All sittings← 2010-04-262010-04-28 →
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 · sitting No. 34
NDP motion seeks wider changes to gender equity bill on Indian status
New Democrat MP Jean Crowder moved an instruction to the Aboriginal affairs committee to expand the scope of Bill C-3 during its study so that a grandchild born before 1985 with a female grandparent would receive the same entitlement to status as a grandchild of a male grandparent born in the same period. The motion, which occupied 27 per cent of the sitting, drew support from Liberal MP Larry Bagnell and Bloc Québécois MP Marc Lemay, who both noted widespread testimony on residual discrimination. Conservative MP John Duncan said the government had offered officials and warned that further amendments would create unintended consequences.
In Question Period, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff pressed the Prime Minister on whether the maternal health initiative would exclude access to safe and legal abortion, a position he said reversed a 25-year consensus. Prime Minister Stephen Harper replied that the policy respected the House vote and World Health Organization definitions. Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe and Conservative ministers traded charges over meetings between ministers and Rahim Jaffer, with the Prime Minister stating that no government contracts were involved.
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 · 2010-04-27
33Debate drags, no bills advanceThe sitting devoted most time to debate on bills and other topics without moving any legislation forward. Question period produced few direct answers while a single recorded vote failed to adjourn debate.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
Balanced Refugee Reform Act
Liberal MP Gerard Kennedy told the House that the proposed refugee board appointments must include rigorous screening and training to ensure credibility and effectiveness on life-and-death decisions.
Read the exchangeQuebec Bridge
Conservative MP Steven Blaney said the government has asked the court to rule that Canadian National failed its obligation to repair the Quebec Bridge and to order completion of the work.
Read the exchangeAdjournment Proceedings
Liberal MP Robert Oliphant pressed the government to reconsider the lump-sum disability payment after hearing repeated complaints from returning Afghanistan veterans.
Read the exchangeFirearms Registry
Conservative MP Earl Dreeshen said Chief Hanson of Calgary had called the long-gun registry a placebo that creates a false sense of security.
Read the exchangeForestry Industry
Conservative MP Denis Lebel defended the new Quebec forestry initiative and cited letters of thanks from AbitibiBowater, Kruger and Tembec.
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
- answeredInternational Co-operationMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly addresses the yes/no question posed.
Mr. Speaker, the answer is, no.
- deflectedInternational Co-operationMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer avoids the why question by shifting blame to the asker and restating positions.
it was the Liberal leader who insisted on having a vote in the House.
- deflectedInternational Co-operationMr. Michael Ignatieff (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the asker personally rather than addressing the policy consistency question.
He divided his own caucus and he got the opposite answer from the one he was seeking.
- partly answeredInternational Co-operationBob Rae (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses the policy in general terms but does not confirm or deny access to abortions after rape.
We are clear what initiatives we are funding and, believe me, there is more than enough to do in those areas to save the lives of women and children.
- misdirectedInternational Co-operationBob Rae (Liberal) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). loaded question.The answer addresses deportation procedure instead of the maternal health question asked.
The CBSA carries out the orders of the tribunals and the court so that the rule of law is upheld.
- deflectedEthicsMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer restates that no government contracts are involved without addressing the new revelations about ties.
No government contracts are involved.
- deflectedEthicsMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer shifts focus to transparency and legal compliance rather than addressing the logic of the question.
Mr. Jaffer's actions came to light for one reason: the Minister of the Environment and other ministers exercised transparency.
- deflectedEthicsMrs. Carole Freeman (Bloc) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer avoids the specific Belize trip question by redirecting to general accountability measures.
It was this government that brought in the Federal Accountability Act and increased accountability in Ottawa.
- deflectedEthicsMrs. Carole Freeman (Bloc) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.Answer avoids verifying any meetings and instead shifts to forwarding info and instructing the asker.
If the member opposite has any evidence with respect to any unethical behaviour, she should follow the example of the government and do the right thing and forward it.
- deflectedInternational Co-operationJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Answer sidesteps the claim of reopening abortion debate by blaming opposition and citing policy alignment.
once again, it was the opposition that decided to have Parliament vote on this issue and Parliament's decision was clear.
- deflectedInternational Co-operationJack Layton (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Answer ignores the gag rule comparison and focuses on funding priorities without addressing the question.
We will concentrate our efforts on areas where the Canadian people are united and want to see progress.
- answeredInternational Co-operationJack Layton (NDP) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). loaded question.Answer directly addresses the deportation status by noting the court stay and legal process.
I understand that individual's lawyer has filed an application with the federal court and the court has granted a stay.
- deflectedLobbyingAnita Neville (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.Answer evades naming who wrote the note and instead emphasizes departmental responsibility and independent assessments.
I asked my parliamentary secretary to assist me in my responsibilities.
- deflectedLobbyingAnita Neville (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.Answer avoids the loophole question and redirects to general rules and the Lobbying Commissioner.
we expect all lobbyists to follow the law.
- deflectedLobbyingMr. David McGuinty (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.Answer ignores missing documents and instead points to forwarding info to independent authorities.
It immediately forwarded them to the independent authorities, the independent folks who will investigate these matters and report back.
- deflectedLobbyingMr. David McGuinty (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.Answer sidesteps document requests by praising the government's actions and redirecting to authorities.
This government has done the right thing.
- deflectedInternational Co-operationMs. Johanne Deschamps (Bloc) asked Jim Abbott (Conservative). loaded question.Lists unrelated health measures instead of addressing the abortion funding policy.
