All sittings← 2009-10-202009-10-22 →
Wednesday, October 21, 2009 · sitting No. 97
Commons debates bill to end conditional sentences for serious crimes
The House spent the largest share of its time on second reading of Bill C-42, which would eliminate conditional sentences for serious property and other offences. Conservative MP Ed Fast told the House the measure targets crimes such as child exploitation that currently draw sentences served at home. NDP MP Don Davies said his party supports tougher measures against gun crime and more police but rejects the notion that only Conservatives care about victims.
Question period featured repeated exchanges on the allocation of infrastructure and training funds. Liberal MP Michael Ignatieff and Liberal MP Yasmin Ratansi charged that the government directs most spending to Conservative ridings. Minister Tony Clement said projects are approved across the country and cited specific approvals in opposition-held cities.
Afghanistan detainee issues and Nortel pensions also drew sustained questioning from Liberal, Bloc and NDP members. Defence Minister Peter MacKay said the government had improved transfer agreements and made hundreds of prison visits. Minister Tony Clement said pension matters for the insolvent firm fall under provincial jurisdiction.
Decided that day
- The Second Report of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development was adopted
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 · 2009-10-21
60Bill defeated, report adopted, questions mostly dodgedThe sitting devoted substantial time to criminal-sentencing legislation and other topics, yet recorded only two votes and introduced two bills. Question Period produced almost no direct answers while points of order and calls to order interrupted proceedings.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 MP Gilles Duceppe pressed the government to abolish one-sixth parole rather than impose new mandatory minimums, telling the House the latter approach leaves judges without flexibility for cases such as that of Guy Lafleur.
Read the exchangePensions
NDP MP Jack Layton said he had stood with Nortel pensioners outside the House and called on the government to change bankruptcy laws so that severance, disability and medical benefits are protected.
Read the exchangeCINAR
Bloc MP Pierre Paquette asked why the government refuses to recover funds fraudulently obtained by CINAR when the company admitted the deception in a September court filing.
Read the exchangeSpeaker of the House of Commons
Government House leader Jay Hill, Liberal MP Michael Ignatieff, Bloc MP Gilles Duceppe and NDP MP Jack Layton each rose to mark that the Speaker had become the longest-serving in Canadian history after three secret-ballot elections.
Read the exchangeProhibition on Importing Goods Produced by Sweatshop Labour Act
NDP MP Peter Julian introduced Bill C-463 to bar imports produced in violation of International Labour Organization standards on association, collective bargaining and child labour.
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
- deflectedGovernment spendingMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.The response emphasizes economic priorities instead of addressing the partisan allocation of funds.
our priority is the economy. That is our government's priority.
- deflectedGovernment spendingMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.The answer pivots immediately to economic stimulus without engaging the specific fund allocation claim.
the evidence is clear and incontrovertible. We are engaged in economic stimulus to the economy—
- partly answeredGovernment spendingMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). loaded question.The minister supplies Ontario-specific data disputing the premise while inserting a personal attack on the questioner.
for the Leader of the Opposition , who aspires to be prime minister one day, to get his facts so wrong is, quite frankly, shocking.
- deflectedGovernment spendingMs. Siobhan Coady (Liberal) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.The reply ignores the ethics investigations and repeats the economic-stimulus talking point.
we are focused on something that very clearly Canadians want. They want a government that is focused on the economy
- deflectedGovernment spendingMs. Siobhan Coady (Liberal) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.The answer defends intergovernmental cooperation rather than addressing the cost of partisan signage on maintenance projects.
I defy the hon. member to say that somehow there was some closed cabal somewhere in her province
- misdirectedJusticeMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). substantive question.The response shifts to white-collar crime and attacks the opposition instead of addressing conditional sentences for perjury.
the crimes committed by white-collar criminals are outrageous.
- deflectedJusticeMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). substantive question.The minister restates the government's stance on conditional sentences and accuses the Bloc of softness on crime without engaging the one-sixth parole proposal.
That is the Bloc's approach to crime.
- deflectedJusticeMr. Serge Ménard (Bloc) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). substantive question.The answer dismisses the suggestion as ad hoc while claiming future reform without committing to the requested change.
we will not be proposing measures based on magical thinking, as our colleagues opposite have just done.
- deflectedJusticeMr. Serge Ménard (Bloc) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). substantive question.Answer pivots to minimum sentences and attacks opposition ideology instead of addressing tax havens or restitution likelihood.
I challenge the opposition members to look the victims in the eyes and tell them that they will oppose the bill because it goes against their narrow ideology to impose minimum sentences.
- deflectedThe EnvironmentJack Layton (NDP) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.Answer discusses Copenhagen conference and international partners but ignores the bill and its science-based targets.
It is important for Canada to go to Copenhagen to the International Conference on Climate Change.
- deflectedThe EnvironmentJack Layton (NDP) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.Answer emphasizes coherent position and investments but avoids taking the accountability legislation to Copenhagen.
the important thing is to have a coherent position going into Copenhagen, which we do have.
- partly answeredPensionsJack Layton (NDP) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.Answer states pensions are provincial but notes federal work with provinces on future systems without committing to immediate bankruptcy law changes.
The province of Ontario is the only body that has the right and responsibility to cover those pensions.
- misdirectedInfrastructureMs. Yasmin Ratansi (Liberal) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). loaded question.Answer disputes facts with project lists and dares member to prove conspiracy rather than addressing riding-based allocation claim.
