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Friday, June 12, 2009 · sitting No. 74

Commons advances consumer product safety bill amid isotope and EI clashes

The House spent the largest share of its sitting on Government Orders debating Bill C-6, the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act. NDP MP Jim Maloway said the bill represented progress that parties could achieve through cooperation in a minority Parliament. NDP MP Chris Charlton and NDP MP Olivia Chow pressed concerns over imported goods and hazardous chemicals in toys while Liberal MP Paul Szabo questioned the limited list of prohibited products in schedule 2.

Question period opened with repeated exchanges on the medical isotope shortage. Liberal MP David McGuinty accused the government of disinformation and privatization bias while Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre and Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq defended international supply increases and contingency measures. Later exchanges saw NDP MP Todd Russell and NDP MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis challenge federal response to H1N1 outbreaks in Manitoba first nations communities.

Further clashes arose over employment insurance. Bloc Québécois MP Christiane Gagnon and NDP MP Chris Charlton demanded immediate improvements while Human Resources Minister Diane Finley listed existing extensions and training measures and rejected a 45-day work year.

Decided that day

  • C-6 advanced through first chamber
  • C-40 introduced

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 · 2009-06-12

Government (Conservative)OppositionOver the day: government 37%, opposition 63% of the words spokenGovernment businessQuestion PeriodGovernment business▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 10:0511:0012:0013:00Last speech 13:45Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 3 h 40 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
48Bills creep ahead, answers mostly dodgeThe sitting saw two bills advance while most time went to substantive topics. Question period produced few direct answers and no votes were held.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

Infrastructure

NDP MP Chris Charlton said the government's progress report on stimulus spending was fiction after less than one-quarter of building Canada funds had been allocated, with none reaching Quebec or Ontario base funding. Infrastructure Minister John Baird replied that more than half the funds were committed and shovels were in the ground across the country.

Read the exchange

Forestry Industry

Bloc Québécois MP Claude DeBellefeuille said the proposed forestry rescue plan was too narrow and would reach only six of 50 Quebec mills while ignoring short-term financing needs. Conservative MP Jacques Gourde said the government was working to ensure solutions were effective and respected the softwood lumber agreement.

Read the exchange

Persons with Disabilities

Liberal MP Michael Savage said 94 per cent of enabling accessibility fund grants had gone to Conservative ridings and called the program a slush fund. Human Resources Minister Diane Finley said the fund would improve access for disabled Canadians and noted the previous Liberal government had done nothing similar.

Read the exchange

Peggy's Cove Lighthouse

Liberal MP Rodger Cuzner said the government could not find $25,000 to paint the Peggy's Cove lighthouse. Conservative MP Gerald Keddy said Fisheries Minister Gail Shea had ordered the work and it would be completed this year.

