Parliament AIIndependent · non-official

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Friday, October 22, 2010 · sitting No. 85

House debates Canada-Panama free trade agreement

The House devoted the largest share of its sitting to debate on the Canada-Panama Free Trade Act. Conservative MP Gerald Keddy said rules-based trading would improve the existing relationship between the two countries. Bloc Québécois MP Mario Laframboise called for a tax information exchange agreement before ratification, citing Panama's status on the OECD grey list of tax havens.

In Question Period, Liberal MP Ralph Goodale challenged the fairness of the federal review of the proposed Potash Corporation takeover. Conservative MP John Baird said the government would approve the transaction only if it delivered a net benefit to Canada. Liberal MP Martha Hall Findlay pressed the government on its spending priorities, contrasting proposed expenditures on prisons and jets with measures to assist families with home care.

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 · 2010-10-22

Government (Conservative)OppositionOver the day: government 39%, opposition 61% of the words spokenGovernment businessQuestion PeriodGovernment business▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 10:0511:0012:00Last speech 13:15Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 3 h 10 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
31Another sitting that went nowhereThe sitting devoted the largest share of time to debate on the Canada-Panama Free Trade Act and scattered other topics, yet no bills advanced and no votes were held. Question period produced far more deflected or misdirected replies than clear answers, leaving the record empty of decisions.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

Human Smuggling

Conservative MP Deepak Obhrai said the government had reaffirmed its commitment to combat human smuggling at a United Nations conference in Vienna.

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Taxation

NDP MP Libby Davies said the new tax treaty with Switzerland would do little to recover tax dollars hidden overseas by Canadian evaders.

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International Trade

Liberal MP Pablo Rodriguez urged the government to insist on a cultural exemption in negotiations with the European Union.

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Natural Resources

Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia asked which federal department would regulate Quebec's shale gas industry after conflicting statements from ministers.

