All sittings← 2009-10-212009-10-23 →
Thursday, October 22, 2009 · sitting No. 98
Commons debates bill to toughen sentences for white-collar fraud
The House spent most of the day on second reading of Bill C-52, the retribution on behalf of victims of white collar crime act. Minister of State Gordon O'Connor told members the legislation would impose a two-year minimum sentence for fraud over $1 million and referred the bill to committee. Liberal MP Larry Bagnell and Bloc Québécois MP Marc Lemay questioned the value of mandatory minimums and asked the minister to cite cases where such sentences had been avoided.
In question period Liberal MP Ralph Goodale accused the government of directing infrastructure funds to Conservative ridings and of running partisan advertising. Prime Minister Stephen Harper replied that the recreational infrastructure program had been developed with provincial partners and that allegations of discrimination were false. Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe pressed the prime minister on why the bill did not also end release after one-sixth of a sentence, and the prime minister said further measures would follow.
Decided that day
- S-4 received royal assent
- C-25 received royal assent
- C-464 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 · 2009-10-22
61Bills Pass Amid Eight Points of OrderThe House granted royal assent to two bills and introduced a third while devoting most of its time to white-collar crime legislation. Eight points of order or privilege were raised and Question Period answers were mostly deflected or incomplete.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
Privilege
Bloc Québécois MP Pierre Paquette raised a question of privilege over pre-introduction disclosure of Bill C-52, saying the minister's press conferences amounted to contempt of Parliament. Conservative MP Tom Lukiwski replied that the minister had spoken only in generalities and that embargoed copies had been provided to opposition critics.
Read the exchangePensions
NDP Leader Jack Layton urged the government to increase the guaranteed income supplement and create pension insurance, citing Nortel retirees. Prime Minister Stephen Harper said pension plans are largely under provincial jurisdiction and that consultations with the provinces were under way.
Read the exchangeAfghanistan
Liberal MP Anita Neville asked who in government had received Richard Colvin's reports on Afghan detainees and when the minister became aware of them. Parliamentary Secretary Laurie Hawn said every allegation had been investigated and that the previous transfer arrangement had already been corrected.
Read the exchangeIndustry
NDP MP Brian Masse warned that an amendment to Bill C-27 would let companies invade personal computers and weaken privacy protections. Industry Minister Tony Clement said the amendment in question was off the table and that the bill remained consumer-protection legislation.
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
- deflectedInfrastructureRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Answer calls allegations false and pivots to defending the program without addressing the investigations or threat claim.
The hon. member's allegations are completely false.
- deflectedInfrastructureRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Answer promotes the economic plan and public information efforts while ignoring specific accusations of cheating and partisan spending.
Obviously when we are spending tens of billions of dollars of public money we want to inform members of the public as to how their money is being spent
- misdirectedInfrastructureRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Answer attacks the questioner's party for talking only to itself before denying discrimination via a provincial Liberal quote.
I guess when one is stuck in a party that is talking only to itself, one can whip oneself into that kind of lather.
- answeredInfrastructureMr. Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). substantive question.Answer directly states there was no ministerial involvement and the process was handled by an independent crown corporation.
The process was fair, open and transparent, and there was no involvement by any minister's office.
- deflectedInfrastructureMr. Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). loaded question.Answer labels accusations baseless and repeats the independent process claim without providing any contract count.
An independent crown corporation awards the contracts in a fair, open, transparent process.
- deflectedJusticeMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Answer announces new mandatory sentences but does not explain why eliminating one-sixth release is complicated or address the cited sections.
yesterday, the Minister of Justice announced that our government will impose mandatory prison sentences for fraud in excess of $1 million.
- misdirectedJusticeMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Answer counters by accusing the Bloc leader of long-standing opposition to justice reforms rather than addressing the hypocrisy or poison-pill claim.
the only hypocrisy is the fact that the Bloc leader has been against strengthening the criminal justice system here in the House for the past 19 years.
