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Wednesday, March 31, 2010 · sitting No. 21

Opposition presses government on Afghan policy and G8 plans

Question period took up the largest share of the sitting as opposition members repeatedly challenged the government over its handling of Afghanistan, the Arctic and maternal health ahead of the G8 summit. Liberal MP Bob Rae asked why Canada had suffered diplomatic setbacks with allies including the United States, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland and Iceland. Prime Minister Stephen Harper replied that Canada sets its own policies on Afghanistan, Arctic sovereignty and foreign aid.

Bloc Québécois MP Gilles Duceppe pressed the prime minister on compensation for Quebec's sales-tax harmonization, citing a unanimous National Assembly motion. Harper said the government would offer the same terms given to other provinces but would not pay for two separate taxes. NDP MP Jack Layton asked why employment-insurance premiums would rise instead of repaying the $60 billion previously removed from the fund; Harper said the money had already been spent on other priorities.

Decided that day

  • C-7 and C-6 received royal assent
  • One bill passed third reading and another failed second reading

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 · 2010-03-31

Government (Conservative)OppositionOver the day: government 51%, opposition 49% of the words spokenQuestion PeriodRoutine proceedings▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 14:0015:0016:0017:00Last speech 17:25Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 3 h 25 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
56Bills Pass While Questions Go UnansweredTwo bills received royal assent and one passed third reading, yet the sitting devoted only 40 percent of words to substantive business amid 12 points of order. Question Period produced just three direct answers out of 35 responses.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

Rights & Democracy

Liberal MP Dominic LeBlanc asked the government to fire a recently appointed board member at Rights and Democracy who is seeking a Conservative nomination. Minister of State Peter Kent said the agency is arm's length and the committee would hear from the board the next day.

Read the exchange

Prostate Cancer

NDP MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis, Bloc Québécois MP Luc Malo, Liberal MP Bernard Patry and Conservative MP Jim Abbott each highlighted Prostate Cancer Canada's campaign and noted the NDP leader's public disclosure of his diagnosis.

Read the exchange

The Economy

Conservative MP Scott Armstrong said Statistics Canada reported 0.6 per cent GDP growth in January, the largest monthly increase since December 2006, crediting the economic action plan. Conservative MP Phil McColeman added that nearly 160,000 jobs had been created since July.

Read the exchange

Medical Isotopes

Liberal MP Geoff Regan said the government was ignoring expert recommendations on replacing the Chalk River reactor. Minister of Natural Resources Christian Paradis replied that the government had already invested $48 million to diversify isotope supplies.

Read the exchange

Aboriginal Affairs

Conservative MP Rob Clarke asked the prime minister to mark the 50th anniversary of first nations people gaining the federal vote. Harper said the 1960 change was fundamental and the government would continue work on aboriginal rights and infrastructure.