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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. answered
    Potash IndustryRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.Answer directly defends the fairness of the review process in response to the bias claim.The government is undertaking a very rigorous review process, and I will commit that the government will only approve the deal if it is of net benefit to Canada.
  2. deflected
    Potash IndustryRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.Answer shifts focus to Saskatchewan MPs instead of addressing the dismissal of the resource's importance.As for the people of Saskatchewan, they can count on a very strong team of Saskatchewan members of Parliament forcefully representing them in the government caucus.
  3. misdirected
    Potash IndustryRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.Answer pivots to voter support for the PM rather than addressing responsibility for potential costs.the last time the people of Saskatchewan were asked who they wanted to be Prime Minister, I think they spoke very favourably to the custodianship of this Prime Minister .
  4. answered
    Government SpendingMs. Martha Hall Findlay (Liberal) asked Mr. Ted Menzies (Conservative). rhetorical question.Answer directly affirms the choice and justifies it with job creation data.Proudly, Mr. Speaker, because we have made sure that Canadian families have jobs.
  5. partly answered
    Government SpendingMs. Martha Hall Findlay (Liberal) asked Mr. Ted Menzies (Conservative). loaded question.Answer addresses increased transfers but sidesteps the specific spending priorities raised.We continue to increase health transfers to the provinces by 6%.
  6. deflected
    Public Works and Government ServicesMs. Christiane Gagnon (Bloc) asked Rona Ambrose (Conservative). loaded question.Answer avoids the taint claim by denying any government contractual link.the company to which the member is referring has no contractual relationship with the Government of Canada.
  7. deflected
    Public Works and Government ServicesMs. Christiane Gagnon (Bloc) asked Rona Ambrose (Conservative). loaded question.Answer again denies government involvement without addressing the qualification or favoritism allegations.this company has no contractual relationship with the Government of Canada.
  8. misdirected
    Conservative PartyMs. Diane Bourgeois (Bloc) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.Answer defends general integrity with an unrelated quote instead of addressing the specific riding association claims.it is clear that we always follow a process with a great deal of transparency and integrity.
  9. deflected
    Conservative PartyMs. Diane Bourgeois (Bloc) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.Answer compares riding association counts instead of addressing donation collection claims.in Quebec, the Conservative Party has 74 recognized riding associations.
  10. partly answered
    TaxationMs. Libby Davies (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.States general commitment to enforcement but ignores specific treaty and resource questions.That is the commitment the Prime Minister and this government have made.
  11. misdirected
    TaxationMs. Libby Davies (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.Shifts to criticizing NDP record on taxes rather than responding to cuts or treaty issues.having the NDP talk about fairness in taxes is a bit rich.
  12. misdirected
    TaxationMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Mr. Gerald Keddy (Conservative). substantive question.Notes prior answer then attacks the NDP's trade stance instead of addressing Panama tax provisions.I do note that the party that is speaking here is inclined to look for any excuse to avoid creating trade opportunities
  13. answered
    International TradeMr. Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal) asked Mr. Gerald Keddy (Conservative). substantive question.Directly confirms pursuit of standard cultural exemption in EU talks.We are seeking the normal cultural exemption that we seek in all of our trade agreements
  14. partly answered
    International TradeMr. Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal) asked Mr. Gerald Keddy (Conservative). substantive question.Addresses EU member exemptions but opens with criticism of the question.It is simply bad manners and poor taste.
  15. deflected
    Office of the Prime MinisterWayne Easter (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.Criticizes question wording and praises appointee without addressing conflict disclosure.the language used by the member for Malpeque is regrettable and is certainly inflammatory
  16. deflected
    Office of the Prime MinisterWayne Easter (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.Defends the appointee and ethics rules but avoids question on ending revolving-door practice.Mr. Wright has sought and will follow all the direction and counsel of the Ethics Commissioner.
  17. deflected
    Oil and Gas DevelopmentMr. Jean Dorion (Bloc) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). substantive question.Answer attacks Bloc's past positions and refuses to negotiate with them instead of addressing the specific commitment on seabed claims.it is intriguing to see the Bloc's new-found interest in fossil fuels, given that it has practically spat on these types of energy since it has been here.
  18. deflected
    Oil and Gas DevelopmentMr. Jean Dorion (Bloc) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). substantive question.Answer repeats attacks on Bloc ideology and refuses engagement rather than committing to a timeline or terms for Quebec.Now it is using this issue to divide the federation, as per its ideology: stir up trouble with Newfoundland and Labrador, stir up trouble with Nova Scotia, stir up trouble with everyone.
  19. misdirected
    InfrastructureMr. Mario Laframboise (Bloc) asked Mr. Brian Jean (Conservative). substantive question.Answer pivots to attacking Bloc voting record on the economic plan instead of addressing deadline flexibility for Quebec municipalities.If it were up to members of the Bloc Québécois, who voted against Canada's economic action plan, there would be no arenas and no recreational centres in Quebec.