- deflectedInfrastructureMrs. Carole Freeman (Bloc) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). substantive question.Answer reiterates the independent process and invites accusations outside the House without addressing the fundraiser or code-of-conduct issue.
If there are any legitimate accusations, I invite members to bring them forward outside of this House.
- deflectedInfrastructureMrs. Carole Freeman (Bloc) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). loaded question.The answer avoids the code violation accusation by stressing independence and process fairness instead.
we are talking about an independent crown corporation, namely, Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Inc., which followed a fair, open and transparent process that did not involve any cabinet ministers whatsoever.
- answeredPensionsJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly states the government will consider all ideas on pension reform.
we are talking to Canadians and to the provinces regarding pension reform.
- partly answeredPensionsJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer notes provincial jurisdiction but mentions ongoing consultations without committing to the specific action requested.
We are consulting with Canadians and the provinces on how to strengthen those rules.
- deflectedPensionsJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer emphasizes complexity and provincial involvement without committing to immediate action on the motion items.
The government is looking closely at them, as are the provinces which regulate 90% of the private pension plans in this country.
- deflectedInfrastructureMr. Gerard Kennedy (Liberal) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). loaded question.The answer sidesteps the favoritism claim by stressing nationwide benefits and quoting a provincial official.
More jobs and more opportunities are the things we are focused on on this side of the House.
- deflectedInfrastructureMr. Gerard Kennedy (Liberal) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). loaded question.The answer avoids the slush fund accusation by listing other announcements and again quoting the deputy premier.
We have been fair and equitable.
- deflectedNatural ResourcesMr. Paul Szabo (Liberal) asked Jay Hill (Conservative). loaded question.The answer defers entirely to the Ethics Commissioner without addressing the guidelines breach.
The minister in question is committed to working with the Ethics Commissioner and obviously she is going to abide by whatever ruling comes out of that investigation.
- misdirectedNatural ResourcesMr. Paul Szabo (Liberal) asked Jay Hill (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the asker for wanting action before the investigation concludes rather than addressing sanctions.
the hon. member himself is the one who referred this issue to the Ethics Commissioner, so I find it more than passing strange that now he wants some unilateral action before she has even looked into the matter.
- deflectedThe EnvironmentMr. Bernard Bigras (Bloc) asked Jim Prentice (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the opposition's plan instead of addressing the request for specific targets.
The NDP and the Bloc do not have a plan for Canada.
- deflectedThe EnvironmentMr. Bernard Bigras (Bloc) asked Jim Prentice (Conservative). substantive question.The answer dismisses the question as partisan and restates the government's plan without addressing absolute targets.
the Bloc should drop its partisan ways.
- partly answeredNortelMr. Luc Desnoyers (Bloc) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.The answer acknowledges pension challenges and mentions a consultation process but does not address trusteeship.
my colleague, the Minister of Finance , has put in place a process to consult the provinces, territories and Canadians on comprehensive changes that would improve our federal pension plan.
- misdirectedNortelMr. Luc Desnoyers (Bloc) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.The answer shifts to criticizing the Bloc for asking about federal jurisdiction rather than addressing the foreign investment review.
I am surprised to hear the Bloc member asking the federal government to intervene in a provincial jurisdiction.
- deflectedAfghanistanAnita Neville (Liberal) asked Mr. Laurie Hawn (Conservative). substantive question.The answer focuses on past actions and praises the forces while avoiding who received the reports and when.
There have been a number of investigations, all of which found no inappropriate actions by members of the Canadian Forces.
- deflectedAfghanistanAnita Neville (Liberal) asked Mr. Laurie Hawn (Conservative). substantive question.The answer reiterates general actions taken but does not specify who received the reports or when the minister learned of them.
That is why every time it has come to the attention of this government, we have acted upon it.
- answeredAfghanistanBob Rae (Liberal) asked Stockwell Day (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly states the minister did not see the reports.
- deflectedAfghanistanBob Rae (Liberal) asked Mr. Laurie Hawn (Conservative). substantive question.The answer discusses general report handling and past corrections but does not explain the task force's awareness of the reports.
