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Monday, October 19, 2009 · sitting No. 95
Bloc forestry aid motion leads opposition day as vote deferred
The House spent the largest share of its sitting on an opposition day motion from the Bloc Québécois calling for federal assistance to the forestry industry comparable to that given the auto sector, primarily through tax credits, loans and loan guarantees. Bloc MP Claude Guimond moved the motion and argued that Quebec had acted alone because Ottawa had failed to provide immediate cash flow support. At the close of debate the House agreed to defer the recorded division until the following day at 5:30 p.m.
In Question Period, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff pressed the government on infrastructure spending that he said rewarded Conservative supporters, citing a contract awarded to a firm employing a newly appointed senator. Conservative MP John Baird replied that the award had been made at arm's length by a crown corporation with no ministerial involvement. NDP Leader Jack Layton questioned the government's refusal to adopt science-based greenhouse-gas targets ahead of the Copenhagen conference, while Environment Minister John Baird defended the 20-per-cent reduction goal by 2020 as the toughest in Canadian history.
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 · 2009-10-19
29Another sitting that went nowhereThe sitting devoted most hours to Business of Supply and related topics yet produced no recorded votes or bill progress. Question period yielded mostly deflected or misdirected replies while the Speaker issued four calls to order.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
Afghanistan
Bloc MP Claude Bachand said the government had known since May 2006 that Afghan prisoners faced torture, citing diplomat Richard Colvin's report, and asked why National Defence Minister Peter MacKay claimed never to have seen it. MacKay answered that hundreds of reports arrive annually and that Canada had improved the transfer arrangement left by the previous government.
Read the exchangeJustice
Justice Minister Rob Nicholson told the House that the government had given notice of legislation imposing mandatory prison sentences for serious fraud after the opposition gutted an earlier bill that would have ended house arrest for such offences. Conservative MP Ed Fast asked Nicholson to outline the plan to address white-collar crime.
Read the exchangeHealth
Liberal MP Kirsty Duncan said only one-third of Canadians planned to be vaccinated because of mixed messages from the government. Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq replied that rollout was on schedule, that pre-positioning of vaccine had begun and that chief public health officers advised all Canadians to receive it.
Read the exchangeNortel
Liberal MP Judy Sgro asked the government to help Nortel pensioners facing loss of benefits after their plan was underfunded. Industry Minister Tony Clement said pensions and long-term disability issues are registered with Ontario and therefore a provincial responsibility.
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
- deflectedInfrastructureMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer denies involvement and challenges for evidence rather than addressing the senator's contract.
The member opposite, the Leader of the Opposition , makes some very serious allegations. I would challenge him to put the evidence of those allegations before this House immediately.
- deflectedInfrastructureMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer refuses to address specific questions on timing or lobbying and instead demands evidence.
If he has any evidence of any wrongdoing, rather than pontificating in this place, he should put his facts on the table and be accountable for those.
- misdirectedInfrastructureMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer begins with a denial but then pivots to quoting a Liberal prime minister instead of addressing the PM's approval.
- deflectedInfrastructureMarlene Jennings (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer denies a government contract and accuses smears without addressing the senator's ties or timing.
If the member opposite wants to stop her drive-by smears, she should put some evidence upon the table, or is she not concerned with the facts?
- deflectedInfrastructureMarlene Jennings (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer challenges the asker to prove allegations outside the House rather than explaining the contract award.
Better yet, let us see if she has the guts to make those allegations outside this place.
- deflectedInfrastructureMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). loaded question.The answer stresses the corporation's independence without addressing influence peddling or partisan use.
The contract was awarded in an open and transparent manner.
- deflectedInfrastructureMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). loaded question.The answer defends the project and attacks the opposition for complaining instead of explaining the spending contrast.
All it ever does is complain in this House.
- answeredInfrastructureMrs. Carole Freeman (Bloc) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). loaded question.The answer directly cites the Federal Accountability Act as the response to transparency concerns.
we have now made 70 different organizations, including crown corporations, including the Canadian Wheat Board, subject to the Federal Accountability Act.
- misdirectedInfrastructureMrs. Carole Freeman (Bloc) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). loaded question.The answer evades the hiding accusation by praising transparency and sarcastically urging applause.
Instead of complaining, the hon. member should get up on her feet and applaud this government for all it has done for transparency and accountability.
- deflectedThe EnvironmentJack Layton (NDP) asked Mr. Mark Warawa (Conservative). substantive question.The response attacks the NDP proposal and opposition instead of addressing the timeline for action.
The NDP, the Bloc and the Liberals just do not get it.
- misdirectedThe EnvironmentJack Layton (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). rhetorical question.The curt reply plays on wording rather than engaging the statement about waiting for US plans.
- answeredThe EnvironmentJack Layton (NDP) asked Mr. Mark Warawa (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly states Canada's targets and balanced approach to climate action.
We have committed to reducing our total greenhouse gas emissions 20% by 2020, which leads to a 60% to 70% reduction by 2050.
- partly answeredThe EnvironmentJack Layton (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The response commits to collaboration on standards but sidesteps the specific refusal accusation.
we are committed to working with all of our major trading partners and with international maritime organizations to have better standards
- deflectedInfrastructureMs. Martha Hall Findlay (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer avoids naming the cost by emphasizing the Prime Minister's reporting duties instead.
He did that in Cambridge, Ontario. He did that in Saint John, New Brunswick.
- partly answeredInfrastructureMs. Martha Hall Findlay (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). rhetorical question.Some cost details are referenced but the reply attacks the Liberal research bureau.
That is generally the research bureau of the Liberal Party.