  20. misdirected
    InfrastructureMr. Mario Laframboise (Bloc) asked Mr. Brian Jean (Conservative). substantive question.Answer falsely claims the statement is false and lists hypothetical negatives from Bloc votes without addressing the deadline extension question.the member's statement is false.
  21. partly answered
    Natural ResourcesMr. Francis Scarpaleggia (Liberal) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). substantive question.Answer clarifies federal stance on provincial jurisdiction but does not resolve the reported contradiction between ministers.One thing is certain: we support the responsible development of our natural resources, but unlike the Liberal Party, we will not tell the provinces how to use their lands.
  22. misdirected
    Natural ResourcesMr. Francis Scarpaleggia (Liberal) asked Mr. Mark Warawa (Conservative). loaded question.Answer shifts to criticizing Liberal past and local riding issues instead of addressing data gaps or setting water-taking floors.Do members know where the most affluent that goes into the St. Lawrence comes from? It comes from that member's riding.
  23. deflected
    International Co-operationMr. Marc Garneau (Liberal) asked Jim Abbott (Conservative). loaded question.Answer disputes the premise of abandonment but provides no plan for rebuilding relationships with the listed countries.the way the member has constructed his question is just simply not accurate in any way, shape or form.
  24. deflected
    International Co-operationMr. Marc Garneau (Liberal) asked Mr. Deepak Obhrai (Conservative). substantive question.Answer ignores the cost comparison and security spending question entirely, pivoting to general support for the summit.We will continue to support this great organization.
  25. misdirected
    Rail TransportationMr. Alex Atamanenko (NDP) asked Mr. Brian Jean (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the NDP instead of addressing the request for a costing review.We will not take any lessons from members of the NDP who want to close our borders and close our export markets.
  26. partly answered
    Rail TransportationMs. Jean Crowder (NDP) asked Mr. Brian Jean (Conservative). substantive question.The answer mentions the rail freight service review but then diverts to attacking the NDP.We review it through the rail freight service review.
  27. deflected
    Use of Wood in Federal BuildingsMr. Gérard Asselin (Bloc) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). substantive question.The answer lists past spending but avoids any stance on Bill C-429.The forestry sector is looking for new opportunities and markets.
  28. deflected
    Use of Wood in Federal BuildingsMr. Gérard Asselin (Bloc) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). substantive question.The answer pivots to criticizing the Bloc's voting record instead of addressing wood use policy.What has the Bloc Québécois been doing all this time?
  29. deflected
    PensionsJudy Sgro (Liberal) asked Mr. Mike Lake (Conservative). loaded question.The answer claims to study the issue without committing to action on Bill S-216.We are carefully studying this issue.
  30. deflected
    PensionsJudy Sgro (Liberal) asked Mr. Mike Lake (Conservative). loaded question.The answer repeats that the issue is under study and offers a meeting rather than action.we are carefully studying the issue.
  31. answered
    PensionsMr. Wayne Marston (NDP) asked Mr. Ted Menzies (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly states the status of provincial discussions and the December meeting.There will be a finance ministers' meeting in December where we will hear back from the officials on their findings.
  32. partly answered
    PensionsMr. Wayne Marston (NDP) asked Diane Ablonczy (Conservative). substantive question.The answer lists existing measures for seniors but does not address raising the GIS.since this government has taken office it has put over $2 billion more into the pockets of seniors through various measures such as pension income splitting, increasing the age credit, and many other measures.
  33. deflected
    Access to InformationMrs. Bonnie Crombie (Liberal) asked Mr. Andrew Saxton (Conservative). loaded question.The answer lists existing access-to-information measures without addressing the request to publish grant and contract details.We have been on top of this for some time. The government expanded access to information to 70 new organizations.
  34. answered
    Guaranteed Income SupplementMs. Meili Faille (Bloc) asked Diane Ablonczy (Conservative). loaded question.The answer directly refutes the premise of refusal by citing prior GIS increases and other measures.In fact, the GIS was increased in 2006 and 2007.
  35. partly answered
    The EnvironmentMs. Linda Duncan (NDP) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). substantive question.The answer notes ongoing review and current funding flows but does not commit to restoring the program.$300 million is flowing until the end of the fiscal year.
  36. deflected
    Access to InformationMrs. Bonnie Crombie (Liberal) asked Mr. Andrew Saxton (Conservative). loaded question.The answer repeats prior access-to-information expansions without addressing release of government data to SMEs.We have updated policies to ensure that public servants have the support they need to get these requests out the door.
  37. misdirected
    The EnvironmentMr. Bruce Hyer (NDP) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). substantive question.The answer shifts from program status to attacking the NDP for voting against measures.Thanks to the NDP, however, no money will be flowing out.
  38. misdirected
    International Co-operationMs. Monique Guay (Bloc) asked Jim Abbott (Conservative). loaded question.The answer dismisses the question as a myth propagated by opposition parties rather than addressing reinstatement of funding.The Bloc, the NDP, and the Liberals keep on propagating this myth, this canard.