Any report that has merit to it is investigated.
- partly answeredAfghanistanMr. Jack Harris (NDP) asked Mr. Laurie Hawn (Conservative). substantive question.Answer explains actions taken in 2007 but sidesteps the sarcastic premise about ignoring more reports.
That is why we took action. We made those changes two and a half years ago to correct the flaws in the previous agreement.
- deflectedAfghanistanMr. Jack Harris (NDP) asked Mr. Laurie Hawn (Conservative). substantive question.Answer lists spending and visits but does not guarantee compliance or commit to tabling reports.
We have had 175 visits since that time. I would say there is pretty good oversight.
- partly answeredLabourMs. Nicole Demers (Bloc) asked Rona Ambrose (Conservative). substantive question.Answer acknowledges the meeting but pivots to general refusal rights instead of addressing the eligibility gap under federal jurisdiction.
if, at any time, a woman feels that her health or the health of her unborn child is in danger because of health issues, including the H1N1 virus, she has the legal right to refuse to work
- deflectedLabourMs. Nicole Demers (Bloc) asked Rona Ambrose (Conservative). substantive question.Answer repeats the meeting and refusal rights without addressing the requested administrative agreement for preventive withdrawal.
My priority is to ensure that she knows her rights under the Canada Labour Code, and she does.
- partly answeredHealthKen Dryden (Liberal) asked Leona Aglukkaq (Conservative). substantive question.Answer lists existing communications tools but does not outline a new plan to raise vaccination intent in the remaining weeks.
We now have television ads, posters and radio advertisements.
- partly answeredHealthKen Dryden (Liberal) asked Leona Aglukkaq (Conservative). substantive question.Answer adds the booklet and website but again fails to present a targeted communications strategy for the short timeline.
This will be available in every post office across the country.
- answeredIndustryMr. Brian Masse (NDP) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). loaded question.Answer directly rebuts the premise by stating the amendment is off the table and affirms collaboration on consumer protection.
Actually, Mr. Speaker, I think the amendment the hon. member is referring to is off the table.
- partly answeredIndustryMr. Brian Masse (NDP) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.Answer acknowledges studying the decision and claims to be on the consumer side but offers no commitment to overturn it.
I do not want to see a situation where consumers are put at risk in terms of their access to the Internet.
- deflectedNortelMrs. Lise Zarac (Liberal) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). loaded question.The answer states it is a provincial matter and discusses consultations instead of addressing amendments to federal bankruptcy laws.
The fact of the matter is that this particular pension plan is registered and regulated by the province of Ontario.
- answeredMuseumsMr. Richard Nadeau (Bloc) asked Rona Ambrose (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly explains the legal work stoppage and limits of the mediator without avoiding the question.
The mediator cannot impose a settlement on the parties.
- deflectedHarmonized Sales TaxMrs. Carol Hughes (NDP) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). loaded question.The answer states that harmonization is a provincial decision and avoids addressing the tax increase claim.
That is a decision that is entirely up to the individual provinces.
- partly answeredSearch and RescueMs. Judy Foote (Liberal) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). substantive question.The answer acknowledges federal limits on land search and rescue but offers to meet without committing to funding.
Traditionally, land search and rescue has been a provincial and local responsibility.
- partly answeredAgriculture and Agri-FoodMr. Luc Malo (Bloc) asked Jean-Pierre Blackburn (Conservative). loaded question.The answer cites past payments but does not address why current compensation is inadequate compared to auto industry aid.
first, the people who were affected by golden nematode received $8 million to help them through their difficulties.
- answeredBusiness of the HouseRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked Jay Hill (Conservative). substantive question.The answer lists the planned bills and schedule for the week without deflection.
We will continue today with our government's justice program because this is a justice week.
- misdirectedPoints of OrderMr. Michael Savage (Liberal) asked Leona Aglukkaq (Conservative). substantive question.The answer corrects a website URL instead of addressing the point of order on misleading statements.
I said the website was www.fightflu.com and it should be www.fightflu.ca.