All sittings← 2010-04-212010-04-23 →
Thursday, April 22, 2010 · sitting No. 31
House spends most of day debating youth justice reforms in Bill C-4
The House devoted the largest share of its time to second reading debate on Bill C-4, Sébastien's law, which would end house arrest for certain violent young offenders. Liberal MP Judy Sgro said the bill begins a needed discussion but warned against treating 15-year-olds like adults and called for early learning investments instead. Conservative MP Harold Albrecht said the measure focuses on protecting society and responds to constituent concerns about the current Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Question period featured repeated Liberal attacks on what Bob Rae called a Conservative culture of deceit over lobbying access for Rahim Jaffer and the handling of Afghan detainee documents. Prime Minister Stephen Harper replied that no government contracts were involved and that an independent lobbying commissioner would enforce the rules.
Other exchanges saw NDP MP Megan Leslie press for action on a homelessness report and Conservative ministers defend spending and youth employment programs.
Decided that day
- Debate adjourned on one motion
- C-16 and C-516 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 · 2010-04-22
55Bills Introduced While Answers Mostly DeflectedThe sitting devoted most speaking time to criminal-justice and economic bills, yet the only recorded decisions were two introductions and an adjournment. Question Period produced few direct answers and 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
Bill C-9--Jobs and Economic Growth Act
NDP MP Linda Duncan moved to split Bill C-9 into separate pieces of legislation, arguing that major policy changes on the environment and pensions were hidden in the budget bill.
Read the exchangeKeeping Canadians Safe (International Transfer of Offenders) Act
Bloc Québécois MP Mario Laframboise said the bill would give a Conservative minister too much discretion and could leave offenders without rehabilitation in foreign prisons.
Read the exchangeAfghanistan
Liberal MP Ujjal Dosanjh said the government had delivered only 460 pages to the Military Police Complaints Commission and was obstructing its work.
Read the exchangePersons with Disabilities
Liberal MP Michael Savage said 67 per cent of second-round projects went to Conservative ridings and called the fund a political slush fund.
Read the exchangeItalian-Canadian Recognition and Restitution Act
Liberal MP Paul Calandra said Bill C-302 was divisive and pointed to decades of previous Liberal inaction on Italian-Canadian issues.
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
- deflectedEthicsBob Rae (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer sidesteps the lobbying question by denying contracts and deferring to the commissioner.
there are no government contracts of any kind involved here.
- deflectedEthicsBob Rae (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). rhetorical question.The answer repeats the no-contracts line and ignores the culture-of-deceit accusation.
Again, Mr. Speaker, there are no government contracts, there is no government business involved here.
- deflectedEthicsBob Rae (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer again claims rules were followed without addressing the Prime Minister's personal responsibility.
there are no government contracts involved here because my ministers and my parliamentary secretaries have followed the rules at all times.
- answeredEthicsMs. Siobhan Coady (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly denies any discussion of the proposals with the minister.
at no time did Mr. Jaffer ever discuss any of these issues with me.
- partly answeredEthicsMs. Siobhan Coady (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses release of documents but evades the request for all meetings and documents.
We immediately released it all.
- deflectedEthicsMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer refuses to reveal the allegations and defers entirely to authorities.
We acted responsibly. We forwarded the information to the authorities.
- deflectedEthicsMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer dismisses the question as hypothetical and again defers to authorities.
The Bloc leader is basing his comments on hypothetical situations.
- deflectedEthicsMr. Michel Guimond (Bloc) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer shifts focus to third-party allegations and avoids naming ministers who met Jaffer.
A third party came forward with allegations to the Prime Minister
- deflectedEthicsMr. Michel Guimond (Bloc) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer promotes the lobbyist commissioner instead of addressing the timeline for revealing allegations.
If any member has any information with respect to anyone, whether it be Mr. Jaffer or any Canadian, the member should refer it immediately to the lobbyist commissioner so that person can make an independent determination.
- answeredEthicsMr. Thomas Mulcair (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly confirms the statement as true without evasion.
- deflectedEthicsMr. Thomas Mulcair (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer repeats that allegations were referred to the RCMP but avoids what else is being hidden.
At no time did Mr. Jaffer ever speak to me about any commercial operation that he was involved with.
- deflectedEthicsMr. Thomas Mulcair (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer criticizes the questioner's language and restates prior points without resolving the contradiction.
I know that member. He is even then stretching that kind of language and he does not do himself or his party any service.
- deflectedEthicsMrs. Alexandra Mendes (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer reiterates referral to authorities but does not specify when the government learned of the activities.
When allegations were brought to the Prime Minister 's attention from a third party, he immediately did the right thing.
- misdirectedEthicsMrs. Alexandra Mendes (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the premise as outrageous and pivots to defending the Prime Minister's actions.
That is absolutely outrageous.
- deflectedAfghanistanUjjal Dosanjh (Liberal) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). loaded question.The answer dismisses the claim as ridiculous and redirects to procedural safeguards without addressing obstruction.
that is absolutely ridiculous.
- misdirectedAfghanistanUjjal Dosanjh (Liberal) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). loaded question.The answer insults the questioner as rambling and avoids the issue of withheld documents.
I have no idea what the hon. member is rambling on about.
- deflectedDemocratic ReformMr. Pierre Paquette (Bloc) asked Steven Fletcher (Conservative). loaded question.The answer avoids the Quebec seat plan by pivoting to Bloc sovereignty instead of addressing the National Assembly opposition.
