Commons debates budget bill as Liberals press Harper on recession

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 EconomyJohn McCallum (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Question assumes PM caused job losses via misreading; answer shifts to international comparisons without addressing apology.Our economy remains in a position of relative strength.
2. deflected
   The EconomyJohn McCallum (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Question repeats demand for apology over delays; answer criticizes opposition for repeating bad news instead of responding.the opposition does not help those things by simply repeating bad economic news without having anything to offer.
3. misdirected
   The EconomyJohn McCallum (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Question demands apology for denying crisis; answer attacks Liberal for past denial and urges passing bill.on the contrary, the Liberal member is the one who denied the economic crisis, and he should be the one apologizing.
4. deflected
   Research and DevelopmentMr. Marc Garneau (Liberal) asked Gary Goodyear (Conservative). loaded question.Question accuses government of damaging research and silencing scientists; answer lists funding without addressing cuts or meeting incident.My business is the $5.1 billion we put in the budget for science and tech
5. partly answered
   Research and DevelopmentMr. Marc Garneau (Liberal) asked Gary Goodyear (Conservative). substantive question.Question asks when Conservatives will realize need for scientific vision; answer cites strategy and funding increases.Every budget this government has brought forward increased funding for science and tech.
6. deflected
   AfghanistanMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Question highlights PM's CNN comments on Afghanistan and demands explanation of about-face; answer restates mission goal without addressing quote.We are in Afghanistan to train the Afghan forces to ensure the security of their own country.
7. answered
   AfghanistanMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Question asks yes/no on extending mission beyond 2011; answer states government acts under House resolution without extension intent.Our government is acting under a resolution passed by this House.
8. answered
   AfghanistanMr. Claude Bachand (Bloc) asked Mr. Laurie Hawn (Conservative). substantive question.Question seeks confirmation on honouring 2011 deadline; answer confirms military mission ends then with continued non-military presence.When the military mission ends in 2011, the Government of Canada will maintain a presence in Afghanistan to develop governance.
9. answered
   AfghanistanMr. Claude Bachand (Bloc) asked Mr. Laurie Hawn (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly addresses post-2011 involvement and military end date.We will probably continue in Afghanistan in a humanitarian way and in a development way beyond 2011, but the military mission will end in 2011 as per the motion that was passed in the House.
10. deflected
    The EconomyJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer avoids the yes/no question and instead restates global recession talking points.we are in a global recession and everyone knows that it did not start in Canada.
11. misdirected
    The EconomyJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the questioner's past positions instead of addressing recognition of the recession.There is a leader of a party that wanted to prevent the elected government from tabling its budget, who then went out and said that he would oppose the budget no matter what was in it
12. misdirected
    The EconomyJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the questioner's consistency rather than addressing EI waiting lists or policy changes.there is a leader who, when we brought forward measures to help Canadian workers, said that he would oppose them even before he read them.
13. deflected
    AfghanistanDenis Coderre (Liberal) asked Mr. Laurie Hawn (Conservative). loaded question.The answer defends troops and rejects belittling but avoids the question on informing troops or policy shift.my hon. colleague should not belittle the efforts of the Canadian Forces members like that when he says that they will be marking time.
14. deflected
    AfghanistanDenis Coderre (Liberal) asked Mr. Laurie Hawn (Conservative). loaded question.The answer claims nothing changed and restates whole-of-government approach without addressing the quoted shift.From the very start of the mission in Afghanistan, we have been taking a whole of government approach, which requires a strong military presence for a blanket of security over the other operations.
15. partly answered
    AfghanistanBob Rae (Liberal) asked Mr. Laurie Hawn (Conservative). substantive question.The answer rejects the premise on other countries' efforts and clarifies the whole-of-government transition but does not address NATO implications.I simply reject the premise of the question that other countries are doing so much more than Canada in terms of development.
16. deflected
    AfghanistanBob Rae (Liberal) asked Mr. Laurie Hawn (Conservative). substantive question.The answer emphasizes ongoing alliances but avoids specifics on new Canadian diplomatic intervention.We are engaged with them militarily and diplomatically through humanitarian measures.
17. answered
    The EconomyMr. Jean-Yves Laforest (Bloc) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). rhetorical question.Directly rebuts the blank-cheque claim with details on conditions and oversight.the allegation that the special budget fund that has been set up is without conditions is certainly not correct.
18. misdirected
    The EconomyMr. Jean-Yves Laforest (Bloc) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). rhetorical question.Ignores the question and attacks the member and party instead.that is a remarkable statement coming from an individual and a party that has contributed nothing in terms of any positive ideas toward stimulating the economy.
19. partly answered
    Canada Revenue AgencyMr. Réal Ménard (Bloc) asked Jean-Pierre Blackburn (Conservative). substantive question.Describes the permit process but does not address whether suspension is justified now.If the facts do not reflect what we were told, of course we can revoke the individual's permit.
20. deflected
    Canada Revenue AgencyMr. Réal Ménard (Bloc) asked Jean-Pierre Blackburn (Conservative). substantive question.Repeats the process explanation and invokes confidentiality without answering the revocation request.The member is well aware that there are certain things which I cannot mention because of confidentiality.