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. deflected
    Medical IsotopesMr. David McGuinty (Liberal) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.The answer quotes the CEO on why MAPLEs are not viable instead of addressing claims about 2007 license renewals or disinformation.even if we were to take the decision tomorrow morning for whatever set of reasons to try to return the MAPLEs to service, it would be many years and many hundreds of millions of dollars before those reactors would be licenseable and able to be put into service.
  2. partly answered
    Medical IsotopesMr. David McGuinty (Liberal) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses the supply question by citing increased production from other reactors but does not give the specific number of Canadian patients affected.the Petten reactor in The Netherlands has ramped up production by 50% and South Africa by 30%.
  3. answered
    Medical IsotopesMr. David McGuinty (Liberal) asked Leona Aglukkaq (Conservative). loaded question.The answer directly addresses alternatives like thallium and targeting supplies to children as requested.Many tests can be completed using other options, such as thallium and sodium fluoride.
  4. answered
    HealthMr. Todd Russell (Liberal) asked Leona Aglukkaq (Conservative). substantive question.The answer states that supplies are not a problem and that the government is working with communities as asked.Supply is not a problem in any of the nursing stations in Manitoba's first nations communities.
  5. answered
    HealthMr. Todd Russell (Liberal) asked Leona Aglukkaq (Conservative). substantive question.The answer details specific actions taken in the community including additional nurses and epidemiologists.Health Canada has provided additional nurses to the community and physicians are on-site.
  6. deflected
    Employment InsuranceMs. Christiane Gagnon (Bloc) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). rhetorical question.The answer lists past actions and attacks the Bloc instead of outlining new plans for unemployed workers.Meanwhile, the Bloc has voted against our efforts to help the unemployed.
  7. deflected
    Employment InsuranceMs. Christiane Gagnon (Bloc) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer restates general monitoring of the economy without committing to the specific reforms requested.That is why the Prime Minister said yesterday that changes are in store to improve the system so that it meets the needs of unemployed workers.
  8. deflected
    Forestry IndustryMrs. Claude DeBellefeuille (Bloc) asked Mr. Jacques Gourde (Conservative). substantive question.The answer gives a vague assurance of support without addressing financing or the limited scope of the plan.Our government is working very hard to ensure that the proposed solutions are effective and that they are implemented as quickly as possible.
  9. deflected
    Forestry IndustryMrs. Claude DeBellefeuille (Bloc) asked Mr. Jacques Gourde (Conservative). substantive question.The answer discusses a cautious approach due to the US agreement but never addresses loan guarantees.We are taking a cautious approach because we are listening to industry stakeholders, who are all telling us to be careful.
  10. deflected
    InfrastructureMs. Chris Charlton (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer lists Ontario projects but does not explain why stimulus is not reaching communities.Shovels are going in the ground as we speak, and we are getting the job done.
  11. misdirected
    InfrastructureMs. Chris Charlton (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the NDP for criticism instead of addressing the allocation figures in the report card.
  12. deflected
    Employment InsuranceMs. Chris Charlton (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer lists past measures and attacks the NDP proposal rather than explaining why EI help cannot come immediately.
  13. deflected
    Medical IsotopesMs. Joyce Murray (Liberal) asked Leona Aglukkaq (Conservative). loaded question.The answer restates contingency measures without addressing the mismanagement accusation or shame.contingency measures were established by the provinces and territories to manage a possible short supply of medical isotopes.
  14. partly answered
    Medical IsotopesMs. Joyce Murray (Liberal) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.The answer addresses the long-term panel but ignores the inconsistency and immediate supply guarantee.we have appointed an expert panel to determine from where our long-term supply of medical isotopes will come.
  15. deflected
    Medical IsotopesGeoff Regan (Liberal) asked Leona Aglukkaq (Conservative). loaded question.The answer explains alternatives without addressing the claim of misleading Canadians on international supplies.Using alternatives wherever possible was one of the alternatives identified by the medical experts on isotopes as lessons learned in 2007
  16. deflected
    Medical IsotopesGeoff Regan (Liberal) asked Leona Aglukkaq (Conservative). substantive question.The answer repeats alternatives instead of providing the requested basic information on current supplies.Let me repeat what I said yesterday. Fifty per cent of the uses of Tc99 isotopes are for heart scans.
  17. partly answered
    InfrastructureMr. Mario Laframboise (Bloc) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.Answer provides specific Quebec investment examples but sidesteps the 73% spending claim and municipal skepticism.we have made significant investments in every region of Quebec.
  18. partly answered
    InfrastructureMr. Mario Laframboise (Bloc) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.Answer cites gas tax advance and a mayor's quote but does not address the 6% spending figure or 2010 project delays.The government has shown a commitment to co-operation and flexibility that will create jobs
  19. deflected
    The EnvironmentMs. Paule Brunelle (Bloc) asked Jim Prentice (Conservative). substantive question.Answer pivots to general clean energy leadership and attacks the Bloc instead of addressing the alleged fund diversion.While we work, the Bloc Québécois is a shining example of passivity.