If the Bloc were to achieve its final goal, Quebec would have no seats in the House of Commons.
- partly answeredTax HarmonizationMr. Pierre Paquette (Bloc) asked Mr. Ted Menzies (Conservative). loaded question.The answer acknowledges ongoing negotiations but ignores the $2.2 billion compensation demand and the legislative power issue.
Negotiations continue in good faith with the finance minister of Canada and the finance minister of Quebec.
- deflectedRwandaMs. Francine Lalonde (Bloc) asked Mr. Deepak Obhrai (Conservative). substantive question.The answer notes the Governor General visit success but provides no protest or action on the arbitrary detention.
We will continue monitoring the events in Rwanda as they move forward, and we will get back to the member with more information on that issue.
- partly answeredRwandaMs. Johanne Deschamps (Bloc) asked Mr. Deepak Obhrai (Conservative). substantive question.The answer promises monitoring and possible intervention but does not address protesting arrests or protecting free speech.
as I have just mentioned, we will continue monitoring this case and if it requires intervention, the Government of Canada will intervene.
- answeredAccess to InformationMs. Judy Foote (Liberal) asked Stockwell Day (Conservative). loaded question.The answer directly addresses delays with statistics and notes added agencies plus intent to improve speed.
last year over 40,000 requests for information came to government. The majority of those were dealt with within 30 days.
- deflectedEthicsMs. Judy Foote (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer defends the referral but attacks the prior Liberal government instead of clarifying what was sent to the commissioner.
What that demonstrates is a high ethical standard, a new ethical standard that was sorely lacking when the previous government was in power.
- misdirectedGovernment AccountabilityMr. Mark Holland (Liberal) asked Stockwell Day (Conservative). loaded question.The answer pivots to past Liberal refusals and the Accountability Act rather than addressing firings of watchdogs.
That is what we got from the Liberals. We got no, we got scandal, and we changed that.
- misdirectedGovernment AccountabilityMr. Marcel Proulx (Liberal) asked Stockwell Day (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the question's accuracy and lists errors instead of addressing the dismissals of watchdogs.
That list that was just presented has so many errors in it, it is almost laughable except for the fact that the member is trying to present it as truth.
- deflectedAfghanistanMr. Jack Harris (NDP) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.The answer quotes testimony contradicting the premise but ignores the demand to stop delaying documents or call an inquiry.
The member should contemplate that testimony.
- deflectedAfghanistanMr. Jack Harris (NDP) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). loaded question.The answer dismisses the premise without addressing the call for a public inquiry or document delays.
The member should let the commission do its work.
- misdirectedAfghanistanMr. Claude Bachand (Bloc) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the questioner's hearing and comprehension rather than addressing the Geneva Convention claim.
the hon. member must be tone deaf in both official languages.
- deflectedAfghanistanM. Claude Bachand (Bloc) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.The answer repeats testimony and insults the member instead of addressing the new agreement or fox-henhouse claim.
- deflectedPersons with DisabilitiesMr. Michael Savage (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.The answer promotes the fund's extension but avoids the political allocation and slush fund accusation.
I do not know why the member voted against it.
- misdirectedPersons with DisabilitiesMr. Michael Savage (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the prior Liberal record and the member's vote instead of addressing the minister's own office accessibility.
- partly answeredEmploymentMs. Niki Ashton (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer lists specific programs for youth employment but ends by attacking the member's vote.
The hon. member voted against all of that.
- deflectedEmploymentMs. Niki Ashton (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer lists education programs but pivots to accusing the NDP of hypocrisy instead of addressing year-round jobs or affordability.
It is about time the NDP supported some of these initiatives if it does not want to be cited for hypocrisy.
- deflectedAtlantic Canada Opportunities AgencyMark Eyking (Liberal) asked Keith Ashfield (Conservative). substantive question.The answer lists unrelated Cape Breton projects but ignores the dredging funding timeline.
A considerable amount of funds has gone into Cape Breton under CAF, 14 projects worth $6.6 million, including $2 million for several culture initiatives, $450,000 for the pan-Atlantic lobster initiative, up to 41 recreational infrastructure projects, the innovative community fund.
- deflectedGuaranteed Income SupplementMrs. Carole Freeman (Bloc) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The response covers automatic reapplication rates but does not address the requested GIS increase or retroactivity.
The majority of seniors can automatically reapply for the guaranteed income supplement if they submit their income tax return by April 30.
- misdirectedAffordable HousingMs. Megan Leslie (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer promotes housing investments and attacks the NDP vote rather than confirming if the commissioned report's advice will be followed.
The really unfortunate issue here is the NDP voted against this help for our seniors who helped build our country.
- misdirectedAtlantic Canada Opportunities AgencyMark Eyking (Liberal) asked Keith Ashfield (Conservative). loaded question.The answer defends spending and attacks the opposition member instead of explaining the Atlantic Gateway fund shortfall.
The member opposite should be as well, if he would only vote with us.
- answeredBusiness of the HouseRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked Jay Hill (Conservative). substantive question.The response details the weekly agenda and directly addresses the take note debate request.
As for the take note debate, that is under advisement.
- misdirectedCanada's Olympic and Paralympic AthletesThe Speaker (Liberal) asked Mr. Tom Lukiwski (Conservative). rhetorical question.The response raises an unrelated point of order on language instead of addressing the athletes' names.
I would suggest that the member for Toronto Centre used unparliamentary language when he directed his question to the Prime Minister and said that the Prime Minister should bear some responsibility for the culture of deceit of the Conservative government.