All sittings← 2009-10-292009-11-02 →
Friday, October 30, 2009 · sitting No. 104
Terrorism victims bill advances amid second reading debate
Conservative MP Peter Kent moved that Bill C-35, An Act to deter terrorism and to amend the State Immunity Act, be read a second time and referred to a committee. The bill would permit victims of terrorism to file actions in Canadian courts against listed terrorist entities and their supporters for damages.
Liberal MP Bob Rae pressed the government on long waiting lines and clinic closures for H1N1 vaccine, citing shortages reported by Vancouver clinic manager Yvonne McLeod. Conservative MP John Baird replied that more than six million doses had been distributed and described the rollout as the largest mass immunization campaign in Canadian history.
Bloc Québécois MP Pierre Paquette accused the government of favouring oil companies over manufacturers in Quebec on carbon credits. Conservative MP John Baird said the government was pursuing a fair and pragmatic approach in cooperation with the United States ahead of the Copenhagen conference.
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 · 2009-10-30
33Debates fill the day, little decidedThe sitting devoted most time to debate on terrorism legislation and health, yet produced no votes and only one bill introduction. Question period yielded almost no direct answers while the Speaker issued a single call 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
Infrastructure
NDP MP Thomas Mulcair said the government had sent the Parliamentary Budget Officer 4,476 pages of untreated documents marked Protected A instead of a searchable database. Conservative MP John Baird replied that the government had approved 7,000 projects and had posted details online.
Read the exchangeForestry Industry
NDP MP Nathan Cullen noted that West Fraser Timber would receive a $30 million subsidy for the Eurocan mill in Kitimat even as it closed the facility and eliminated 500 jobs. Conservative MP David Anderson said the government had provided $1 billion for the pulp and paper sector through the economic action plan.
Read the exchangeSupport Measures for Adoptive Parents
Conservative MP Jeff Watson moved that the human resources committee examine federal supports for adoptive parents and report back to the House. Liberal MP Michael Savage welcomed the motion and asked what specific measures the committee might consider.
Read the exchangeGovernment Contracts
Bloc Québécois MP Claude DeBellefeuille asked whether Senator Housakos had benefited from the award of the Champlain Bridge repair contract to BPR. Conservative MP John Baird said any specific allegations should be taken to the appropriate authorities.
Read the exchangeAnimal Welfare
Liberal MP Marlene Jennings expressed support for a universal declaration on animal welfare and for legislation to reduce maximum transit times for animals. She cited scientific consensus that animals feel pain and can suffer.
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
- deflectedHealthBob Rae (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer highlights achievements without addressing the reported shortages and waiting lines.
What we have seen is more than six million vaccines in every corner of the country.
- deflectedHealthBob Rae (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer emphasizes scale and effort but avoids explaining the specific contradictions raised.
More than six million doses are available in every corner of the country.
- deflectedHealthBob Rae (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer restates general progress and scale without addressing the clinic manager's specific claims.
It goes without saying that the hard-working public health officials in every corner of the country cannot mass immunize 33 million Canadians in a single day or a single week.
- misdirectedHealthMs. Kirsty Duncan (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer criticizes the question's tone and pivots to per capita comparisons instead of addressing vaccine supply shortfalls.
the tone of the question by the member opposite is rather unfortunate.
- deflectedHealthMs. Kirsty Duncan (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer discusses existing commitments but does not address releasing the specific $400 million fund.
The good news is we have taken the time to ensure that we have a safe vaccine, that the vaccine is effective and that there are more doses of vaccine available per capita in Canada than in any other country in the world.
- deflectedThe EnvironmentMr. Pierre Paquette (Bloc) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer avoids the oil industry bias claim and instead contrasts with the previous government's record.
The previous government did absolutely nothing in the last 16 years.
- deflectedThe EnvironmentMr. Pierre Paquette (Bloc) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer promotes a balanced approach without addressing Quebec-specific economic impacts or lack of a plan.
We will continue to strike a balance between the environment and economic recovery.
- misdirectedThe EnvironmentMr. Bernard Bigras (Bloc) asked Mr. Mark Warawa (Conservative). substantive question.The answer shifts to criticizing the Bloc's voting record instead of addressing regulatory inaction.
Why does the member and why does the Bloc continually vote against good environmental programs?
- misdirectedThe EnvironmentMr. Bernard Bigras (Bloc) asked Mr. Mark Warawa (Conservative). loaded question.Answer attacks opposition on carbon tax instead of addressing Copenhagen preparations.
All the member understands is a carbon tax, and he is supporting a Liberal carbon tax.
- partly answeredInfrastructureMr. Thomas Mulcair (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.Answer claims substantial info was provided but ignores the format complaint.
we were pleased to provide a substantial amount.
- deflectedInfrastructureMr. Thomas Mulcair (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.Answer pivots to project approvals and a quote from another MP rather than addressing database request.
I think a lot of NDP ridings actually fared fairly favourably from the spending, so I have no evidence that there is any hanky-panky going on in where the money went
- deflectedInfrastructureMr. Thomas Mulcair (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.Answer restates web postings and accuses asker of cheap pranks instead of addressing document issues.
What I think Canadians do not want to see is members of Parliament pulling cheap pranks outside the House of Commons.
- partly answeredHealthGeoff Regan (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.Answer covers doses released but ignores the lack of planning and lineups raised.
We have more than six million doses from coast to coast to coast which have already been released to our partners, the provinces and territories.
- partly answeredHealthGeoff Regan (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.Answer notes scale of campaign and per-capita doses but does not address specific family failure.
there are more doses of vaccine available today per capita in Canada than there are in any other country in the world.