- misdirectedInfrastructureWayne Easter (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer pivots to displaying a photo attacking the opposition member rather than comparing costs.
I have in my hand a picture of the member for Malpeque with a cheque, "a cheque for Kensington", his smiling face and the grant recipient.
- misdirectedInfrastructureMr. Marcel Proulx (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.Answer ignores the contradiction and pivots to unrelated cheque-signing photos of Liberal MPs.
we have the member for Malpeque's picture signing a cheque.
- deflectedAfghanistanMr. Claude Bachand (Bloc) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.Answer discusses improved arrangements instead of confirming whether the minister saw the specific report.
As for this report, we receive hundreds, if not thousands, of reports annually through the Department of National Defence
- misdirectedAfghanistanMr. Claude Bachand (Bloc) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.Answer attacks the Bloc's priorities rather than addressing the minister's awareness of the report.
I am not going to comment on the hon. member's intellectual abilities, but I will note that when it comes to Bloc members, I wish they would spend just as much time standing up and protecting the interests of Canadian soldiers as they do for the vigour they seem to have for Taliban prisoners.
- deflectedThe EnvironmentMs. Christiane Gagnon (Bloc) asked Mr. Mark Warawa (Conservative). substantive question.Answer gives a general global-response statement without confirming or denying the two-category targets.
That is why Canada is working with our international partners.
- deflectedThe EnvironmentMs. Christiane Gagnon (Bloc) asked Mr. Mark Warawa (Conservative). loaded question.Answer attacks past Liberal record instead of addressing the polluter-pay versus polluter-paid distinction.
It was during 13 dark years that the Liberals did absolutely nothing.
- deflectedAfghanistanUjjal Dosanjh (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.Answer repeats improvements to the transfer arrangement without stating when the minister became aware of the reports.
I would remind the hon. member that it was due to the shortcomings of the arrangement that was in place when our government took office that we did act to improve the arrangement.
- deflectedAfghanistanUjjal Dosanjh (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.Answer discusses MPCC procedures and cooperation instead of confirming whether cabinet knew of the reports.
I intend to hear from the Department of Defence, as well as foreign affairs, as to where this report stopped, because it did not make it to the deputy minister or my desk.
- misdirectedThe EnvironmentMr. David McGuinty (Liberal) asked Mr. Mark Warawa (Conservative). loaded question.Answer pivots to rejecting a carbon tax instead of addressing the international negotiation criticisms.
We do not support a carbon tax.
- deflectedThe EnvironmentMr. David McGuinty (Liberal) asked Mr. Mark Warawa (Conservative). loaded question.The answer ignores the specific accusation about blocking US efforts and instead attacks the prior Liberal record.
Why did those members not get it done when they had an opportunity?
- partly answeredInfrastructureMr. Thomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). substantive question.The answer confirms the political decision on funding but does not address the senator's role with the firm.
the government made the political decision in its budget to allocate $220 million to repair the Champlain bridge.
- deflectedInfrastructureMr. Thomas Mulcair (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer shifts to general praise of infrastructure spending and avoids the partisan-logo accusation.
There is nothing wrong with members of Parliament fighting for good projects in their regions.
- answeredIntergovernmental AffairsMr. Jean Dorion (Bloc) asked Josée Verner (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly states that the Prime Minister announced the transfer of the requested land.
the Prime Minister announced that, as Benoît Pelletier requested in his 2006 letter, he was transferring not only the National Assembly land, but also Honoré Mercier Street.
- misdirectedIntergovernmental AffairsMr. Jean Dorion (Bloc) asked Josée Verner (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the Bloc Québécois instead of addressing the request for a negotiator on culture and communications.
what is very clear is that the Bloc Québécois is here just to manufacture crises, as Jacques Parizeau said a few months ago.
- answeredHealthMs. Kirsty Duncan (Liberal) asked Leona Aglukkaq (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses the rollout schedule, distribution steps, and information efforts to counter confusion.
in terms of vaccine rollout, we are on schedule.
- answeredHealthMr. Bernard Patry (Liberal) asked Leona Aglukkaq (Conservative). substantive question.The answer cites expert advice and confirms the government's reliance on public health officers for the H1N1 vaccine.
chief public health officers from this country have been advising all Canadians to take the vaccine for H1N1.
- misdirectedAfghanistanMr. Jack Harris (NDP) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.The answer insults the questioner and pivots to past improvements rather than addressing the reports or negligence claim.
The member has now asked, I believe, nine or ten questions on the Military Police Complaints Commission.
- deflectedAfghanistanMr. Jack Harris (NDP) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.The answer discusses government actions and investigations but avoids naming who was consulted before the statements.
these are allegations about what Afghan officials did to Afghan terrorist suspects and what the military police knew about it, that and only that.
- partly answeredNortelJudy Sgro (Liberal) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.The answer explains provincial jurisdiction over pensions but offers no specific federal assistance measures.
when dealing with pensions and long-term disability issues, all of those are registered with the province of Ontario.
- deflectedInfrastructureMr. Pascal-Pierre Paillé (Bloc) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The response emphasizes collaboration and past litigation without addressing support for the motion or resuming ownership.
We are committed to working with the Province of Quebec, Canadian National and all the parties involved to ensure we can come up with an agreement that is in the best interests of Canadian taxpayers and that will benefit the people of Quebec City.
- misdirectedTransportationMr. Alex Atamanenko (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer notes security efforts then pivots to criticizing the NDP's Olympics position rather than addressing the airport request.
It is interesting to note that the NDP did not want to support the Olympics taking place in Vancouver-Whistler.