Parliament AIIndependent · non-official

All sittings← 2010-03-152010-03-17 →

Tuesday, March 16, 2010 · sitting No. 10

Bloc motion on Quebec federalism leads supply day

The House spent the largest share of its sitting on a Bloc Québécois supply motion moved by Pierre Paquette that the government had shown in the Speech from the Throne and budget that federalism does not meet Quebec's needs. The motion cited the absence of commitments on QST-GST harmonization payments, forestry and aerospace aid, environmental measures and assistance for the less fortunate. Paul Szabo said the Liberal Party agreed the government was not investing enough in those areas but argued it was the Conservative government rather than federalism that had failed Quebec.

Question period featured exchanges on tax harmonization, the environment and Afghan detainee documents. Gilles Duceppe pressed the Prime Minister on stalled negotiations over the $2.2 billion harmonization payment and collection of the GST. Jack Layton said the budget eliminated the ecoEnergy for renewable power program and asked why the government was lagging other countries on green jobs. Bob Rae asked why Justice Iacobucci lacked authority to conduct a full public inquiry into Afghan detainee documents.

Decided that day

  • Opposition motion urging government leadership on greenhouse-gas reduction passed
  • Motion criticizing the Speech from the Throne failed
  • Bills S-2, C-4 and C-499 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 · 2010-03-16

Government (Conservative)OppositionOver the day: government 34%, opposition 66% of the words spokenGovernment businessQuestion PeriodGovernment business▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 10:0011:0012:0013:0014:0015:0016:0017:00Last speech 18:45Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 8 h 45 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
64One motion passes, one fails in supply debateThe sitting focused on business of supply with two recorded votes and three bills introduced at first reading. Question period produced mostly deflected answers amid high substantive debate and minimal procedural interruptions.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

Israel

Bob Rae asked the Prime Minister what he had told Prime Minister Netanyahu about new housing units in East Jerusalem. Stephen Harper said he had urged all parties to resume peace talks as soon as possible.

Read the exchange

Food Safety

Carolyn Bennett asked why the budget contained no funding for the 57 Weatherill recommendations and why no report would appear until 2011. Gerry Ritz said $75 million had already been allocated and 100 new meat inspectors hired.

Read the exchange

Rights & Democracy

Pierre Paquette said the appointment of Gérard Latulippe showed the government wanted to turn the arm's-length agency into a mouthpiece for Conservative policy. Lawrence Cannon replied that the agency must respect Canada's international human-rights commitments.

Read the exchange

Automotive Industry

Joseph Volpe said Transport Canada had known of unintended-acceleration complaints for years yet had taken no action. John Baird said the department follows up every complaint and road fatalities have declined each year.

Read the exchange

Justice

Serge Ménard said the new bill's emphasis on deterrence departed from Quebec's rehabilitation model. Rob Nicholson replied that protection of society would be a primary goal while the bill respected provincial jurisdiction.