Why is the member against all of these positive measures?
- misdirectedInternational Co-operationMs. Johanne Deschamps (Bloc) asked Jim Abbott (Conservative). loaded question.Attacks the asker and coalition rather than addressing Canada's leadership on maternal health.
Shame on the member. Shame on all of them.
- partly answeredCitizenship and ImmigrationMr. Thierry St-Cyr (Bloc) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). substantive question.Explains the court stay and process but does not address reviewing the deportation decision.
I understand that the court has, in fact, granted a stay.
- deflectedCitizenship and ImmigrationMr. Thierry St-Cyr (Bloc) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). substantive question.Repeats respect for court orders without addressing the request to postpone deportation on humanitarian grounds.
Our government will respect the rule of law.
- misdirectedForestry IndustryMrs. Alexandra Mendes (Liberal) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). loaded question.Attacks the previous Liberal government instead of addressing the current forestry program.
And now the Liberals are lecturing us. It is unbelievable.
- deflectedForestry IndustryMrs. Alexandra Mendes (Liberal) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). loaded question.Cites industry thanks instead of addressing accusations of broken promises or killing the sector.
That letter, which was written on behalf of the association's member companies, thanked the government for the measures announced in the recent federal budget.
- partly answeredForestry IndustryMs. Joyce Murray (Liberal) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). loaded question.Claims investments were made to counter the broken promise accusation on pine beetle funding.
We made huge investments to tackle the pine beetle crisis.
- deflectedForestry IndustryMs. Joyce Murray (Liberal) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). loaded question.Highlights positive funding measures instead of addressing loan guarantees or the industry's future.
This is what we have to do to help the industry find new markets.
- deflectedEthicsMr. Pat Martin (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer avoids addressing meetings or cover-up by redirecting to an independent commissioner.
If the member has any evidence to suggest someone has not, he should send it to the independent commissioner of lobbying that this government established.
- deflectedEthicsMr. Pat Martin (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer sidesteps specific requests for records and firing by emphasizing general transparency and forwarding allegations.
When allegations were brought to the government's attention, the Prime Minister acted immediately.
- deflectedForestry IndustryMr. Robert Bouchard (Bloc) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). substantive question.The answer promotes announced investments instead of addressing the request for loan guarantees.
yesterday, I was extremely proud to announce that our government will invest $100 million in helping regions affected by the forestry crisis in Quebec.
- deflectedForestry IndustryMr. Robert Bouchard (Bloc) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). loaded question.The answer discusses changing business models without addressing loan guarantees or stakeholder demands.
to survive the forestry crisis, the industry had no choice but to change its business model to extract maximum value from each tree
- deflectedAgriculture and Agri-FoodWayne Easter (Liberal) asked Gerry Ritz (Conservative). loaded question.The answer emphasizes consultation processes without committing to market price insurance or addressing program failures.
We consult with industry as to the best way forward.
- partly answeredAgriculture and Agri-FoodWayne Easter (Liberal) asked Gerry Ritz (Conservative). loaded question.The answer explains concerns with the RMP but ends by attacking the opposition's carbon tax policy.
All the noise from the member for Malpeque about agriculture would certainly be shadowed by a carbon tax that his party wants to bring in.
- partly answeredOil and Gas IndustryMr. Nathan Cullen (NDP) asked Chuck Strahl (Conservative). substantive question.The answer outlines the bidding and regulatory process but does not confirm whether relief well rules will be enforced.
They have to adhere not only to the rules that we might build into it in this Parliament, but they also have to work with the Inuit organizations in the area
- partly answeredEmployment InsuranceMr. Yvon Godin (NDP) asked Gail Shea (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses conservation priorities and working with the province but does not confirm a meeting with the labour minister.
In the meantime, we will work with the province to help all those affected by this measure.
- misdirectedAfghanistanUjjal Dosanjh (Liberal) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). loaded question.Question assumes deceit as fact and demands inquiry; answer ignores inquiry and attacks Liberals instead.
Why is that always such a problem for the Liberal Party?
- deflectedSecuritiesMr. Daniel Paillé (Bloc) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). substantive question.Question asks why federal plan sabotages Quebec's AMF; answer restates budget language without addressing Quebec or China agreement.
We are respecting provincial jurisdictions in this matter.
- misdirectedStatus of WomenMs. Irene Mathyssen (NDP) asked Rona Ambrose (Conservative). substantive question.Question seeks who decides funding cuts; answer pivots to attack NDP on Afghanistan instead of explaining allocation.
I would like to ask the member why members of her party get up and ask questions about our troops in Afghanistan all the time, but never ask about women in Afghanistan.
- deflectedAfghanistanUjjal Dosanjh (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.Question repeats deceit premise and asks about inquiry; answer cites cooperation and quotes general on delays without addressing inquiry.
We know full well that Canada's enemies are ready to use that kind of information against our troops that are deployed there.
- partly answeredBroadband Canada ProgramMr. Serge Cardin (Bloc) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.Question demands May 1 announcement for Quebec projects; answer promises announcement soon but gives no date or Quebec commitment.
we will announce the investments as soon as possible.
- misdirectedIndustryMr. Glenn Thibeault (NDP) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.Question asks if government will act on Loblaws severance; answer attacks NDP taxes and redirects to provincial jurisdiction.
The NDP wants to raise taxes. It wants to reduce investment. It wants to pursue a protectionist policy.