All sittings← 2009-12-082009-12-10 →
Wednesday, December 9, 2009 · sitting No. 127
Afghanistan detainee abuse inquiry sought in commons
Oral questions on Afghanistan took up the largest share of the sitting. Liberal MP Michael Ignatieff pressed the government to launch an independent judicial public inquiry after General Walter Natynczyk confirmed that at least one detainee transferred by Canadian forces in June 2006 was abused. Prime Minister Stephen Harper replied that the forces acted with integrity when evidence of abuse arose and that the government had already improved transfer arrangements in 2007.
Conservative MP Jacques Gourde criticized the Bloc Québécois for failing to support Quebec interests in votes. New Democratic MP Jack Layton questioned the government's climate record at the Copenhagen conference and cited statements from Canadian Olympic athletes on the risks to winter sports.
Routine proceedings included tabling of three international treaties by Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon and introduction of private members' bills on vehicle emissions and temporary resident visas.
Decided that day
- Bill C-62 concurred in at report stage and passed third reading
- Amendments to delete clauses 14 and 37 from Bill C-62 defeated
- House agreed to proceed to Orders of the Day
- Bills C-491, C-492 and C-493 introduced; Bill C-51 advanced to second chamber
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 · 2009-12-09
62Bills Pass While Answers EvadeThe House passed Bill C-62 through report and third-reading stages and introduced several new bills. Yet Question Period produced almost no direct answers and ten points of order consumed time.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
Consumer Product Safety Legislation
Conservative MP Joy Smith warned that Liberal senators' amendments would weaken consumer protection legislation and urged the Liberal leader to instruct senators to reject them.
Read the exchangeMuseums Labour Dispute
New Democratic MP Chris Charlton said 420 workers at the Canadian Museum of Civilization and the War Museum had been on strike since September 21 with no job security or recognition of service.
Read the exchangeInternational Co-Operation
Liberal MP Siobhan Coady asked why the government cut $7 million from KAIROS while spending heavily on its own advertising.
Read the exchangeHuman Resources and Skills Development
Conservative MP Paul Calandra said the program under the economic action plan was protecting nearly 1,000 jobs at Global Upholstery in the Toronto area.
Read the exchangeTax Harmonization
New Democratic MP Jean Crowder said first nations in Ontario and British Columbia planned roadblocks and court cases against the HST because their tax immunity was being ignored.
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
- deflectedAfghanistanMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer restates the government's position on forces' integrity without addressing the request for a public inquiry.
When there is evidence of abuse, the Canadian Forces and our diplomats act with the utmost integrity.
- deflectedAfghanistanMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer repeats prior claims about corrective action and avoids the demand to fire the minister or call an inquiry.
the facts of the case in question of course confirm what we have been saying all along, which is that when the Canadian Forces saw substantive evidence of any case of abuse, they have taken corrective action.
- deflectedAfghanistanMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer defends government actions and attacks the opposition for asking nothing new instead of addressing the inquiry or admitting a mistake.
The only nothing here is that the opposition has had nothing new to ask about in three years.
- partly answeredAfghanistanUjjal Dosanjh (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.The answer agrees on the general's integrity and notes a military board of investigation but does not address calling a public inquiry.
The CDS, the Chief of the Defence Staff, has now called for a military board of investigation to look into this particular incident.
- deflectedAfghanistanUjjal Dosanjh (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.The answer lists government actions taken but avoids the demand for a public inquiry into the truth.
We acted to improve the transfer arrangements, the inadequate arrangements, left by the previous government.
- deflectedAfghanistanMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer claims forces acted appropriately and avoids addressing the minister's resignation or government cover-up.
it is clear that the Canadian Forces acted appropriately in this situation.
- misdirectedAfghanistanMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the opposition for accusing soldiers of war crimes instead of addressing the call for a public inquiry.
it is the opposition that is accusing our soldiers of committing war crimes.
- deflectedAfghanistanMr. Claude Bachand (Bloc) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.The answer focuses on forces' conduct being beyond reproach and avoids admitting a Geneva convention violation or demanding the minister's resignation.
In the case in question, the conduct of the Canadian Forces, which is the matter of this discussion, was beyond reproach.
- deflectedAfghanistanMr. Claude Bachand (Bloc) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.The question demands an apology and cessation of alleged misconduct but the answer discusses internal corrections without addressing any demands.
The decision was made that he would correct the record, which is exactly what has happened.
- deflectedAfghanistanJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The question demands the minister's firing and a public inquiry but the answer restates prior facts without responding to either demand.
In 2006, the Canadian Forces suspected the abuse of a Taliban detainee.
- deflectedAfghanistanJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The question demands the minister's resignation but the answer reiterates military integrity and corrective action without addressing resignation.
General Natynczyk corrected the record on some points today, once again showing our forces act with the highest of integrity.
- partly answeredThe EnvironmentJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The question asks if the government realizes winter sports are at risk and the answer acknowledges the serious matter while describing Canada's participation in Copenhagen.
Canada has a large delegation at the Copenhagen conference and that delegation is working very hard to reach a good and all inclusive international agreement
- deflectedAfghanistanMs. Judy Foote (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.The question demands an end to the alleged charade and truth but the answer disputes evidence and accuses the asker of partisanship without providing new truth.
It is time to look at this thing in a dispassionate way.
