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Friday, September 18, 2009 · sitting No. 84
Commons advances bill to extend employment insurance for long-tenured workers
The House spent the largest share of its time on second reading of Bill C-50, which would provide five to 20 additional weeks of regular employment insurance benefits to long-tenured workers. Conservative MP James Bezan told the House the changes would assist workers in forestry, manufacturing, auto and steel sectors and that more than $1.5 billion in prior EI measures had already helped 150,000 Canadians. Bloc Québécois MP Yves Lessard countered that the government's figures overstated the number of beneficiaries and that only about 60,000 people would qualify.
In Question Period, Liberal MP Dominic LeBlanc pressed Health Minister Tony Clement on delays in H1N1 vaccine delivery, noting that European countries would begin inoculations in September while Canada might not receive supplies until mid-November. Clement replied that the government was following the advice of the Chief Public Health Officer and working with international partners. New Democratic MP Libby Davies and Conservative ministers also clashed over the proposed harmonized sales tax, with Davies arguing it would raise costs on everyday items and ministers replying that the decision rested with provincial legislatures.
Decided that day
- Notice of Ways and Means motion passed
- C-442 introduced
- C-443 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 · 2009-09-18
59Motion Passed Amid Dodged AnswersThe House passed one budget motion and introduced two bills during time spent on substantive topics. Yet Question Period yielded few direct answers while eighteen points of order consumed valuable sitting time.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
Forestry Industry
Bloc Québécois MP Michel Guimond demanded loan guarantees for the pulp and paper sector after job losses at AbitibiBowater, while Industry Minister Denis Lebel said Export Development Canada had already committed more than $7 billion in credit support.
Read the exchangeNortel
Liberal MP Marc Garneau questioned why Industry Minister Tony Clement would not review the sale of Nortel's wireless assets under the Investment Canada Act, and Clement answered that the transaction fell below the statutory review threshold.
Read the exchangeImmigration
Bloc Québécois MP Thierry St-Cyr asked whether the government would investigate and charge consultants shown in a Radio-Canada report offering fraudulent immigration strategies, and Parliamentary Secretary Rick Dykstra said investigations were under way.
Read the exchangeFisheries and oceans
New Democratic MP Jack Harris warned that amendments to the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization convention could undermine Canadian sovereignty inside the 200-mile limit, while Fisheries Minister Gail Shea said the revised convention preserved Canada's jurisdiction.
Read the exchangeQuestion 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
- deflectedHealthDominic LeBlanc (Liberal) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). loaded question.The answer restates the existing plan without addressing the November timeline or confidence question.
we support the health department's action plan.
- misdirectedHealthDominic LeBlanc (Liberal) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). loaded question.The answer mocks the asker and pivots to preferring official advice over the question.
I thank Dr. Kildare over there.
- deflectedHealthDominic LeBlanc (Liberal) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). loaded question.The answer disputes the premise via an external article rather than outlining a plan for Wrigley.
nothing could be further from the truth.
- answeredHealthUjjal Dosanjh (Liberal) asked Leona Aglukkaq (Conservative). loaded question.The answer directly states the November distribution timeline and confirms provincial endorsement.
We have confirmed that we will be distributing the vaccine to provinces and territories the first week of November.
- answeredHealthUjjal Dosanjh (Liberal) asked Leona Aglukkaq (Conservative). loaded question.The answer affirms vaccine availability for every Canadian in November and reiterates the plan.
The vaccine will be available the first week of November for every Canadian.
- misdirectedEmployment InsuranceMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Jean-Pierre Blackburn (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the Bloc's committee actions instead of addressing intermittent layoff eligibility.
While they refused to remain part of our committee and abandoned the unemployed, long-tenured workers would now like to benefit from five to 20 additional weeks of employment insurance, but the Bloc Québécois is raising objections to this bill and holding it up.
- deflectedEmployment InsuranceMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Jean-Pierre Blackburn (Conservative). rhetorical question.The answer lists existing measures and criticizes an all-or-nothing stance without tackling eligibility gaps.
We have added five weeks of EI benefits for the unemployed because of the global economic recession.