  20. deflected
    The EnvironmentMs. Paule Brunelle (Bloc) asked Jim Prentice (Conservative). substantive question.Answer claims budget investments in wind and solar but avoids confirming where diverted funds went and attacks opposition parties.The Liberals have never had the courage of their convictions and the Bloc and the NDP will never have the chance to do anything more than stand up in the House.
  21. misdirected
    FinanceJohn McCallum (Liberal) asked Mr. Ted Menzies (Conservative). substantive question.Answer redirects the yes/no question about cheques to the BDC instead of clarifying the government's own report.I would ask my hon. colleague to ask BDC representatives when they are going to deliver the cheques
  22. misdirected
    FinanceMr. David McGuinty (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). rhetorical question.Single-word question is rhetorical; answer ignores it and pivots to praising Newfoundland projects and the asker's brother.I wish that the member for Ottawa South could be more like his brother Dalton.
  23. deflected
    Persons with DisabilitiesMr. Michael Savage (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.Answer praises the program and criticizes prior Liberal inaction but does not explain the 94% Conservative riding allocation.It is something that party should have done when it was in government for 13 years, but it did not bother.
  24. misdirected
    Persons with DisabilitiesMr. Michael Savage (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.Answer shifts to infrastructure spending in other provinces and calls for less partisanship instead of addressing the slush-fund allegation.We are putting partisanship aside.
  25. partly answered
    Medical IsotopesMs. Judy Wasylycia-Leis (NDP) asked Leona Aglukkaq (Conservative). substantive question.The answer discusses contingency measures but does not guarantee access for all critical care patients regardless of location.We have contingency measures to ensure that supplies of isotopes are targeted to patients most at risk, such as children.
  26. partly answered
    HealthMs. Judy Wasylycia-Leis (NDP) asked Leona Aglukkaq (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses nursing station closures in Manitoba but ignores the broader H1N1 and first nations public health issues.I want to be very clear to the House that we will not close nursing stations in Manitoba.
  27. deflected
    Minister of Natural ResourcesMs. France Bonsant (Bloc) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.The answer shifts to general response tracks instead of addressing the minister's alleged negligence and lack of leadership.there are two tracks to the response to this global problem.
  28. deflected
    Minister of Natural ResourcesMs. France Bonsant (Bloc) asked Leona Aglukkaq (Conservative). loaded question.The answer describes departmental actions but avoids addressing the call to fire the minister.my department has taken action by working with the isotopes experts to develop guidance on dealing with the shortage.
  29. misdirected
    CBC/Radio-CanadaMr. Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal) asked Mr. Dean Del Mastro (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the Liberal Party's past record instead of addressing current CBC funding and job cuts.The Liberal Party does not keep its election commitments, like in 1993 and 1997.
  30. misdirected
    CBC/Radio-CanadaMr. Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal) asked Mr. Dean Del Mastro (Conservative). substantive question.The answer pivots to criticizing Liberal spending plans rather than responding to the request for stable CBC funding.that is consistent with what we always hear from the Liberal Party: spend, spend, spend.
  31. deflected
    Foreign AffairsMr. Paul Dewar (NDP) asked Mr. Daniel Petit (Conservative). substantive question.The answer avoids confirming whether Abdelrazik will appear before the committee.our government will make a decision at the appropriate time.
  32. deflected
    Foreign AffairsMr. Paul Dewar (NDP) asked Mr. Daniel Petit (Conservative). substantive question.The answer repeats that a decision will be made later without addressing court respect or contempt.a decision will be made at the appropriate time.
  33. deflected
    Government AssetsMs. Martha Hall Findlay (Liberal) asked Mr. Ted Menzies (Conservative). loaded question.The answer mocks the premise and restates general awareness of reviews without addressing any of the three specific scenarios posed.Gee whiz, Mr. Speaker, that hon. member should get her facts correct.
  34. deflected
    Colombia Free Trade AgreementMr. Robert Carrier (Bloc) asked Mr. Gerald Keddy (Conservative). loaded question.The answer rejects the premise outright and pivots to unrelated benefits of the agreement rather than addressing the human-rights claim.first of all, let us be clear; I reject the premise of that question. That hon. member is totally over the top.
  35. misdirected
    Mackenzie Valley PipelineMr. Dennis Bevington (NDP) asked Jim Prentice (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the questioner's prior position and facts instead of addressing the alleged cozy relationship with big oil.the hon. member ran out of time and facts, as well.
  36. deflected
    Not-for-Profit OrganizationsMrs. Lise Zarac (Liberal) asked Mr. Ted Menzies (Conservative). substantive question.The answer shifts to general tax and pension measures without specifying any action to protect not-for-profit organizations.this government is focused on helping Canadians, whether it is non-governmental organizations, whether it is the poor.
  37. partly answered
    The EnvironmentMr. Jim Maloway (NDP) asked Jim Prentice (Conservative). substantive question.The answer confirms awareness and upcoming discussion with the EPA but provides no timeline or concrete action on filtration or flow.I can assure the hon. member that we are well aware of the file.