Parliament AIIndependent · non-official

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Monday, September 14, 2009 · sitting No. 80

Debate opens on Canada-Colombia free trade agreement

The House devoted the largest share of its sitting to second reading of Bill C-23, the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act. NDP MP Brian Masse said the bill would grant privileged access to Canadian markets for a country whose government had failed to protect citizens and trade unionists. International Trade Minister Stockwell Day accused the NDP of inflammatory language and defended Colombia's prosecution record.

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff and NDP Leader Jack Layton challenged Prime Minister Stephen Harper on the economy and the prospect of an early election. Harper replied that Canadians do not want another vote and that Parliament should focus on economic measures already before the House.

Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe introduced a bill to end day parole after one-sixth of a sentence for white-collar offenders and asked for swift passage.

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 · 2009-09-14

Government (Conservative)OppositionOver the day: government 36%, opposition 64% of the words spokenPrivate membersGovernment businessQuestion PeriodGovernment business▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 11:0512:0013:0014:0015:0016:00Last speech 17:45Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 6 h 40 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
36Questions and Paperwork Fill the DayThe sitting devoted most of its time to routine questions and orders for returns, with only one bill introduced and no votes recorded. Question Period produced few direct answers while substantive debate occupied barely half the words spoken.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

Health

Liberal MP Bob Rae asked whether the Prime Minister was proud of Canada's health care system and whether Ottawa would defend it against U.S. criticism. Harper said his family uses the system and that it would survive attacks from both right-wing and left-wing sources.

Read the exchange

Employment Insurance

Liberal MP John McCallum said the government's plan to raise EI premiums amounted to a tax increase. Human Resources Minister Diane Finley replied that an independent board would set rates on a break-even basis after a two-year freeze.

Read the exchange

Infrastructure

Liberal MP Gerard Kennedy said cabinet ministers had directed stimulus funds to their own ridings while unemployment rose. Transport Minister Tony Clement said projects were being delivered across the country in partnership with other governments.

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Search and Rescue

Liberal MP Siobhan Coady asked for a full review of search-and-rescue services in Newfoundland and Labrador after a recent marine tragedy. Defence Minister Peter MacKay said assets were being monitored and a Hercules aircraft was on standby.

