Commons debates Canada-EFTA trade pact at report stage

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 Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer ignores the jobs projection question and pivots to IMF praise plus urging budget passage.I would encourage the party opposite, rather than always trying to find the negative in everything, to simply get on with passing this and doing something positive for the Canadian economy.
2. deflected
   The EconomyMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer avoids specifics on older women workers and instead attacks the opposition for lacking proposals and delaying the budget.Once again, Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition has absolutely nothing to propose.
3. deflected
   The EconomyMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer sidesteps the jobs promise and forestry example by attacking the opposition's tax agenda and lack of plan.However, once again, when we are talking about the economy, what Canadians are looking for is this plan to be implemented.
4. deflected
   The EconomyJohn McCallum (Liberal) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). substantive question.The answer evades the 190,000 jobs commitment and instead pressures the opposition to pass the bill immediately.It can be passed today. It can receive royal assent. It can help the unemployed people in Canada right now.
5. misdirected
   The EconomyJohn McCallum (Liberal) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). loaded question.The answer turns the question into an attack claiming the opposition does not care about the unemployed and has no plan.The other side wants to delay it from becoming law. We want to help unemployed Canadians on this side of the House. The other side of the House does not care about unemployed Canadians.
6. partly answered
   Forestry IndustryMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly addresses legality by citing the softwood lumber agreement prohibition on direct subsidies.the softwood lumber agreement with the United States prohibits direct subsidies to businesses.
7. partly answered
   Forestry IndustryMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer explains the distinction from auto industry and the need to protect market access but does not fully rebut the kowtowing claim.We have an agreement that prohibits such measures, in the case of the forestry industry, to guarantee our access to the American market.
8. deflected
   Government ExpendituresMr. Jean-Yves Laforest (Bloc) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). substantive question.The answer refers to the action plan and criteria but avoids listing specific departments and instead urges budget passage.There are clear criteria by which that expenditure will be governed. Treasury Board will be reviewing those expenditures.
9. deflected
   Government ExpendituresMr. Jean-Yves Laforest (Bloc) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). substantive question.The answer explains the fund's purpose but ignores the forestry request and pivots to budget passage.the specific vote 35, $3 billion are to be spent on the specific programs or projects that are set out in the economic action plan.
10. answered
    The EconomyJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). rhetorical question.The answer directly counters the accusation by acknowledging the recession and citing IMF.on the contrary, I clearly stated yesterday that Canada is part of the global recession.
11. misdirected
    The EconomyJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The response shifts to criticizing the NDP's intentions instead of addressing the procedural question.the real question is whether the NDP is interested in helping Canadian workers and families or simply in playing political games.
12. deflected
    The EconomyJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses EI but pivots to past NDP positions rather than current GDI data.In the budget, the government added five extra weeks.
13. partly answered
    Canada-U.S. RelationsScott Brison (Liberal) asked Stockwell Day (Conservative). substantive question.The answer discusses trade benefits but does not address the specific buy American impact on jobs.the free trade agreement between Canada and the United States has produced tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars worth of trade.
14. deflected
    Small BusinessMs. Siobhan Coady (Liberal) asked Diane Ablonczy (Conservative). substantive question.The answer lists general supports but avoids addressing the crisis denial claim or specific small business aid.we are ensuring that small businesses have the financing they need to continue with operating lines of credit and to continue with bridge financing.
15. answered
    Employment InsuranceMr. Michael Savage (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly explains steps taken to reduce EI processing delays.We are increasing and have already increased the number of people who are handling EI and processing the claims.
16. deflected
    Employment InsuranceHedy Fry (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.The answer thanks staff but sidesteps the specific case of welfare clawback and delays.I would like to take this opportunity to thank those of my staff who have been working extra hours and who have been working weekends for the sake of Canadians.
17. partly answered
    Citizenship and ImmigrationMr. Thierry St-Cyr (Bloc) asked Jason Kenney (Conservative). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the concern and states action is being taken but does not address dismissal.I spoke to the chairperson of the IRB yesterday and we are looking into how to address this issue.
18. deflected
    Citizenship and ImmigrationMr. Thierry St-Cyr (Bloc) asked Jason Kenney (Conservative). loaded question.The response avoids the accusation by restating the appointment process without addressing competence or partisanship.He was appointed on the advice of the IRB.
19. deflected
    JusticeMr. Réal Ménard (Bloc) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). substantive question.The answer challenges the asker to provide evidence rather than addressing the reported obstruction.if the hon. member has any evidence of that, he should please present that either here or at committee.