- deflectedForestry IndustryMr. Michel Guimond (Bloc) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). loaded question.The answer labels the question as whining and notes temporary closures without committing to new aid.
The only thing the Bloc can ever do is whine about what we are doing, while we, on the other hand, continue to work on behalf of our workers.
- answeredForestry IndustryMr. Michel Guimond (Bloc) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly cites the $7 billion in loan guarantees as the government's action on the issue.
On August 31, 2009, Export Development Canada committed over $7 billion in support for Quebec's forestry industry through access to credit, loan guarantees and accounts receivable insurance.
- misdirectedTaxationMs. Libby Davies (NDP) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.The answer avoids the federal role by redirecting to provincial legislatures and attacks the asker's party record.
I encourage the hon. member, if she feels very strongly about this, to run for a position in the British Columbia legislature.
- misdirectedTaxationMs. Libby Davies (NDP) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.The answer ignores the date request and instead attacks the asker's voting record on GST.
all I know is when she and her party were given a chance to lower the GST by two points, she and every member of that caucus voted against it.
- misdirectedTaxationMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Mr. Ted Menzies (Conservative). substantive question.The answer sidesteps the tax impact question and broadly attacks the NDP's understanding of business.
Every time NDP members stand in the House, they stand against Canadians.
- partly answeredForestry IndustryMrs. Alexandra Mendes (Liberal) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). substantive question.The answer repeats the $7 billion support figure but then pivots to criticizing past Liberal actions instead of addressing the canceled program.
on August 31, 2009, Export Development Canada made available to the Quebec forestry industry more than $7 billion in credit access, loan guarantees and receivables insurance.
- deflectedForestry IndustryMrs. Alexandra Mendes (Liberal) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). substantive question.The answer defends the softwood agreement and market conditions but does not address how workers will be helped under Bill C-50.
when we signed this agreement with the U.S., we brought back $4.5 billion to Canada and redistributed the entire amount to the forestry industry.
- answeredNortelMr. Marc Garneau (Liberal) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly clarifies that no position has been taken yet on the transaction's reviewability.
Is he suggesting that this government has already taken a position that the particular transaction he mentioned is not reviewable?
- answeredNortelMr. Marc Garneau (Liberal) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly explains the Investment Canada Act threshold showing why the transaction is not reviewable.
The threshold for review is $312 million based on the assets of the company.
- deflectedImmigrationMr. Thierry St-Cyr (Bloc) asked Mr. Rick Dykstra (Conservative). substantive question.The answer restates the government's stance on fraud without addressing the specific proposal for exit controls.
We are very concerned about the proliferation of bogus immigration consultants offering advice on or abuse of our system.
- partly answeredImmigrationMr. Thierry St-Cyr (Bloc) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). substantive question.The answer confirms investigations are underway but refuses further comment due to their ongoing nature.
As my colleague knows, investigations are under way.
- deflectedImmigrationMrs. Ève-Mary Thaï Thi Lac (Bloc) asked Mr. Rick Dykstra (Conservative). substantive question.The answer avoids the geographic scope question by reiterating zero tolerance without specifics.
To avoid jeopardizing ongoing investigations, I cannot speak to the specifics of any case.
- misdirectedImmigrationMrs. Ève-Mary Thaï Thi Lac (Bloc) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the asker as demagogic instead of addressing contact with Lebanese authorities.
this demagoguery needs to stop.
- deflectedCanada-U.S. RelationsScott Brison (Liberal) asked Mr. Gerald Keddy (Conservative). loaded question.The answer highlights positive meetings but sidesteps the specific failures on buy America and border rules.
the Prime Minister just had a very successful visit to Washington which included a face-to-face meeting with President Obama.
- misdirectedCanada-U.S. RelationsScott Brison (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer pivots to attacking the questioner's past record rather than addressing health care defense.
As for vicious right-wing ideologues, when I was a young Conservative, I remember the member opposite being one of those very vicious right-wing ideologues he speaks of.
- deflectedEmployment InsuranceMs. Siobhan Coady (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer explains the independent board and past freeze but ignores the charge of hurting businesses via tax increases.
