All sittings← 2009-10-192009-10-21 →
Tuesday, October 20, 2009 · sitting No. 96
Commons advances identity theft bill amid clashes over Conservative logos
The House devoted the largest share of its sitting to third reading of Bill S-4, which amends the Criminal Code to create offences related to identity theft. Conservative MP Brent Rathgeber told the House that the legislation responds to new technologies exploited by criminals and has been reported back from committee without amendment. Liberal MP Francis Valeriote asked whether the committee had considered reversing the onus on an accused to prove permission to possess another person's identity information.
In Question Period, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff asked Prime Minister Stephen Harper to end the use of Conservative Party logos on government cheques announcing economic action plan projects and to accept responsibility for the practice. Prime Minister Harper said the cheques follow the rules and that opposition members should support the projects in their ridings as well.
Justice Minister Rob Nicholson told the House that the government will introduce further measures against white-collar crime after previous bills were altered by the opposition.
Decided that day
- Motion on urgent government action passed
- Bill S-4 advanced to second chamber
- Bill C-25 advanced to second chamber
- Bill C-462 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 · 2009-10-20
64Bills Advance, One Motion PassesThe House devoted most of its time to substantive debate on criminal justice and infrastructure, advancing two bills through second reading and introducing a third. A recorded motion urging urgent government action passed with little procedural disruption.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
Justice
Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe said the government's bill does not abolish parole after one-sixth of a sentence or target tax havens. Prime Minister Stephen Harper replied that the Bloc opposed earlier measures to eliminate house arrest for serious fraud.
Read the exchangeAfghanistan
Bloc Québécois MP Claude Bachand said General Rick Hillier had read reports warning that detainees transferred to Afghan authorities risked torture. Defence Minister Peter MacKay said the government improved transfer arrangements two and a half years ago.
Read the exchangeHealth
Liberal MP Jean-Claude D'Amours asked why Health Canada had shipped vaccine that was not yet approved and gave conflicting advice on its use for pregnant women. Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said the rollout remains on schedule and both adjuvant and non-adjuvant versions are safe.
Read the exchangeImmigration
New Democrat MP Don Davies said 76 Tamil refugees detained in British Columbia were being denied the right to counsel within 48 hours. Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said all arrivals are processed under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and counsel has been offered.
Read the exchangePensions
New Democrat MP Wayne Marston said the government had failed to protect Nortel pensioners while the United States protected its workers. Treasury Board President Tony Clement said the matter falls under provincial jurisdiction in Ontario.
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 Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer ignores the question about PM responsibility and pivots to the economic plan.
we have an important economic action plan for Canada.
- deflectedInfrastructureMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer ignores the question about PMO involvement and pivots to the economic plan and rules.
We insist that they follow the rules.
- partly answeredInfrastructureMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer addresses the logos issue by admitting it was incorrect but deflects on PM responsibility.
the use of a partisan logo on a government announcement was not correct.
- deflectedInfrastructureDominic LeBlanc (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer changes the subject entirely to bridge safety and independent corporations.
The decisions are made by the corporations responsible for those bridges.
- misdirectedInfrastructureDominic LeBlanc (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the asker with scurrilous allegations and challenges him to speak outside the House.
The member opposite is making rather scurrilous allegations.
- deflectedJusticeMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer avoids specifics on parole and tax havens by promising future measures.
this government will introduce other measures against white-collar criminals.
- misdirectedJusticeMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the Bloc for opposing prior measures instead of addressing the bill's flaws.
this government proposed eliminating house arrest for white-collar criminals and the Bloc opposed the measure.
- misdirectedCINARMr. Serge Ménard (Bloc) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the Bloc for opposing bills and holding up legislation rather than addressing CINAR charges.
when we brought in bills to get rid of house arrest for people who committed serious fraud, the Bloc members were the very first ones on their feet to oppose that.
- deflectedCINARMr. Serge Ménard (Bloc) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). loaded question.Answer ignores CINAR probe and instead attacks Bloc for opposing unrelated crime bills.
If the Bloc members have discovered that there is a problem with crime in our country, why do they not do the right thing?
- deflectedInfrastructureJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Answer pivots to past Liberal scandals rather than addressing current stimulus spending practices.
The fact is we remember in the dark days of the previous government, public money went into private hands.
- deflectedInfrastructureJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Answer denies theft but does not engage with the fair-share or partisan allocation questions raised.
This money is going to projects that are vital to communities during this recession.
- partly answeredInfrastructureJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Answer supplies project distribution data but sidesteps the abandonment of principles charge.
The fact is even this incomplete list indicates that the largest projects were in opposition ridings and almost half of the projects went into opposition ridings.
- deflectedInfrastructureMr. Gerard Kennedy (Liberal) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). loaded question.Answer claims rigorous process and thanks from Liberals but avoids the 34% disparity statistic.
All parts of the province had access to these funds.
- partly answeredInfrastructureMr. Gerard Kennedy (Liberal) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). loaded question.Answer compares project sizes but does not address the directive or fairness request.
If he wants to compare apples to apples, I dare him to do that.
- misdirectedInfrastructureMr. Marcel Proulx (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.Answer attacks prior Liberal neglect and urges Liberals to stop voting against projects instead of answering cost or jobs questions.
I was absolutely astonished by the neglect of the nation's capital by the previous government.
