Parliament AIIndependent · non-official

All sittings← 2009-04-212009-04-23 →

Wednesday, April 22, 2009 · sitting No. 43

Liberals press government on climate inaction during question period

Question period on the environment consumed the largest share of the sitting. Liberal MP David McGuinty questioned why three ministers in three years have produced no absolute greenhouse-gas reductions and no carbon pricing. Conservative MP Mark Warawa replied that the government is advancing a clean-energy dialogue with the United States and has set an absolute reduction target of 20 per cent by 2020.

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff opened the economy segment by citing Bank of Canada and IMF forecasts of a deeper recession and asked what further measures Prime Minister Stephen Harper would offer unemployed Canadians. Harper said the government’s stimulus package already exceeds IMF recommendations and rejected calls for tax increases.

The House also debated the Canada-Peru free-trade agreement at report stage and government amendments to the human pathogens and toxins bill.

Decided that day

  • C-268, C-291 and C-300 read a second time and sent to committee
  • S-2 and S-216 advanced in first chamber
  • Four new bills introduced
  • Motion on gun-control amnesty passed

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 · 2009-04-22

Government (Conservative)OppositionOver the day: government 42%, opposition 58% of the words spokenQuestion PeriodRoutine proceedingsGovernment business▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 14:0015:0016:0017:0018:00Last speech 19:20Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 5 h 20 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
64Bills Advance While Answers LagThe House moved multiple bills forward through second reading and introduction while adopting four recorded votes on legislation and a gun-control motion. Most speaking time addressed substantive topics, though Question Period produced few complete answers.AI-rated Score out of 100; the verdict and the answer ratings behind it are a model’s reading. How the AI rates this

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

Firearms Registry

Bloc Québécois MP Serge Ménard asked why the government would drop the safety-course requirement for long-gun owners while still requiring a test for boat operators. Minister Christian Paradis said the registry burdens lawful owners and that the focus should remain on criminals.

Read the exchange

Canada-U.S. Relations

Liberal MP Mark Holland pressed the government to correct U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano’s claim that terrorists have entered the United States from Canada. Minister Peter Van Loan replied that none of the 9/11 hijackers came from Canada and that Ottawa is actively defending trade interests.

Read the exchange

Public Safety

New Democrat MP Don Davies said Vancouver has received none of the promised federal funds for new officers. Minister Peter Van Loan stated that $400 million has already been transferred to the provinces and more than 1,500 new RCMP officers have been hired.

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Arts and Culture

Bloc Québécois MP Carole Lavallée argued that cancelling PromArt while spending on B.C. Scene leaves performing-arts groups without touring support. Minister James Moore said the government is spending a record $22 million this year on international promotion of Canadian artists.

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Points of Order

Bloc Québécois MP Michel Guimond asked the Speaker to rule on Conservative MP Jeff Watson’s imitation of a handgun during a vote on the firearms-registry motion. Watson said the gesture was not directed at any member.