- deflectedAfghanistanMs. Judy Foote (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.The question demands the government tell the truth like the general but the answer quotes other officials disputing evidence instead of addressing the demand.
These are senior, professional, dispassionate members of the public service who have commented on the same matter on which I commented.
- deflectedAfghanistanDominic LeBlanc (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.The question demands the minister come clean but the answer criticizes the questioner's tone and restates the clarification without new admissions.
saying it louder with more feigned indignation does not make his question true.
- deflectedAfghanistanDominic LeBlanc (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.The question demands the minister stop fabricating and tell the truth but the answer repeats reliance on officials and prior testimony without new truth.
We act upon that information and evidence.
- deflectedAfghanistanMs. Francine Lalonde (Bloc) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.The answer sidesteps the demand for an apology by reframing the issue as factual and non-personal.
more inflammatory and partisan rhetoric is not going to add anything to the examination of facts.
- deflectedAfghanistanMs. Francine Lalonde (Bloc) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.The answer disputes the premise and reiterates prior actions without confirming any commission of inquiry.
there are so many inaccuracies and untruths in what the hon. member just put forward.
- deflectedAfghanistanMr. Pierre Paquette (Bloc) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.The answer shifts focus to new information and personal responsibility while avoiding the call for an inquiry.
What we are dealing with today is new information that General Natynczyk disclosed to me this morning.
- misdirectedAfghanistanMr. Pierre Paquette (Bloc) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.The answer ignores the request for an apology and instead pivots to defending the military and civil service.
I will never apologize for standing beside the brave men and women of our professional civil service and the brave men and women in the Canadian Forces.
- partly answeredAfghanistanRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.The answer provides some detail on when the minister learned of the evidence but avoids fully disclosing its content or location.
When did that information come to my attention? This morning when I received a call from the Chief of the Defence Staff.
- deflectedAfghanistanRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.The answer restates reliance on departmental advice and promises future examination without committing to bring evidence to committee.
There will be ample opportunity to examine this incident.
- deflectedInternational Co-OperationMs. Siobhan Coady (Liberal) asked Bev Oda (Conservative). loaded question.The answer ignores the specific funding cut and instead emphasizes general program effectiveness.
Canadians want to know that when Canada steps up to help people who are vulnerable living in poverty that their money is going to be used to actually make a difference in people's lives.
- deflectedInternational Co-OperationMs. Siobhan Coady (Liberal) asked Bev Oda (Conservative). loaded question.The answer pivots to Canada's overall aid record without addressing the KAIROS cut or propaganda spending.
I will tell this House and all Canadians they can be proud of what Canada and this government is doing to help the most vulnerable around the world.
- partly answeredInternational Co-operationMr. Thomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Bev Oda (Conservative). substantive question.The answer states the file is under review but gives no confirmation or denial on funding.
The file is still being reviewed, as is the process. A decision will be made in due course.
- misdirectedInternational Co-operationMr. Thomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). loaded question.The answer shifts to separation pay rules instead of addressing KAIROS funding or priorities.
I am happy for the opportunity to remind the House that it was our government that took action to tighten the guidelines around separation pay.
- deflectedCopenhagen SummitMr. Bernard Bigras (Bloc) asked Mr. Mark Warawa (Conservative). substantive question.The answer disputes the premise and pivots to defending targets rather than addressing the carbon storage demand.
the member is absolutely wrong. Our plan is clear: a 20% reduction by 2020.
- deflectedCopenhagen SummitMr. Bernard Bigras (Bloc) asked Mr. Mark Warawa (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the member's realism and cites a UN quote without addressing adaptation funding or the lobbyist claim.
this will demonstrate how out of touch with reality that member is.
- answeredAfghanistanMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.The answer explains the new information came from field notes shared by the Chief of the Defence Staff.
the new information was provided by the Chief of the Defence Staff, Walter Natynczyk, this morning.
- partly answeredAfghanistanMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.The answer repeats the source of new information but does not commit to providing it to committee or a public inquiry.
General Natynczyk spoke the truth this morning. He received new information this morning, which he shared with me.
- partly answeredTax HarmonizationMs. Jean Crowder (NDP) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). substantive question.The answer notes the GST approach has been consistent since the 1990s but only mentions Ontario discussions without addressing consultation.
the GST approach with respect to first nations has been the same since the GST came into force in the early 1990s, and the same approach to the GST continues now.
- deflectedTax HarmonizationMs. Jean Crowder (NDP) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). loaded question.The answer restates that harmonization is a provincial decision without addressing the bribe claim or free vote request.
the arrangements are the same for all provinces that make the decision in their autonomous taxation jurisdiction to harmonize, which British Columbia and Ontario are in the process of doing
- deflectedMuseumsMaria Minna (Liberal) asked Rona Ambrose (Conservative). substantive question.The answer avoids any commitment to intervene or pressure for arbitration by restating legal constraints.
Obviously, arbitration is not an option because we need both parties to agree to it.
- partly answeredFirst NationsMr. Marc Lemay (Bloc) asked Chuck Strahl (Conservative). substantive question.The response lists funding initiatives but does not address the specific annual reinvestment percentage or timeline requested.
It is clear that last year we committed $268 million over five years, and another $75 million in subsequent years, for two new programs that will help with education,
- deflectedRCMPMr. Don Davies (NDP) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). loaded question.The answer sidesteps the accusation about the commissioner's firing by shifting to other processes and improvements.
we thank the commissioner for his report on this matter.