- misdirectedInfrastructureWayne Easter (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.Answer promotes tax credit and insults the member rather than addressing deception or deficit claims.
Maybe if the member for Malpeque spent less time polishing doorknobs and more time working for his constituents and worrying about jobs and opportunity, we would get further in our country.
- deflectedInfrastructureMrs. Carole Freeman (Bloc) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer avoids the specific allegation about code violations by restating general transparency commitments and demanding more information instead.
If the Bloc member has any further information about this, she should tell the House immediately.
- deflectedInfrastructureMrs. Carole Freeman (Bloc) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer sidesteps the conflict-of-interest claim by pivoting to government investments and again requesting public disclosure of information.
If the member has any further information, she should make it public in the House right now.
- misdirectedAfghanistanMr. Claude Bachand (Bloc) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the questioner as talking without substance and shifts to unrelated praise of government efforts rather than addressing knowledge of reports.
as usual, the Bloc member is talking a great deal, but not saying anything.
- deflectedAfghanistanMr. Claude Bachand (Bloc) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.The answer ignores the credibility challenge and repeats prior talking points about improvements made two and a half years ago.
two and a half years ago we improved upon the lacking arrangement of transfers left by the previous government.
- misdirectedAfghanistanUjjal Dosanjh (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.The answer dismisses the question as fictional and pivots to criticizing the prior government while avoiding the timeline of knowledge.
What is fictional, Mr. Speaker, is half of that member's question.
- misdirectedAfghanistanUjjal Dosanjh (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.The answer accuses the member of feigning indignation and casting aspersions while again deflecting to past improvements instead of addressing the obstruction claim.
the hon. member can feign indignation. He can cast aspersions. He can make all kinds of allegations.
- deflectedAfghanistanBob Rae (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.The answer repeats cooperation claims and cuts off without addressing the process or obstruction questions.
We are co-operating with investigations that are ongoing about what Afghans did to Afghans.
- deflectedAfghanistanMaria Minna (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). rhetorical question.The answer ignores the interruption and restates training efforts while accusing the opposition of playing political games.
That is what we are there to do, not to engage in this game of political pointing of the finger and allegation.
- misdirectedAfghanistanBob Rae (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the questioner and shifts focus to past actions instead of identifying who knew about the reports.
The member is now engaged in just skullduggery and muckraking.
- misdirectedAfghanistanMr. Jack Harris (NDP) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.The response dismisses the question with insults rather than addressing knowledge or competence claims.
The hon. member can continue to make allegations, continue to make wild-eyed accusations, but they are simply not true.
- deflectedAfghanistanMr. Jack Harris (NDP) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.The answer avoids committing to witness testimony by criticizing the questioner's tone.
The member can torque up his language, can make more inflammatory remarks and speak louder, but that will not make his case any more convincing.
- answeredThe EnvironmentMr. Bernard Bigras (Bloc) asked Jim Prentice (Conservative). substantive question.The minister directly confirms absolute targets apply to all major emitters including oil sands.
Our plan will include absolute targets for all major emitters.
- partly answeredThe EnvironmentMr. Bernard Bigras (Bloc) asked Jim Prentice (Conservative). substantive question.Mentions hard caps but does not address the 1990 baseline or polluter-pay principle.
Our plan will include hard caps for all major emitters, if that is the case.
- partly answeredHealthMr. Jean-Claude D'Amours (Liberal) asked Leona Aglukkaq (Conservative). loaded question.Gives a rollout timeline but does not resolve the stated confusion over approval status.
As the Chief Public Health Officer has stated, the vaccine will be widely available to all Canadians in early November.
- deflectedHealthMr. Jean-Claude D'Amours (Liberal) asked Leona Aglukkaq (Conservative). substantive question.The answer sidesteps reconciling the WHO and Health Canada positions on pregnant women.
we will not skip a step in approving the vaccine and we will ensure that the vaccine is safe and effective before we inject it into the arms of Canadians.
- answeredImmigrationMr. Don Davies (NDP) asked Jason Kenney (Conservative). substantive question.The minister confirms legal counsel access and adherence to the required process.
I understand that in this particular incident legal counsel has been offered to the 76 foreign nationals being detained in Maple Ridge, British Columbia.
- deflectedImmigrationMs. Olivia Chow (NDP) asked Jason Kenney (Conservative). loaded question.The answer gives general praise for the refugee system and statistics but explicitly avoids any particular cases or the specific guarantee requested.
without reference to any particular cases, we already have what the UN High Commissioner for Refugees calls one of the most fair and generous refugee determination systems in the world.
- misdirectedHealthMs. Kirsty Duncan (Liberal) asked Leona Aglukkaq (Conservative). substantive question.The answer ignores the question about conflicting vaccine guidance and instead attacks the opposition for not accepting expert advice.
Why will the opposition members not accept his advice?
- partly answeredCitizenship and ImmigrationMr. Thierry St-Cyr (Bloc) asked Jason Kenney (Conservative). loaded question.The answer directly denies prior knowledge but does not address the demand to revoke the appointment.
No, I quite simply was not aware of Mr. Pierre's involvement with President Aristide.
- deflectedPensionsMr. Wayne Marston (NDP) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.The answer shifts responsibility to the province of Ontario rather than addressing a federal commitment to pension insurance.
in this particular case the pension is before the Province of Ontario because it falls under provincial responsibility, and that is where the matter rests at this point.