- partly answeredHealthMr. Jean-Claude D'Amours (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.Answer repeats per-capita doses and cooperation but skips plan for faster rollout.
In Canada today, six million doses have already been made available for Canadian families.
- deflectedHealthMr. Jean-Claude D'Amours (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.Answer repeats mass campaign and per-capita stats without addressing local clinic delays.
There is more vaccine in the hands of public health nurses in provinces and territories in Canada than there is in any other country in the world.
- deflectedGovernment ContractsMrs. Claude DeBellefeuille (Bloc) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.Answer challenges the asker to provide evidence elsewhere instead of addressing the contract benefit question.
if she has allegations to make she should submit them to the appropriate authorities and not to this House.
- deflectedGovernment ContractsMrs. Claude DeBellefeuille (Bloc) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.Answer pivots to unrelated electoral reforms and again demands allegations outside the House.
It was our government that took action to put an end to the influence of big spenders on federal political parties.
- partly answeredAgriculture and Agri-FoodMr. André Bellavance (Bloc) asked Mr. Pierre Lemieux (Conservative). substantive question.Answer addresses slaughter capacity funding but ignores the SRM regulatory cost issue raised.
We are now taking applications for up to $50 million in increased slaughter capacity.
- deflectedAgriculture and Agri-FoodMr. André Bellavance (Bloc) asked Mr. Pierre Lemieux (Conservative). substantive question.Answer again emphasizes market access and financing while avoiding any response on SRM regulations or compensation.
the Minister of Agriculture has been very busy, opening foreign markets to our beef producers.
- deflectedGovernment AdvertisingMr. Michael Savage (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.Answer shifts to defending the economic action plan reporting instead of addressing partisan advertising costs.
We have an important responsibility to report back to Canadians on our economic action plan.
- deflectedGovernment AdvertisingMr. Michael Savage (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.Answer lists infrastructure projects with NDP premiers and avoids returning any advertising funds.
We are making important investments in his own hometown.
- misdirectedArts and CultureMr. Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal) asked Mr. Dean Del Mastro (Conservative). loaded question.Answer attacks Liberal spending promises and the leader rather than addressing culture funding cuts.
do members know what Canadian artists do not need? More Liberal doublespeak, that is what they do not need.
- deflectedArts and CultureMr. Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal) asked Mr. Dean Del Mastro (Conservative). rhetorical question.Answer highlights the member's absence and past support without engaging the call for more culture funding.
I am actually encouraged about one thing today. I am encouraged that the hon. member is back on his file after being missing for 148 days on the heritage file.
- deflectedHealthMs. Niki Ashton (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer cites an opposition quote on feasibility instead of describing any plan to speed up access.
I'm not sure that it would have been necessarily feasible to have got it out sooner.
- misdirectedHealthMs. Niki Ashton (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer pivots to an unrelated long-gun-registry vote rather than addressing vaccine access.
I would not want to not use this opportunity to say to the member for Churchill that on November 4 there will be an incredibly important vote in the House of Commons with respect to the long gun registry.
- deflectedForeign AffairsMrs. Ève-Mary Thaï Thi Lac (Bloc) asked Peter Kent (Conservative). loaded question.The answer asserts Canada is back on the world stage without engaging the premise about lost bearings.
I am not sure exactly what the question was, but I can assure this House that Canada is back on the international stage and Canadians know that this government brought Canada back.
- answeredForeign AffairsMrs. Ève-Mary Thaï Thi Lac (Bloc) asked Mr. Deepak Obhrai (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly restates the unchanged government position on Khadr and the charges he faces.
our position on Omar Khadr has not changed.
- partly answeredCrown CorporationsMs. Siobhan Coady (Liberal) asked Rob Merrifield (Conservative). loaded question.The answer affirms the arm's-length principle but offers no response to the claim of ministerial interference.
crown corporations serve their day-to-day functions at arm's length from the government.
- misdirectedCrown CorporationsMs. Siobhan Coady (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the member for lacking evidence instead of addressing the bridge-contract allegations.
The fact that she stands in this place, maligns a member of the other chamber and presents no facts and no specific allegations, is not serving her constituents well in my judgment.
- misdirectedForestry IndustryMr. Nathan Cullen (NDP) asked Mr. David Anderson (Conservative). substantive question.The answer shifts to the long-gun-registry vote rather than explaining the subsidy for a closing mill.
I think the question that needs to be asked of the member, however, relates to Bill C-391 and what he will do next week when that bill comes to a vote in front of the House.
- deflectedForestry IndustryMr. Nathan Cullen (NDP) asked Mr. David Anderson (Conservative). substantive question.The answer lists past spending figures and again pivots to the long-gun-registry bill.
I would ask him if he will speak to his colleagues and convince them that they should be supporting Bill C-391 as well and getting rid of the long gun registry.
- deflectedThe EnvironmentMr. Francis Scarpaleggia (Liberal) asked Peter Kent (Conservative). substantive question.The answer expresses concern and references a study but never addresses whether the actions violate the Boundary Waters Treaty.
Canada continues to be concerned about discharges of Devils Lake water.
- partly answeredForeign AffairsMs. Nicole Demers (Bloc) asked Mr. Deepak Obhrai (Conservative). substantive question.The response describes government efforts but pivots to the woman's voluntary returns rather than confirming action on the Quebec minister's request.
However, let me say that Canada has twice facilitated Nathalie's return to Canada and both times she returned voluntarily to Saudi Arabia against our advice.
- deflectedFisheriesMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Mr. Randy Kamp (Conservative). substantive question.The answer dismisses the question as political grandstanding and highlights positive salmon returns instead of committing to the requested actions.
something other than political grandstanding.