Read the exchange

Question 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

  1. partly answered
    IsraelBob Rae (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Confirms discussion occurred but avoids detailing exactly what was said to Netanyahu.I have discussed this with Prime Minister Netanyahu, and of course I repeated the Government of Canada's position
  2. misdirected
    AfghanistanBob Rae (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Begins by addressing the unrelated Middle East topic before turning to the Afghan inquiry.regarding the Middle East, the position of the Minister of Foreign Affairs is the same position that Canada has held for a long time
  3. deflected
    AfghanistanBob Rae (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Praises the military instead of addressing the call for a public inquiry with proper authority.even the opposition has said that our military is doing an excellent job in Afghanistan, including with regard to prisoner transfers
  4. deflected
    HealthUjjal Dosanjh (Liberal) asked Leona Aglukkaq (Conservative). loaded question.Ignores the privatization implication and pivots to general praise and funding increases.in fact our finance minister also stated that Canada has a terrific health care system
  5. deflected
    HealthUjjal Dosanjh (Liberal) asked Leona Aglukkaq (Conservative). loaded question.Avoids defending the system and instead attacks the prior Liberal government's record.The member will recall that, in the 1990s, the Liberal government of the day cut health care transfers
  6. partly answered
    Tax HarmonizationMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.States intent to reach an agreement but does not confirm or deny the specific collection point raised.We are trying to conclude such an agreement with the Government of Quebec
  7. deflected
    Tax HarmonizationMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Repeats the existing GST administration payment without addressing the $2.2 billion or collection authority.Under that agreement, every year the federal government pays the Quebec government the cost of administering the GST
  8. misdirected
    Tax HarmonizationMr. Daniel Paillé (Bloc) asked Mr. Ted Menzies (Conservative). loaded question.Ignores the stock option tax question entirely and returns to the unrelated Quebec GST negotiations.Negotiations continue with Quebec
  9. deflected
    Tax HarmonizationMr. Daniel Paillé (Bloc) asked Mr. Ted Menzies (Conservative). loaded question.The answer pivots to tax loopholes and Bloc voting record instead of addressing when the government will tax the rich.The answer to a simple question like that is we have put in place 10 measures to close tax loopholes.
  10. deflected
    The EnvironmentJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the NDP voting record rather than addressing the budget's environmental measures or green energy vision.What I do not understand when we talk about voting against dreams is why the NDP then votes against all of these programs for the environment and the economy.
  11. deflected
    The EnvironmentJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer restates spending on other funds and criticizes NDP votes instead of addressing the elimination of the eco-Energy program.Why is the NDP voting against these environmental and economic measures?
  12. misdirected
    The EnvironmentJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer opens with a sarcastic joke about 'green matter' before shifting to general investments and NDP voting.I think any scientist would tell us when we are talking about a brain that has become green matter, we are in some level of difficulty.
  13. partly answered
    Food SafetyCarolyn Bennett (Liberal) asked Gerry Ritz (Conservative). substantive question.The answer details funding and hiring already allocated but does not address the lack of new budget funding or the 2011 report timeline.We committed to hire 166 new personnel for CFIA.
  14. answered
    Food SafetyCarolyn Bennett (Liberal) asked Gerry Ritz (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly states that the lead on the listeria recall is the provincial public health system.The lead on the listeria recall in Ontario is the public health system in the province of Ontario.
  15. deflected
    Status of WomenWayne Easter (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer urges acceptance of the apology and redirects to other priorities instead of confirming or correcting the reported facts.I think in the best traditions of this House members should accept that apology and focus on the priorities that Canadians elected us to solve.
  16. deflected
    Status of WomenWayne Easter (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer again emphasizes the apology and suggests the member accept it rather than addressing whether the Prime Minister condones the conduct.If it was good enough for them, could I suggest it be good enough for the member for Malpeque
  17. deflected
    JusticeMr. Serge Ménard (Bloc) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). loaded question.Answer confirms the bill change but immediately pivots to attacking Bloc support instead of addressing the current system claim.I hope for once the Bloc Québécois will get onside and support this important legislation.
  18. misdirected
    JusticeMr. Serge Ménard (Bloc) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). loaded question.Answer insults the questioner as new to the system and avoids engaging with the Quebec rehabilitation critique.I appreciate that the Bloc is new to anything to do with the criminal justice system and that is why those members do not understand these things.
  19. partly answered
    Rights & DemocracyMr. Pierre Paquette (Bloc) asked Lawrence Cannon (Conservative). loaded question.Answer restates the mandate and treaty obligations but does not address the arm's-length independence or yes-man appointment claim.this organization, whose mandate it is to promote democracy around the world, a mandate that it was given, of course, necessarily has to respect the obligations under the international treaties
