All sittings← 2009-11-192009-11-23 →
Friday, November 20, 2009 · sitting No. 114
Bloc climate motion debate ends with vote deferred to Tuesday
The House devoted the largest share of its sitting to government orders on an opposition day motion from the Bloc Québécois. Mr. Bernard Bigras moved that Canada commit at the Copenhagen conference to absolute greenhouse gas reductions of 25 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020 in industrialized countries, a limit of less than 2 degrees Celsius global temperature rise and support for developing countries. After Mr. Michel Guimond secured unanimous consent, all questions were deemed put and the recorded division was deferred to Tuesday at the expiry of Oral Questions.
Question period featured repeated exchanges on Afghanistan detainee allegations. Liberal MP Ralph Goodale pressed the government to launch a full judicial inquiry after Defence Minister Peter MacKay acknowledged receiving at least one report from diplomat Richard Colvin. Conservative MP John Baird replied that the testimony contained only hearsay without specific evidence and that the government acts only on credible facts.
Other exchanges covered climate targets, agricultural flexibility funding and government appointments, with members from the Bloc Québécois, NDP and Liberals questioning ministers on each file.
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 · 2009-11-20
29Another sitting that went nowhereThe sitting devoted most hours to supply and Afghanistan debates yet recorded no votes and advanced no bills. Question period produced almost no clear answers while the Speaker issued only 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
Liberal MP Ralph Goodale asked why the government would not call a judicial inquiry after the defence minister admitted receiving and acting on at least one Colvin report, with corroboration from the Red Cross and Canadian Forces.
Read the exchangePensions
NDP MP John Rafferty urged the finance minister to meet AbitibiBowater and CEP representatives before December 1 to address a $1.3-billion pension shortfall affecting 30,000 families.
Read the exchangeTax Harmonization
NDP MP Jean Crowder said successive exemptions for doughnuts, restaurants and new homes showed the government’s HST plan was punitive and asked what purpose the federal payments to Ontario and British Columbia now served.
Read the exchangeHuman Rights
NDP MP Bill Siksay asked the government to introduce legislation adding explicit protection for transgender Canadians in the Canadian Human Rights Act or to support a private member’s bill on gender identity and expression.
Read the exchangeUniversal Children's Day
Bloc MP Josée Beaudin noted that child poverty has risen 20 per cent since the House resolution twenty years ago and called on the government to meet the target of eliminating it by 2000.
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
- deflectedAfghanistanRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the credibility of Colvin's reports rather than addressing the request for a judicial inquiry.
His allegations are nothing short of hearsay, sometimes second-hand or even third-hand information, or worse yet, information that came directly from the Taliban.
- deflectedAfghanistanRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer quotes an external critic instead of explaining how truth can be established without an inquiry.
I think that what set me back is how serious the allegations are and how flimsy the evidence...It would have been rather more reassuring had [Colvin] been able to provide some of the detail that would give credibility to these very serious allegations.
- deflectedAfghanistanRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer repeats the need for credible evidence but avoids the question about what the Prime Minister would say on human rights.
Again, there was no credible evidence in Mr. Colvin's testimony, not a shred of specific evidence.
- deflectedAfghanistanStéphane Dion (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer asserts an absence of evidence without addressing the Prime Minister's prior statement or awareness of reports.
This government requires credible, specific, substantiated reports from which to act, and none are before the House and none are before the government.
- deflectedAfghanistanStéphane Dion (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer again quotes an external source instead of explaining why the government opposes an inquiry.
when asked if the allegations could be trusted, respected former diplomat Paul Chapin said, "No. Until he comes forward with something rather more substantial for me to get into"
- misdirectedAfghanistanMr. Pierre Paquette (Bloc) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks Colvin's sources and motives rather than addressing whether the Prime Minister knew of the reports.
Even worse, when asked why he did not raise this with one of the number of ministers who came through Afghanistan during his tenure, he said he did not want to do so.