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
    The EconomyMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Answer addresses only the soldier tribute and ignores the question on the Prime Minister's record and remarks.Our prayers and our thoughts are with their families and comrades.
  2. deflected
    The EconomyMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Answer pivots to elections and urges focus on economy without addressing coalition or ads.The fact of the matter is that Canadians do not want an election, Canada does not need an election and an election is not in this country's best interest.
  3. partly answered
    The EconomyMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Answer defends Canada's economic performance and deficits but does not address trust or specific broken promises.Canada is in a very strong position.
  4. answered
    HealthBob Rae (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Answer directly affirms pride in the health care system as requested.
  5. partly answered
    HealthBob Rae (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Answer states intent to let the US decide but adds an attack instead of outlining any defence plan.I will say that the Canadian health care system will not only survive attacks by right-wing commentators in the United States but has even survived one by left-wing incompetents in Ontario.
  6. deflected
    JusticeMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Answer notes past opposition and promises future review without committing to support the bill.We will examine the bill carefully.
  7. deflected
    JusticeMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Answer reiterates prior proposals on house arrest and securities commission without addressing the bill.That is why we proposed eliminating the latter.
  8. partly answered
    TaxationMr. Jean-Yves Laforest (Bloc) asked Jean-Pierre Blackburn (Conservative). substantive question.Answer notes ongoing work and some voluntary disclosures but provides no new concrete measures on tax havens.
  9. deflected
    TaxationMr. Jean-Yves Laforest (Bloc) asked Stockwell Day (Conservative). substantive question.Answer is truncated and provides no response to the question on trade agreements.
  10. deflected
    Conservative GovernmentJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Answer avoids the question on working with parties and pivots to economy and election avoidance.The priority for our government and for the people of Canada is the economy.
  11. deflected
    Conservative GovernmentJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Answer ignores the question about attitude and cooperation, redirecting to economy and election.the public's number one concern is the economy.
  12. deflected
    Conservative GovernmentJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Answer sidesteps the choice on working with parties and focuses on voting against election.it is absolutely clear that this government will be voting to proceed with Parliament and proceed with the economic agenda.
  13. misdirected
    Conservative GovernmentMarlene Jennings (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.Answer ignores the question on agenda and attacks and instead lists economic measures.we have been focused since January on the economy to help Canadians who need it most.
  14. misdirected
    Conservative GovernmentMarlene Jennings (Liberal) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). loaded question.Answer attacks the asker for the question rather than addressing the blacklist allegation.For that member to accuse me or our government of homophobia and of misogyny is her party's stock-in-trade, perhaps, but it does not make it the truth.
  15. partly answered
    Employment InsuranceJohn McCallum (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.Answer addresses EI premium setting mechanism but not the contradiction with the Prime Minister's prior statement.in budget 2008 we put forward a proposal to have an independent, arm's-length employment insurance financing board that would determine premiums independently so that they would be on a break-even basis over a length of time.
  16. deflected
    Employment InsuranceJohn McCallum (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.Answer defends the freeze but does not address the claim of a tax hike or truthfulness.to stimulate our economy within our economic action plan, we froze EI premiums for two years.
  17. misdirected
    Employment InsuranceMrs. Josée Beaudin (Bloc) asked Jean-Pierre Blackburn (Conservative). loaded question.The answer ignores the tax breaks and EI attacks by pivoting to challenge support for a different EI proposal.Will you support these workers, yes or no? Will you support the government, yes or no?
  18. partly answered
    Employment InsuranceMr. Yves Lessard (Bloc) asked Jean-Pierre Blackburn (Conservative). substantive question.The answer lists several EI measures taken but does not address the specific call to support Bill C-308.we confirmed this morning that EI rates would remain the same for 2009-10, meaning that the premiums for workers will not increase.
  19. partly answered
    The EconomyMr. Pierre Paquette (Bloc) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). substantive question.The answer affirms the tax credit will be implemented but does not commit to a standalone ways and means motion this week.Yes, the home renovation tax credit is a very important part of the economic action plan for Canada.
  20. deflected
    The EconomyMr. Robert Bouchard (Bloc) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). substantive question.The answer promotes existing government spending instead of addressing whether the Bloc bill on wood use will be supported.But once again, the Bloc voted against these fine economic measures that produce results.
  21. deflected
    InfrastructureMr. Gerard Kennedy (Liberal) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). loaded question.The answer lists projects across regions but avoids explaining any cabinet infighting or vote-buying in ministers' ridings.We work on these projects with other premiers, such as Premier Williams perhaps, Premier McGuinty, and former premier Doer, and municipal leaders of all political stripes.
  22. misdirected
    InfrastructureMr. Gerard Kennedy (Liberal) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). loaded question.The answer shifts focus to per-capita spending in Windsor rather than addressing disproportionate funding in ministers' ridings.
  23. answered
    Foreign AffairsUjjal Dosanjh (Liberal) asked Mr. Deepak Obhrai (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly affirms equal protection for all Canadians abroad without evasion.Our record is very clear on that issue, and we want to make it very clear to everyone out there that this government will stand behind any Canadian, wherever he or she may be.
  24. misdirected
    Foreign AffairsUjjal Dosanjh (Liberal) asked Mr. Deepak Obhrai (Conservative). loaded question.The answer defends the record by blaming the prior Liberal government and shifts to Omar Khadr instead of addressing trust in equal protection.This government will stand for all law-abiding Canadians, and I want to say, yes, a Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian, and he is a Canadian.
  25. partly answered
    Employment InsuranceMr. Thomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Jean-Pierre Blackburn (Conservative). substantive question.Answer mentions future help for some workers but mainly blames Liberals instead of outlining comprehensive proposals.Today we are showing that we take this matter seriously and that we intend to help long-tenured workers.
  26. deflected
    Employment InsuranceMr. Thomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.Answer lists past measures and attacks NDP voting record instead of addressing timeline for new legislation.I should point out that the NDP voted against every single one of those initiatives to help our unemployed.
  27. partly answered
    Securities IndustryMr. Jean Dorion (Bloc) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). substantive question.Answer addresses securities as voluntary and notes negotiations but avoids direct response on National Assembly demands.it would be a voluntary system; yes, I mean voluntary.
  28. deflected
    The EnvironmentMr. Bernard Bigras (Bloc) asked Jim Prentice (Conservative). loaded question.Answer denies premise but pivots to attacking Bloc instead of addressing Quebec's international voice.We will fight climate change without compromising our economic recovery.
  29. deflected
    Employment InsuranceMrs. Alexandra Mendes (Liberal) asked Jean-Pierre Blackburn (Conservative). loaded question.Answer restates premium freeze and attacks Liberals for abandoning unemployed rather than addressing the rate decision.Why did the Liberals abandon the unemployed when, at the end of June, they were prepared to sit on a committee to suggest measures to help them?
  30. deflected
    Employment InsuranceMrs. Alexandra Mendes (Liberal) asked Jean-Pierre Blackburn (Conservative). loaded question.Answer lists existing measures and asks if opposition will support them instead of clarifying premium contradiction.Will the opposition support us in this measure?
  31. answered
    TaxationMs. Libby Davies (NDP) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). substantive question.Answer directly states that harmonization decisions rest with provincial governments.the decision by any particular province of whether or not to harmonize is a decision for that provincial government to make.
  32. misdirected
    TaxationMs. Chris Charlton (NDP) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). loaded question.Answer attacks NDP on GST instead of addressing the federal role in Ontario harmonization.Her party is the party that voted against reducing the GST, which we have reduced twice since we took office.
  33. partly answered
    Search and RescueMs. Siobhan Coady (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.The answer discusses monitoring and assets but does not address the request for a total review of services.We monitor regularly conditions with respect to search and rescue.
  34. deflected
    HealthMs. Paule Brunelle (Bloc) asked Leona Aglukkaq (Conservative). substantive question.The answer references an upcoming meeting but avoids confirming any position on financial compensation.we are working very closely with the provinces and territories on this issue.
  35. partly answered
    Fisheries and OceansMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Gail Shea (Conservative). substantive question.The answer notes a recent stakeholder meeting but does not commit to an emergency summit with all listed groups.I was in British Columbia just last weekend and had a meeting with a number of industry stakeholders