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. deflected
    International DevelopmentBob Rae (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer pivots to unrelated topics like Afghanistan and Arctic instead of addressing the maternal health criticism.Whether it comes to our role in Afghanistan, our sovereignty over our Arctic, or ultimately our foreign aid priorities, it is Canada and Canadians who will make Canadian decisions.
  2. misdirected
    The ArcticBob Rae (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The response shifts to criticizing the questioner on abortion rather than addressing the Arctic meeting concerns.In terms of the issue that the hon. member is really asking about, the abortion issue, he is the one who put the question to the House of Commons. He is the one who got the answer he did not want.
  3. partly answered
    AfghanistanBob Rae (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer states Canada's position but does not address the claimed diplomatic vacuum or setback.The military mission will end in 2011. It is also clear that other countries want something else.
  4. deflected
    Rights & DemocracyDominic LeBlanc (Liberal) asked Peter Kent (Conservative). loaded question.The answer avoids the specific allegations of deliberate turmoil and the call to fire a board member.The government is not involved in the organization's day to day activities.
  5. deflected
    Rights & DemocracyDominic LeBlanc (Liberal) asked Peter Kent (Conservative). loaded question.The answer denies the premise but does not engage with the testimony or op-ed claims of deliberate destruction.To ensure the future stability of Rights & Democracy, the government has appointed an extremely capable and competent individual to lead it out of this period of turmoil.
  6. partly answered
    Tax HarmonizationMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses the condition for compensation but does not confirm or deny the 1992 agreement or the $2.2 billion.We hope that Quebec will really harmonize its tax instead of having two separate taxes.
  7. partly answered
    Tax HarmonizationMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer reiterates the harmonization condition but does not address the claim of changing rules for other provinces.The conditions are clear: we will not pay for two separate taxes.
  8. partly answered
    TaxationMr. Daniel Paillé (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer offers the same deal as Ontario but does not address equalization or Hydro-Québec compensation.If Quebec wants the same agreement that Ontario got, it can be signed today.
  9. answered
    TaxationMr. Daniel Paillé (Bloc) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). loaded question.The answer directly states ongoing good-faith negotiations with Quebec and all provinces.We have had some good discussions with Quebec's minister of finance. As he said today, discussions are ongoing.
  10. misdirected
    Employment InsuranceJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer opens with an irrelevant personal remark about prostate cancer before addressing EI.we are delighted to join in solidarity with the leader of the NDP on the issue of prostate cancer.
  11. answered
    Employment InsuranceJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer explains that the money is spent and cannot be repaid while describing the new independent rate-setting system.The fact is that money has been spent. It is gone.
  12. answered
    Employment InsuranceJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer states the past cannot be changed and points to the independent commission for future premiums.We struck an independent commission to determine employment insurance premiums based on associated employee and employer costs.
  13. deflected
    Status of WomenAnita Neville (Liberal) asked Helena Guergis (Conservative). loaded question.The answer simply refers back to a prior response without addressing the new details raised.I did answer this question in the House yesterday.
  14. deflected
    Status of WomenMrs. Alexandra Mendes (Liberal) asked Helena Guergis (Conservative). loaded question.The answer again refers only to a previous response and does not confirm or deny the specific claim.as I have just said, I did address this question in the House yesterday.
  15. misdirected
    Status of WomenMs. Yasmin Ratansi (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer pivots to general praise for the opposition and a call to focus on other priorities instead of the question.Let us focus on their priorities, on jobs, on improving health care and on making our communities safer.
  16. misdirected
    Status of WomenWayne Easter (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer shifts to economic achievements and away from the minister's conduct or the specific letter.We are coming out of an economic recession thanks to the actions of this government.
  17. deflected
    Maternal and Child HealthMs. Johanne Deschamps (Bloc) asked Peter Kent (Conservative). loaded question.The answer avoids the question on reproductive health by refusing to reopen the abortion debate.We will not, as the opposition is attempting to do, reopen the abortion debate.
  18. partly answered
    Maternal and Child HealthMs. Nicole Demers (Bloc) asked Peter Kent (Conservative). loaded question.The answer addresses contraception but sidesteps the question's focus on abortion.We have clearly said that we are open to all options to save lives including contraception.
  19. deflected
    Rights & DemocracyMs. Francine Lalonde (Bloc) asked Peter Kent (Conservative). loaded question.The answer avoids addressing intent by noting two sides and deferring to future testimony.but tomorrow, I understand, the committee will be hearing the board's side of the story.
  20. misdirected
    Rights & DemocracyMs. Francine Lalonde (Bloc) asked Peter Kent (Conservative). loaded question.The answer defends arm's-length status and appointments instead of addressing the call to remind the board member.This government does not have any involvement in the organization's day-to-day operations.
  21. deflected
    AfghanistanUjjal Dosanjh (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.The answer lists existing reviews instead of addressing the demand for a public inquiry.We have the Military Police Complaints Commission now operating and looking at the same issue.
  22. misdirected
    AfghanistanUjjal Dosanjh (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.The answer uses sarcasm about the question's tone and quotes a Liberal source to deflect.I thank my hon. friend for that calm, introspective, forward looking question.
  23. misdirected
    Canadian Council on LearningMr. Michael Savage (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). rhetorical question.The answer attacks the member's research and lists other investments rather than addressing CCL funding.if the hon. member had done his research, he would have realized that the facts are that the funding to CCL was always intended to be for a period of time.
  24. misdirected
    Canadian Council on LearningMr. Michael Savage (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.The answer praises general education efforts and shames Liberals instead of addressing CCL specifically.Let us face facts. The Liberal member and his colleagues voted against every single one of those initiatives. Shame on them.
  25. misdirected
    Tax HarmonizationMr. Thomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer ignores all questions about the minister's actions and instead attacks the NDP's consistency on harmonization.It has said that it is against GST harmonization. Today, it is asking for GST harmonization.
  26. misdirected
    Tax HarmonizationMr. Thomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer sidesteps the accusation of double-crossing and pivots to criticizing the NDP's vote on the bill.we introduced a bill in the House to give all provinces the opportunity to harmonize their sales tax with the GST, and the NDP voted against this bill.
  27. deflected
    AfghanistanMr. Claude Bachand (Bloc) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.The answer avoids addressing the 2007 protocol failure by restating talking points about Canadian Forces' good work and past discussions.this does not underscore the excellent work of the Canadian Forces.
  28. deflected
    AfghanistanMr. Claude Bachand (Bloc) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses the document request only by describing an alternative independent review rather than agreeing to unredacted handover to the committee.the government has asked Mr. Frank Iacobucci to undertake an independent, comprehensive, and proper review of all the documents.
  29. deflected
    Medical IsotopesGeoff Regan (Liberal) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). loaded question.The answer ignores the premise of abandoning patients and ideology and instead lists government actions on isotopes.we promised to right the mistakes made by the past Liberal government and ensure Canadians have access to an affordable and stable supply of medical isotopes.
  30. deflected
    Medical IsotopesGeoff Regan (Liberal) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). loaded question.The answer avoids the specific claims about the reactor and privatization by emphasizing global efforts and past investments.on the contrary, my colleague knows very well that we are dealing with a global crisis that requires a global solution.
  31. deflected
    Foreign AffairsMr. Paul Dewar (NDP) asked Peter Kent (Conservative). rhetorical question.The answer rejects the rhetorical critique of foreign policy without engaging the specific points on maternal health or the Arctic.I could not disagree more with my hon. colleague.
  32. deflected
    Foreign AffairsMs. Judy Wasylycia-Leis (NDP) asked Jim Abbott (Conservative). substantive question.The answer avoids confirming or denying the funding cut by calling the question speculation and telling the member to wait.the member is getting involved in speculation.
  33. partly answered
    Aboriginal Healing FoundationMr. Todd Russell (Liberal) asked Chuck Strahl (Conservative). loaded question.The answer counters the premise of termination by detailing continued funding and support but sidesteps the accusation of betraying words.the Aboriginal Healing Foundation is going to continue its good work over the next two years.
  34. deflected
    PensionsMr. Luc Desnoyers (Bloc) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.The response expresses openness to ideas and notes other actions without addressing support for the specific bill mentioned.we are certainly open to suggestions on this important issue.
  35. partly answered
    TransportationMr. Tony Martin (NDP) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.The answer affirms conditional funding support but fails to outline definitive next steps or a timeline as requested.if the Ontario government did come to the table, we would find a way to secure the funding from our end for that rail line.