- deflectedAfghanistanMr. Pierre Paquette (Bloc) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer insists on facts and specific allegations without addressing the claim that the Prime Minister knew and covered up the issue.
we have to deal with facts. We have to deal with specific allegations. We have to deal with substantiated charges.
- deflectedAfghanistanMr. Michel Guimond (Bloc) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer repeats the demand for substantiated evidence instead of addressing the call for transparency to restore credibility.
When we get credible, substantiated and specific evidence, we act.
- deflectedAfghanistanMr. Michel Guimond (Bloc) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.Answer sidesteps the call for a public inquiry by restating the need for substantiated facts instead.
We are required in government to act on fact, not on hearsay, not on second and third accounts and certainly not on information that came from the Taliban.
- deflectedAfghanistanMr. Paul Dewar (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.Answer avoids the inquiry request by repeating the unsubstantiated claims talking point.
In regard to a public inquiry, this government is only going to look at specific, substantiated facts.
- deflectedAfghanistanMr. Paul Dewar (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.Answer evades the public inquiry demand by attacking the message as hearsay without evidence.
There has not been any evidence brought forward by Mr. Colvin with respect to the serious allegations that he has made.
- partly answeredAfghanistanMr. Jack Harris (NDP) asked Peter Kent (Conservative). substantive question.Answer addresses prison visits and human rights but does not release reports or commit to inquiry.
Canadian officials over the years have underscored the need for authorities to treat detainees both humanely and in accordance with Afghanistan's international obligations.
- deflectedAfghanistanWayne Easter (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.Answer ignores the character assassination claim and pivots to lack of specific evidence from Colvin.
Mr. Colvin testified before committee and presented no specific evidence.
- deflectedAfghanistanWayne Easter (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.Answer dodges the inquiry call by emphasizing public hearings and lack of substantiated claims.
In those hearings, Mr. Colvin came before the House committee and presented no specific allegations, unsubstantiated claims, something that basically was hearsay.
- deflectedAfghanistanMr. David McGuinty (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.Answer shifts to transparency claims and votes instead of addressing the smear campaign or inquiry.
The Prime Minister made a sincere commitment in an election campaign to allow parliamentarians themselves to vote on whether our troops should be deployed abroad or whether extensions should be given.
- deflectedAfghanistanMr. David McGuinty (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.Answer avoids the inquiry request by defending troop commitment and clarifying allegations are Afghan-on-Afghan.
It is important to be very clear that no one, not even Mr. Colvin, has made any suggestion, presented one shred of evidence or made any insinuation that Canadian soldiers mistreated Taliban prisoners.
- deflectedClimate ChangeMr. Bernard Bigras (Bloc) asked Mr. Mark Warawa (Conservative). loaded question.The answer corrects the premise and restates policy without addressing the sabotage accusation or Copenhagen action.
the member is absolutely wrong.
- deflectedClimate ChangeMr. Bernard Bigras (Bloc) asked Mr. Mark Warawa (Conservative). substantive question.The answer avoids the vote question entirely by shifting to attacks on Liberals and Bloc.
The Bloc has never supported good environmental policy.
- deflectedAgricultureMr. André Bellavance (Bloc) asked Mr. Pierre Lemieux (Conservative). substantive question.The answer praises the program but ignores the request for income support inclusion.
The agricultural flexibility program is a very strong program and we are providing $500 million for innovation in agriculture.
- deflectedAgricultureMr. André Bellavance (Bloc) asked Mr. Pierre Lemieux (Conservative). substantive question.The answer lists general programs without addressing support for ASRA or Quebec-specific programs.
our government has many initiatives to help our agriculture sector.
- misdirectedGovernment AppointmentsMr. Anthony Rota (Liberal) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.The answer ignores the phantom office spending and pivots to unrelated international rankings.
this government makes all of its appointments based on merit.
- misdirectedGovernment AppointmentsMr. Marcel Proulx (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer dismisses the question as fact-free and defends appointments without addressing the specific claim.
