted Menzies (Conservative). loaded question.The answer defends past tax cuts and denies foreknowledge instead of addressing the rise in bankruptcies or the PM's statements.As much as members of the opposition would like to suggest that they knew what was coming, they knew nothing more about what was coming than anybody did.
14. misdirected
    The EconomyJohn McCallum (Liberal) asked Mr. Ted Menzies (Conservative). substantive question.The answer accuses the questioner of glee over economic hardship instead of addressing IMF statements or policy coordination.it is very troubling to hear the glee in the voice of a member of Parliament talking about tough economic times for Canadians.
15. answered
    The EconomyUjjal Dosanjh (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly lists multiple measures in the economic action plan to address job losses and housing.That is why our economic action plan takes several steps forward to ease the credit so people can get the financing they need to keep their houses or even to buy new ones.
16. answered
    The EconomyUjjal Dosanjh (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly outlines work-sharing, training, and credit measures to help affected workers and families.We are expanding our work sharing program so they do not have to lose their jobs.
17. deflected
    The EconomyMr. Robert Bouchard (Bloc) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). loaded question.The answer promotes the bill's benefits without addressing the US deregulation example or 'blind deregulation' charge.The changes proposed in this bill will encourage new investments from abroad and will ensure that those investments do not pose a threat to national security.
18. deflected
    The EconomyMr. Robert Bouchard (Bloc) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.The answer denies the premise but shifts to general investment needs rather than addressing the raised review threshold or Rio Tinto case.Part of this bill allows the opportunity to review this situation.
19. deflected
    TaxationMr. Michel Guimond (Bloc) asked Jean-Pierre Blackburn (Conservative). substantive question.The answer avoids any commitment or detail on compensation by citing ongoing discussions.I certainly do not wish to provide advance information about matters under discussion.
20. misdirected
    TaxationMr. Michel Guimond (Bloc) asked Jean-Pierre Blackburn (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the questioner's motives regarding other provinces instead of addressing retroactive compensation for Quebec.It is interesting and also unusual to note their concern for the collective good because generally they only look out for Quebec and are not concerned with what is fair for the other provinces.
21. deflected
    Food SafetyWayne Easter (Liberal) asked Mr. Pierre Lemieux (Conservative). loaded question.The answer counters with program origins and inspector numbers but does not address the privatization or court challenge claims.under this government, Canada has never had more veterinarians doing more inspections.
22. deflected
    Food SafetyWayne Easter (Liberal) asked Mr. Pierre Lemieux (Conservative). substantive question.The answer pivots to criticizing prior Liberal cuts rather than responding to current inspection shortcomings or listeriosis issues.when the Liberals were in power, they cut funding for food safety and they cut the number of inspectors.
23. deflected
    The EconomyMr. Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.The answer lists budget measures without addressing the human impact or claim of turning backs on workers.Our budget—our economic plan—includes many announcements for small and medium-sized businesses and better access to credit.
24. partly answered
    The EconomyMr. Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses EI processing speed and extensions but does not confirm whether the system will cover the specific case described.That is why we are making every effort to speed up how quickly people can claim and receive their EI benefits.
25. partly answered
    Pay equityMr. Thomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). loaded question.Answer explains the new legislation's faster process but does not address economic benefit or the premise of removing rights.We believe that women should not have to wait for 15 years in order for these complaints to be resolved.
26. deflected
    The EnvironmentMr. Thomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Jim Prentice (Conservative). loaded question.Answer shifts to process efficiency and quotes a premier instead of addressing environmental deficit or wetland protection.One project--one approval, not one project, three or four approval processes through two levels of government.
27. partly answered
    Foreign AffairsMr. Paul Crête (Bloc) asked Lawrence Cannon (Conservative). substantive question.Answer notes ongoing contacts with lawyers and prosecutors but does not confirm if the PM will raise repatriation during the visit.my associates in the department have been in regular contact with both Mr. Khadr's defence representatives and the prosecutors in this case.
28. deflected
    Foreign AffairsMr. Paul Crête (Bloc) asked Lawrence Cannon (Conservative). loaded question.Answer restates the government's position on serious crimes and lets the US process run without addressing the UN protocol or demanding repatriation.the individual in question, Mr. Khadr, has been accused of very serious crimes, including murder, terrorism and so forth.
29. deflected
    Foreign AffairsBob Rae (Liberal) asked Lawrence Cannon (Conservative). substantive question.Answer rejects negotiation for supervised release and insists on waiting for the US process outcome without engaging the proposal.I do not share my hon. colleague's opinion on that.
30. answered
    Sri LankaBob Rae (Liberal) asked Lawrence Cannon (Conservative). substantive question.Answer directly lists actions taken including ceasefire call, funding, and monitoring of the situation.The Government of Canada has called for an immediate ceasefire.
31. partly answered
    Mining IndustryMr. Claude Gravelle (NDP) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.Answer reports new investment commitments secured but does not address enforcing the original three-year job protection condition.we had extensive discussions with Xstrata which resulted in further commitments to Sudbury made by Xstrata, including an investment of between $290 million and $390 million
32. partly answered
    Mining IndustryMr. Glenn Thibeault (NDP) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.Answer claims to stand with Sudbury and cites new undertakings for 300 jobs but avoids a clear yes/no on enforcing the original agreement.I am standing with the people of Sudbury, which is why, over the whole weekend, we were engaged in this course of negotiations.
33. partly answered
    The EconomyMs. Ruby Dhalla (Liberal) asked Mr. Ted Menzies (Conservative). substantive question.The answer references a budget provision protecting wage earners but scolds the asker for not reading it and pivots to promoting the budget.If the hon. member had read the budget, she would have seen a provision in there to actually protect those wage earners who are faced with bankruptcy from their employer.
34. misdirected
    InfrastructureMs. Christiane Gagnon (Bloc) asked Josée Verner (Conservative). loaded question.The answer denies the premise then attacks the asker personally instead of addressing the infrastructure funding question.One thing is clear: the member for Québec will never be in government and will never be a cabinet minister, even if there were to be a coalition, so she is not the one with whom we will be resolving this issue.
35. deflected
    EthicsMr. Bill Siksay (NDP) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.The answer states only that the matter was settled and refuses further comment, avoiding any update on the deal or truth-seeking process.the parties have settled the action. I have no further comments.
36. answered
    Social HousingMrs. Alexandra Mendes (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly outlines the government's planned investments in affordable and social housing to address the slowdown.We are trying to create many jobs by investing, including our announcement last fall, close to $4 billion for new and the renovation of social housing.