Read the exchange

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. partly answered
    The EconomyMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Mentions existing stimulus for unemployed but offers no new measures or specific hope.Fortunately, conservative monetary and fiscal policy management [in these economies] now leave policymakers better placed than those in other countries to mitigate further declines in demand.
  2. deflected
    The EconomyMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Ignores revision request and pivots to accusing Liberals of wanting tax hikes.Now I know about the leader of the Liberal Party and the kinds of additional measures he wants are increases in taxes.
  3. misdirected
    The EconomyMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Question assumes incompetence and attacks record; answer defends deficits but ends by attacking tax agenda.And none of that, there is no excuse for an agenda to raise taxes.
  4. deflected
    The EnvironmentMr. David McGuinty (Liberal) asked Mr. Mark Warawa (Conservative). substantive question.Ignores timeline and regulatory failures, instead praising US dialogue without addressing Canadian inaction.That clean energy dialogue includes expanding clean energy research and development, technology, and an efficient electricity grid based on renewable and clean energy.
  5. deflected
    The EnvironmentMr. David McGuinty (Liberal) asked Mr. Mark Warawa (Conservative). substantive question.Lists spending items but avoids explaining why Canada lags US sixfold in green R&D or job creation.We are world leaders with the toughest target in Canadian history, and that is an absolute reduction of 20% by 2020.
  6. partly answered
    The EconomyMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Repeats that stimulus exceeds IMF call and quotes IMF praise, without addressing plan inadequacy or forestry crisis.Today, the IMF had this to say about the government's policies: "Fortunately conservative monetary and fiscal policy management in these economies now leave policymakers better placed than those in other economies to mitigate further declines in demand."
  7. partly answered
    The EconomyMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Defends forestry aid via EDC loans but does not address loan guarantees or Quebec-specific refusal.For example, we have helped finance more than 500 companies in this sector through Export Development Canada.
  8. deflected
    The EnvironmentMr. Bernard Bigras (Bloc) asked Lisa Raitt (Conservative). substantive question.Lists past spending on renewables but ignores comparison to China and failure to reduce oil dependence.We have committed over $3.7 billion in renewable energy efforts since 2007.
  9. partly answered
    The EnvironmentMr. Bernard Bigras (Bloc) asked Mr. Mark Warawa (Conservative). substantive question.States absolute targets exist but pivots to attacking the questioner instead of explaining the shift from intensity targets.The big question before the House is why that member opposes this good plan.
  10. deflected
    The EconomyJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Restates the existing stimulus plan and urges the NDP not to oppose it rather than addressing immediate action for current unemployed.I encourage the New Democratic Party to join us in helping them by not voting against benefits for the unemployed.
  11. deflected
    The EconomyJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Repeats the existing stimulus and criticizes opponents for not supporting it instead of addressing need for additional measures.the parties opposite, before they demand additional stimulus, should at least get on board and vote for the things that are being done
  12. deflected
    The EnvironmentJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Ignores the climate and EI failure points and instead attacks the NDP for not reading or supporting the plan.It is time he read these things. It is time he gets on board with them and help the people of Canada.
  13. misdirected
    The EnvironmentMs. Kirsty Duncan (Liberal) asked Mr. Mark Warawa (Conservative). substantive question.Ignores the international criticism and instead attacks the Liberal carbon tax plan.Now the Liberal leader plans on hiking taxes and imposing a job-killing carbon tax on all Canadians.
  14. misdirected
    The EnvironmentMs. Kirsty Duncan (Liberal) asked Mr. Mark Warawa (Conservative). substantive question.Ignores the current policy failure and instead attacks the previous Liberal record and carbon tax.for 13 years the Liberals did absolutely nothing on the environment.
  15. deflected
    The EnvironmentMr. Francis Scarpaleggia (Liberal) asked Mr. Mark Warawa (Conservative). substantive question.Denies the commissioner's finding and pivots to blaming Liberals for past messes instead of addressing lack of progress.The commissioner said that what we did was a model of how to get things done on the environment.
  16. misdirected
    The EnvironmentMr. Francis Scarpaleggia (Liberal) asked Mr. Mark Warawa (Conservative). substantive question.Ignores the monitoring question and instead attacks the Liberal record on Kyoto targets.Under the Liberals, as the Liberal leader said, they created an environmental mess.
  17. deflected
    Firearms RegistryMr. Serge Ménard (Bloc) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). substantive question.The answer avoids explaining the safety course remark and instead promotes the government's crime-focused approach.The registration process is a burdensome one and discourages people from renewing their possession and acquisition licences.
  18. deflected