If the hon. member has evidence that I conspired with Liberal cabinet minister George Smitherman to make sure all of the money in Ontario went to Conservative ridings, she should table that right now.
- misdirectedInfrastructureMs. Yasmin Ratansi (Liberal) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). loaded question.Answer corrects riding statistics and challenges member on NDP riding facts instead of addressing top-five Conservative ridings claim.
Actually, the number one riding in Ontario that received the most, 67 projects totalling $13 million, was the NDP held riding of Trinity—Spadina
- answeredInfrastructureMrs. Alexandra Mendes (Liberal) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). substantive question.Answer directly explains the $212 million allocation and independent tender process for the bridge.
An independent corporation—The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated—took it from there and issued a fair, open and transparent call for tenders.
- deflectedInfrastructureMrs. Alexandra Mendes (Liberal) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). loaded question.Answer defends government leadership and accuses opposition of baseless claims without addressing website changes or senator issue.
The opposition is trying to undermine our work with all kinds of baseless accusations.
- deflectedCINARMr. Pierre Paquette (Bloc) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). substantive question.The answer deflects by blaming the prior Liberal government and redirecting the member to authorities instead of addressing recovery of funds.
the hon. member is talking about something that happened under the Liberal watch.
- deflectedTaxationMr. Pierre Paquette (Bloc) asked Stockwell Day (Conservative). loaded question.The answer ignores the tax-haven and hypocrisy accusations, pivoting entirely to the benefits of free-trade deals.
we will continue to sign free trade agreements with other countries because we want to continue to create opportunities for Canadian workers, investors and businesses.
- partly answeredForestry IndustryMr. Robert Bouchard (Bloc) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the forestry issue and references a task force but does not commit to the requested emergency measures.
our government is very proud of what it has done to support the forestry industry throughout Canada.
- partly answeredForestry IndustryMr. Claude Guimond (Bloc) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). substantive question.The answer cites existing $30-million spending but dismisses the call for auto-sector-style aid and attacks the opposition's motives.
Everyone is familiar with the tactic of trying to win votes on the backs of workers who are unfortunately affected by the forestry crisis.
- misdirectedAfghanistanAnita Neville (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the previous Liberal government and lists unrelated actions rather than addressing the minister's briefing on torture allegations.
unlike the member opposite and her government, our government acted decisively.
- deflectedAfghanistanAnita Neville (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.The answer lists general actions taken but avoids naming who received Colvin's reports or when the minister first saw them.
We received thousands of documents with respect to many files and, as a result, we acted.
- deflectedAfghanistanMarlene Jennings (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.The answer dismisses the member's knowledge and cuts off without clarifying whether the minister saw the specific reports.
One thing we know for sure, Mr. Speaker, that member has no idea what is in any of those reports.
- misdirectedAfghanistanMarlene Jennings (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the questioner as having 'no substance' and shifts to defending Canadian Forces rather than answering when the minister saw the reports.
The old saying goes, Mr. Speaker, more sound, more fury, no substance.
- deflectedAfghanistanMr. Jack Harris (NDP) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.Answer lists government actions instead of addressing the call to apologize for ignoring reports.
What we have done, importantly, is to understand that we acted decisively.
- misdirectedAfghanistanMr. Jack Harris (NDP) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.Brief nod to committee is followed by attack on member's voting record rather than a clear commitment.
- partly answeredNortelMr. Luc Desnoyers (Bloc) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.Answer explains federal actions on pensions while noting provincial jurisdiction over the specific case.
We are working within our own level of competency and within our own jurisdiction to double the time required for solvency payments of federally regulated plans.
- misdirectedNortelMr. Luc Desnoyers (Bloc) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.Response attacks the Bloc's proposal instead of explaining why the government will not act.
that is rich coming from the Bloc Québécois.
- deflectedNortelJudy Sgro (Liberal) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). loaded question.Answer shifts focus to the opposition leader's schedule and reiterates jurisdiction without addressing leadership role.
the Prime Minister was on his way to Toronto to fulfill a speaking engagement that the hon. Leader of the Opposition cancelled with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
- partly answeredNortelJudy Sgro (Liberal) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.Answer outlines federal pension reforms and notes jurisdictional limits without specific action on Nortel disabled workers.
When it comes to pension reform, again in federally regulated plans, we have already made some changes.
- misdirectedAboriginal AffairsMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked Chuck Strahl (Conservative). loaded question.Response attacks the member personally and lists unrelated votes instead of addressing school priority.
I feel sorry for the children in Attawapiskat who have that member of Parliament who continues to misrepresent the facts day after day in the House of Commons.
- deflectedInfrastructureMs. Megan Leslie (NDP) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.Answer highlights project allocations by riding but avoids any statement on extending the deadline.
when it comes to recreational infrastructure, for example in Atlantic Canada, 85 projects were allocated in opposition ridings.
- deflectedHealthMaria Minna (Liberal) asked Leona Aglukkaq (Conservative). substantive question.The answer avoids the question about outdated information and instead defends existing advice while implying opposition distrust.
the opposition members should as well.
- misdirectedGovernment SpendingMrs. Carole Freeman (Bloc) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). loaded question.The response shifts to defending the economic plan and attacks the opposition's vote rather than addressing partisan spending allegations.
If we took the logic of the member for that riding to the extreme, there never would have been any announcement, because they voted against these investments.