21. answered
    Employment InsuranceMr. Michael Savage (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.Details concrete steps taken to reduce processing delays.We are processing up to 50% more claims now than we were a year ago.
22. answered
    Employment InsuranceMr. Michael Savage (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.Lists additional measures to speed claims and support workers.That is why we are stepping up overtime.
23. partly answered
    Pay EquityMaria Minna (Liberal) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). substantive question.Describes the proactive approach but does not specify which Ontario-model elements were copied.We have said that there needs to be a proactive mechanism to ensure that these complaints are dealt with on an ongoing basis through the collective bargaining situation, as it is done in other provinces.
24. deflected
    Pay EquityMaria Minna (Liberal) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). substantive question.Denies the premise and asserts an independent tribunal exists without naming Ontario-model measures.There is an independent tribunal that will review these matters as well in the legislation, exactly as it is in the Ontario and other legislation.
25. deflected
    AfghanistanMr. Paul Dewar (NDP) asked Mr. Laurie Hawn (Conservative). substantive question.The answer restates general mission objectives without addressing the yes-or-no question on extending the military role.our priorities and objectives in Afghanistan have been clear from the start, and that is to leave the country in the hands of the Afghans in a manner in which they can manage their own affairs.
26. deflected
    AfghanistanMr. Paul Dewar (NDP) asked Mr. Laurie Hawn (Conservative). substantive question.The answer repeats prior positions on military limits without explaining when the Prime Minister reached the new conclusion or any NATO discussions.the Prime Minister and anybody who is knowledgeable about the mission have been saying from the start that this is not a militarily winnable mission alone.
27. deflected
    Foreign AffairsMrs. Ève-Mary Thaï Thi Lac (Bloc) asked Mr. Deepak Obhrai (Conservative). substantive question.The answer notes ongoing U.S. review and unchanged position but does not justify refusal to repatriate given the abuse testimony.We will wait for whatever results the U.S. administration comes out with.
28. deflected
    Foreign AffairsMrs. Ève-Mary Thaï Thi Lac (Bloc) asked Mr. Deepak Obhrai (Conservative). substantive question.The answer reiterates charges and monitoring without addressing the political-will question or comparing to other countries' actions.We continue to closely monitor the situation, including the work of the American committee formed to study the fate of the Guantanamo detainees, including Mr. Khadr.
29. answered
    Municipal AffairsMr. Marcel Proulx (Liberal) asked Jay Hill (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly states the minister will fully cooperate with authorities including future testimony.The Minister of Transport has always fully co-operated with the authorities on this issue and he will do so in the future.
30. answered
    Municipal AffairsMr. Marcel Proulx (Liberal) asked Jay Hill (Conservative). substantive question.The answer confirms the minister will fully cooperate as a witness without accusation against him.He has fully co-operated in the past and he has indicated that he will fully co-operate in the future.
31. deflected
    The EnvironmentMs. Linda Duncan (NDP) asked Mr. Mark Warawa (Conservative). loaded question.The answer highlights targets and collaboration but does not address the premise of no prior action or new U.S.-aligned plan.They set an example to the international partners of working in a collaborative way to tackle the fight on climate change.
32. partly answered
    The EnvironmentMs. Linda Duncan (NDP) asked Lisa Raitt (Conservative). substantive question.The answer cites the clean energy fund for carbon capture but does not address concrete action on health, First Nations, rivers, forest or species impacts.We have put $1 billion into a clean energy fund able to address the real issues associated with the oil sands.
33. partly answered
    Pay EquityMs. Siobhan Coady (Liberal) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). loaded question.The answer corrects the premise about provinces rather than explaining the federal approach to negotiation.in fact, the member is wrong. What happens in provinces like Manitoba is that there is an ongoing duty to ensure that pay equity is recognized in the collective agreement.
34. answered
    Employment InsuranceMr. Yves Lessard (Bloc) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.Directly states they have rehired and improved systems to handle claims.We have already rehired retirees who worked in the EI office.
35. misdirected
    FinanceMr. Glenn Thibeault (NDP) asked Mr. Ted Menzies (Conservative). loaded question.The response attacks opposition parties instead of addressing the question about credit card fees.the only salt that is being rubbed in any wound is the fact that the NDP decided to vote against the budget that would actually provide money to Canadians.
36. partly answered
    International CooperationMr. Derek Lee (Liberal) asked Bev Oda (Conservative). substantive question.Addresses concerns for civilians and actions taken but does not commit to specific action at the UN.Our government has asked for a ceasefire and open access for all humanitarian aid, so that the wounded can be evacuated and the refugees and civilians can be assisted.
37. partly answered
    Health CareMr. Tony Martin (NDP) asked Leona Aglukkaq (Conservative). substantive question.Explains funding commitment and notes provincial responsibility without addressing enforcement.The responsibility of health care delivery rests with the provinces and territories.
38. deflected
    Citizenship and ImmigrationMs. Christiane Gagnon (Bloc) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). substantive question.Responds with general assurance about service quality without addressing the relocation review.The citizens of Quebec City will have the same service as that available throughout Canada, and that is first-rate service.