    Firearms RegistryMr. Serge Ménard (Bloc) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). substantive question.The answer dismisses the question as nonsensical without addressing the boat-versus-gun licensing comparison.
  19. misdirected
    Citizenship and ImmigrationMr. Thierry St-Cyr (Bloc) asked Jason Kenney (Conservative). loaded question.The answer accuses the member of disrespecting IRB independence rather than addressing the language-of-evidence issue.it is becoming all too clear that the Bloc Québécois member does not respect the IRB's independence.
  20. deflected
    Official LanguagesMr. Pascal-Pierre Paillé (Bloc) asked James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.The answer offers general praise for bilingualism at the Olympics without outlining any concrete steps to address the commissioner's concerns.the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be a tremendous victory for Canada and for Canada's official languages.
  21. partly answered
    Canada-U.S. RelationsMr. Mark Holland (Liberal) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). substantive question.The answer corrects the factual claim about 9/11 terrorists but does not address the broader policy or job-impact concerns.On the issue of the 9/11 terrorists, it is quite clear that none of them came from Canada.
  22. misdirected
    Canada-U.S. RelationsMr. Mark Holland (Liberal) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the previous Liberal government's record instead of responding to current border-policy inaction.those are comments from a party that was asleep at the switch when the Americans instituted the western hemisphere travel initiative
  23. misdirected
    JusticeDominic LeBlanc (Liberal) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). loaded question.The answer accuses Liberals of ignoring crime for 13 years rather than addressing the Statistics Canada report or police advice.members of the Liberal Party have finally figured out in the last three weeks that there is a problem with crime in this country.
  24. partly answered
    JusticeDominic LeBlanc (Liberal) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). substantive question.The answer cites the police recruitment fund and RCMP hiring numbers but does not address the lack of visible funding in British Columbia.Over $400 million were delivered to the provinces to hire new police officers.
  25. partly answered
    Public SafetyMr. Don Davies (NDP) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). substantive question.Addresses funding delivered but sidesteps the 2500 officers promise and program mechanism flaws.That is why we delivered $400 million to the provinces for local policing.
  26. misdirected
    Public SafetyMr. Don Davies (NDP) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). substantive question.Shifts to attacking NDP instead of addressing the funding delivery or Vancouver specifics.What is the NDP doing? It is opposing or trying to gut our legislation that would deliver mandatory prison sentences for organized crime.
  27. deflected
    Arts and CultureMrs. Carole Lavallée (Bloc) asked James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.Calls question ridiculous and pivots to spending totals and opposition votes rather than tour funding gap.that is a truly ridiculous question with no basis in fact.
  28. deflected
    Arts and CultureMrs. Carole Lavallée (Bloc) asked James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.Repeats claim of falsehood and pivots to Bloc voting record without addressing missing tour support program.once again, this is completely false.
  29. partly answered
    Employment InsuranceMr. Scott Andrews (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.States they are working on the issue and will address it soon but offers no concrete extension announcement.we will be addressing that situation very soon.
  30. partly answered
    Employment InsuranceMs. Raymonde Folco (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.Discusses systemic fixes like extra weeks and hiring but does not resolve the specific lost-record case raised.we have hired hundreds more people to help process claims so that situations like this do not happen.
  31. deflected
    The EnvironmentMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Mr. Mark Warawa (Conservative). substantive question.Highlights chemicals plan announcements but ignores the question about meetings with Dow Chemical.We are cleaning up the Canadian environment.
  32. answered
    The EnvironmentMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Stockwell Day (Conservative). substantive question.Directly states support for provincial pesticide protections under NAFTA, addressing the core concern.we will support them in doing that.
  33. partly answered
    Financial InstitutionsMr. Anthony Rota (Liberal) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). loaded question.The answer addresses regulatory steps and reviews underway but provides no timeline for action on fees.Regulations will be forthcoming for public consultation.
  34. partly answered
    Agri-food IndustryMr. André Bellavance (Bloc) asked Jean-Pierre Blackburn (Conservative). loaded question.The answer explains the policy rationale and consumer protection goal while noting ongoing listening to processors.We also wanted to protect consumers by ensuring that they are able to know whether a product is a Canadian product or a product processed in Canada.
  35. deflected
    Government SpendingMr. Bill Siksay (NDP) asked Jean-Pierre Blackburn (Conservative). loaded question.The answer justifies charter flights for regional access instead of addressing disclosure rules or spending oversight.it is always surprising to hear that kind of question from a member.