20. misdirected
    JusticeMr. Réal Ménard (Bloc) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). loaded question.The response attacks the asker and shifts to a different topic about violent criminals.those are ridiculous comments coming from the hon. member for which there is absolutely no basis.
21. misdirected
    InfrastructureMr. Gerard Kennedy (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the asker personally and quotes unrelated provincial Liberals instead of addressing the timeline.I can understand why the member was tossed out of the Liberal caucus at Queen's Park and sent packing.
22. deflected
    InfrastructureMr. Gerard Kennedy (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The response changes the subject to provincial premiers and the Senate rather than addressing the funding method.There is one thing standing in the way of help for Canadians, and that is the Liberal Senate.
23. deflected
    Citizenship and ImmigrationMaurizio Bevilacqua (Liberal) asked Jason Kenney (Conservative). substantive question.The answer shifts to criticizing the previous Liberal government instead of addressing current processing delays.When the Liberals took office, the backlog was fewer than 50,000 applications; they drove it up to over 800,000.
24. partly answered
    Citizenship and ImmigrationMaurizio Bevilacqua (Liberal) asked Jason Kenney (Conservative). substantive question.The answer acknowledges inefficiencies and offers to work together but does not explain the increases in backlog and costs.However, the member is quite right, it is not efficient and the reality is that last year we received 38,000 inland refugee claimants
25. deflected
    Financial InstitutionsMr. Glenn Thibeault (NDP) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). substantive question.The answer shifts to bill passage and attacks Liberal senators instead of addressing credit card limits.I hope the Liberal senators will stop delaying the bill in the other place.
26. deflected
    Financial InstitutionsMr. Glenn Thibeault (NDP) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). substantive question.The answer focuses on bill delay and the asker's vote rather than debit market protections.We will be able to move forward, Mr. Speaker, with respect to the regulatory aspect as soon as the budget bill is passed, which is being delayed by the Liberal senators in the other place and is going to be voted against by the member who just asked the question.
27. partly answered
    International CooperationMs. Johanne Deschamps (Bloc) asked Bev Oda (Conservative). substantive question.The answer provides aid statistics but does not address CIDA withdrawal from Africa.The correct facts are that this government is supporting Africa unlike any other former government.
28. deflected
    Mining IndustryMr. Paul Crête (Bloc) asked Stockwell Day (Conservative). substantive question.The answer gives a vague assurance without committing to the roundtable report.That is why I can assure my friend that soon, we will see that our strategy will give Canada's extractive industry something more to think about.
29. deflected
    Agriculture and Agri-FoodMr. Jean-Claude D'Amours (Liberal) asked Gerry Ritz (Conservative). substantive question.The answer denies delay but pivots to attacking the Senate instead of explaining the funding timeline.I hope the member is going to run down the hall and get his Senate to pass it later today.
30. answered
    Agriculture and Agri-FoodMr. Jean-Claude D'Amours (Liberal) asked Keith Ashfield (Conservative). loaded question.The answer directly corrects the claim about ACOA funding and states the money is flowing.As the Minister of State for ACOA, I signed off on that paperwork some weeks ago.
31. deflected
    HousingMs. Megan Leslie (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer promotes the budget plan and attacks the member instead of addressing a national housing strategy for women.What we need the member to do is to stop putting her head in the sand and to finally support the good work that is in the budget.
32. deflected
    HousingMs. Megan Leslie (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer lists budget amounts but ends by attacking the member's vote rather than outlining a national strategy.We are putting this out there for Canadians, but the hon. member and her entire party voted against every penny of it.
33. partly answered
    Forestry IndustryMrs. Alexandra Mendes (Liberal) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). substantive question.The answer lists existing measures and future plans but does not address opposition to the motion or refusal to cooperate.As we have said, our government has put in place numerous measures, within the agreements we have, to support employment and encourage and assist workers, among other things with $170 million to diversify the economy.
34. deflected
    Official LanguagesMr. Michel Guimond (Bloc) asked James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.The answer ignores the question about agreement with the colleague's statements and instead recites official languages policy and funding.We have a road map and this is what it is: $1.1 billion over five years invested in the official languages of our country.
35. answered
    IndustryMs. Chris Charlton (NDP) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). loaded question.The answer directly rebuts the premise that the government rolled over and explains enforcement and benefits, while criticizing the opposition.On that side of the House, they simply ignore the fact that we have obtained new investments to this country that have kept our businesses alive in this country, that have meant jobs and opportunities for Canadians throughout the country.