That was another fact-free question, Mr. Speaker.
- deflectedGovernment AccountabilityJohn McCallum (Liberal) asked Mr. Deepak Obhrai (Conservative). substantive question.The answer begins but provides no information on tracking or disclosure of passengers.
- misdirectedGovernment AccountabilityJohn McCallum (Liberal) asked Mr. Deepak Obhrai (Conservative). loaded question.The answer claims transparency but attacks the prior Liberal government instead of addressing meal costs or passenger tracking.
this government is very transparent.
- deflectedTax HarmonizationMs. Jean Crowder (NDP) asked Mr. Ted Menzies (Conservative). loaded question.The response jokes about doughnuts and jurisdiction instead of addressing the HST policy and exemptions.
I think a lot of our constituents will be happy about that.
- partly answeredTax HarmonizationMs. Jean Crowder (NDP) asked Mr. Ted Menzies (Conservative). loaded question.Explains the GST/HST framework but deflects responsibility to Ontario.
It is Ontario's decision what it wants to do.
- deflectedTobacco SmugglingMs. France Bonsant (Bloc) asked Mr. Jacques Gourde (Conservative). substantive question.Gives a vague assurance without addressing whether the strategy is failing.
we are working with all the authorities to address this problem as soon as possible.
- answeredTobacco SmugglingMs. France Bonsant (Bloc) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). substantive question.Details the anti-contraband strategy, seizures, and shiprider arrangement.
we actually have a very robust anti-contraband tobacco strategy that is being implemented and members will observe that it is being implemented very successfully.
- misdirectedChildrenMaria Minna (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.Attacks Liberal credibility instead of addressing child care policy failures.
The Liberals have no credibility on this subject.
- misdirectedChildrenMaria Minna (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.Reiterates spending claims and shames the opposition rather than addressing space creation.
- partly answeredPensionsMr. John Rafferty (NDP) asked Mr. Ted Menzies (Conservative). substantive question.States the minister agreed to meet but conditions it on prior provincial meetings.
the federal finance minister has agreed to meet with both parties.
- partly answeredPensionsMr. Wayne Marston (NDP) asked Mr. Ted Menzies (Conservative). substantive question.Mentions a working group studying the issue but offers no timeline or commitment to a national plan.
We have put in place a retirement income working group, which is the finance ministers of all the provinces and the federal finance minister , that is now studying the matter and will be reporting back.
- deflectedFisheries and OceansMr. Rodger Cuzner (Liberal) asked Mr. Randy Kamp (Conservative). substantive question.The answer discusses analysis and consultations but avoids any assurance about keeping the office open.
DFO's analysis of its operational requirements has led to a consideration of moving some offices in eastern Nova Scotia to improve their efficiency but no decisions have been made as yet.
- deflectedLobster IndustryMr. Gérard Asselin (Bloc) asked Mr. Randy Kamp (Conservative). substantive question.The answer gives general program statistics without addressing the specific number for Magdalen Islands harvesters.
Over 1,000 applications have been approved, about $5 billion have been disbursed and more applications will be received.
- partly answeredAirline IndustryMr. Jim Maloway (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer acknowledges concerns and willingness to work but raises issues with the bill without committing to pass it.
As it is currently written, many of us have serious concerns about it, and particularly the effects it would have on rural parts of Canada which have smaller airports that are dependent on airlines.
- partly answeredFerry ServiceMs. Judy Foote (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer lists past funding commitments but does not outline specific immediate plans to address current breakdowns.
Since 2007 the government has committed an additional $416 million for Marine Atlantic which includes $98 million toward a five year charter agreement for the MV Atlantic Vision
- deflectedHuman RightsMr. Bill Siksay (NDP) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). substantive question.The answer emphasizes existing crime legislation and defers the specific proposal without committing to action on transgender protections.
As for the specific legislative suggestions the member has made, I am happy to share those with the Minister of Justice