  20. deflected
    Rights & DemocracyMr. Pierre Paquette (Bloc) asked Lawrence Cannon (Conservative). loaded question.Answer repeats the treaty point without addressing the arm's-length control or policy imposition question.Organizations that fall under the jurisdiction of the Government of Canada are necessarily required to honour these commitments.
  21. deflected
    International AidJohn McKay (Liberal) asked Bev Oda (Conservative). loaded question.Answer shifts to general aid effectiveness without addressing the KAIROS meeting request or anti-Semitic label.we want to ensure that our international efforts and our international assistance is going to bring real change for people living in poverty.
  22. deflected
    International AidJohn McKay (Liberal) asked Bev Oda (Conservative). substantive question.Answer talks about reviewing projects but never explains why the KAIROS justice grant was cut versus the T-shirts program.This process is being undertaken and will continue to be undertaken to ensure we get value for our international aid dollars.
  23. partly answered
    Automotive IndustryJoseph Volpe (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.Answer affirms safety priority and offers committee work but sidesteps the minister's prior knowledge and inaction claim.Transport Canada will work to ensure all legal measures are taken and the full force of Canadian law is brought about to ensure that motorists are safe in this country.
  24. deflected
    Automotive IndustryJoseph Volpe (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.Answer highlights fatality declines and non-partisan work but avoids taking responsibility for proactive investigation of Toyota issues.We are prepared to work in a non-partisan fashion with the committee and all parties in the House to learn what happened from this experience, and to make our roads even safer.
  25. deflected
    Automotive IndustryMr. Brian Masse (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The minister emphasizes non-partisan efforts and ongoing work without addressing the specific claim of hiding information.we have tried to approach this issue in a non-partisan fashion.
  26. deflected
    Automotive IndustryMr. Brian Masse (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.Response reiterates following complaints and non-partisan support without committing to reforms.if we can learn from the events of the past six months and work in a non-partisan basis to make Canadian roads safer, he can count on the full support of this government.
  27. misdirected
    AgricultureMr. André Bellavance (Bloc) asked Jean-Pierre Blackburn (Conservative). loaded question.The answer criticizes the absence of Bloc members and shifts to provincial responsibility instead of addressing the minister's comments.it is unfortunate that no Bloc Quebecois member was present at the convention that evening.
  28. deflected
    AgricultureMr. André Bellavance (Bloc) asked Jean-Pierre Blackburn (Conservative). loaded question.Response focuses on holdings and provincial monitoring without addressing tax system proposals.
  29. deflected
    TelecommunicationMr. Marc Garneau (Liberal) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). loaded question.Answer points to budget funding and rural support without addressing the hypocrisy claim or specific cuts.funding is provided for this program is our 2010 budget.
  30. deflected
    TelecommunicationMr. Marc Garneau (Liberal) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). loaded question.Response distinguishes terms and promotes rural programs without confirming the every community claim.Perhaps the hon. member should learn the difference between the two.
  31. deflected
    Status of WomenMs. Irene Mathyssen (NDP) asked Chuck Strahl (Conservative). substantive question.Minister admits lacking details and defers discussion rather than addressing the funding revocation.I will admit I do not have the details of the issues she is referring to.
  32. misdirected
    Status of WomenMs. Irene Mathyssen (NDP) asked Helena Guergis (Conservative). loaded question.Answer asserts the member is wrong and highlights funding increases without addressing the attack on women claim.
  33. deflected
    Environment CanadaMr. Francis Scarpaleggia (Liberal) asked Jim Prentice (Conservative). loaded question.The answer avoids the muzzling allegation by dismissing it as dated and pivoting to Copenhagen accord achievements.These are dated allegations that go back some time.
  34. answered
    IsraelMs. Johanne Deschamps (Bloc) asked Lawrence Cannon (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly states Canada's position and confirms condemnation of settlement expansion.As I have already said, we condemn expanding settlement in East Jerusalem.
  35. misdirected
    TelecommunicationsMs. Niki Ashton (NDP) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.The answer turns to attacking the member for voting against the budget rather than confirming funding details.I am quite surprised the member cares so deeply about this issue since she voted against the budget in the first place.
  36. deflected
    Environment CanadaMr. Francis Scarpaleggia (Liberal) asked Jim Prentice (Conservative). loaded question.The answer sidesteps the censorship claim by calling allegations old and redirecting to budget investments in science.These are the same rules that apply to all other government departments.
  37. answered
    TelecommunicationsMr. Serge Cardin (Bloc) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.The answer confirms continued funding via grants and references the broadband program for rural access.we announced in the budget that we will provide funding for this Internet access program through grants.