For starters, we froze the EI premiums for two years during this recession so that we could protect jobs
- misdirectedEmployment InsuranceMs. Siobhan Coady (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks Liberal inconsistency instead of clarifying the payroll tax terminology.
I think Canadians are having a really tough time figuring out where the Liberals stand on any particular issue.
- answeredBankruptcyMr. Paul Dewar (NDP) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly states the bill came into effect at midnight, addressing the timing query despite the opening jab.
at midnight last night, the bill came into effect.
- answeredNortelMr. Brian Masse (NDP) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly confirms a national security review was conducted and states its unanimous conclusion.
in fact, we did do a national security review on this particular auction and transaction.
- partly answered.Agriculture and Agri-foodMr. André Bellavance (Bloc) asked Jean-Pierre Blackburn (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses the single standard policy and Quebec acceptance but does not explain why Quebec's higher standard is not automatically recognized.
it is important that Canada have a single standard for organic products that applies to all the provinces.
- deflected.Agriculture and Agri-foodMr. André Bellavance (Bloc) asked Jean-Pierre Blackburn (Conservative). loaded question.The answer avoids the question by accusing the Bloc of separatism instead of addressing the dual standards issue for Quebec producers.
Of course, it is only interested in separating Quebec.
- partly answered2010 Olympic and Paralympic GamesMr. Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal) asked Mrs. Shelly Glover (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses the funding and bilingualism claim but does not address the lack of earlier action or political will.
our government recently provided VANOC with $7.7 million in additional funding for translation services at the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
- deflected2010 Olympic and Paralympic GamesMr. Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal) asked Mr. Dean Del Mastro (Conservative). substantive question.The answer shifts to a different music funding announcement rather than addressing the specific program cuts mentioned.
earlier this year, our Minister of Canadian Heritage announced a $138 million investment into the Canadian music fund over this and the next four years.
- deflectedFisheries and oceansMr. Jack Harris (NDP) asked Gail Shea (Conservative). substantive question.The answer praises NAFO changes and claims strengthened sovereignty but does not address the specific concern about foreign control inside the 200-mile limit.
This convention will spell out clearly that Canada has 100% jurisdiction over Canadian waters.
- misdirectedFisheries and oceansMr. Jack Harris (NDP) asked Gail Shea (Conservative). substantive question.The answer quotes Newfoundland ministers instead of responding to the call to reject the NAFO agreement or file an objection.
The fact that Canada would have to support a NAFO measure and then request its application in the (200-mile limit) seems to provide the necessary safeguard against any unintended consequence of the amended convention.
- deflectedCanada-U.S. RelationsLarry Bagnell (Liberal) asked Lawrence Cannon (Conservative). loaded question.The answer emphasizes general cooperation and sovereignty without addressing the claimed contradiction or specific actions on the Beaufort Sea.
we will defend our sovereignty.
- deflectedQuebec BridgeMr. Pascal-Pierre Paillé (Bloc) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer notes the matter is before the courts and avoids committing to resuming ownership or stopping legal procedures.
This issue is currently before the courts.
- deflectedPublic SafetyMr. Bill Siksay (NDP) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). substantive question.The answer discusses food access and security priorities but ignores the hunger strike resolution and jurisdiction request.
our number one priority is ensuring the security and safety of Canadians, and we will continue to work to do that.
- answeredFisheries and OceansMs. Judy Foote (Liberal) asked Gail Shea (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly reassures that marine safety will not be compromised and explains the automation process addresses the concern.
We certainly will not compromise marine safety.
- answeredPoint of OrderMr. Luc Desnoyers (Bloc) asked Michael Chong (Conservative). substantive question.The answer accepts the explanation and addresses the procedural request regarding in camera discussions.
I want to thank the member opposite for his explanation and I accept it.
- deflectedPoint of OrderMr. Yves Lessard (Bloc) asked Mr. Tom Lukiwski (Conservative). substantive question.The answer dismisses the timing of the intervention rather than engaging with the royal recommendation argument.
It is more than a buck short and a day late, in this case several dollars, too many in fact.