Parliament AIIndependent · non-official

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Thursday, March 3, 2011 · sitting No. 138

NDP motion on Senate abolition and proportional representation dominates Commons

The House spent the largest share of its sitting on the NDP opposition motion moved by David Christopherson that called for a referendum at the next general election on abolishing the Senate and for a special committee to examine proportional representation and other democratic reforms. Steven Fletcher said abolition would require provincial agreement and constitutional talks that are not realistic, while Christopherson replied that the government must consult Canadians on modernizing Parliament.

Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux told the House that consultations in Manitoba had shown support for a reformed Senate over abolition, and Christopherson responded that any national change must reflect the expressed will of all provinces and territories. Libby Davies asked about the benefits of proportional representation for electing women.

Decided that day

  • C-14 advanced in second chamber
  • C-22 advanced in second chamber
  • C-61 introduced and passed 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 · 2011-03-03

Government (Conservative)OppositionOver the day: government 37%, opposition 63% of the words spokenGovernment businessQuestion PeriodGovernment businessPrivate members▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 10:0511:0012:0013:0014:0015:0016:0017:00Last speech 18:25Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 8 h 20 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
58Bills creep forward amid supply talk and dodged answersThe sitting devoted most time to substantive business, chiefly supply and political financing, and advanced four bills through stages. Yet no votes were held, four points of order arose, and question period produced mostly deflected or misdirected replies.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

Political Financing

Ralph Goodale asked how allegations against four Conservative advisers in the in-and-out scheme could not be a character issue for the Prime Minister, and Pierre Poilievre replied that the matter was a five-year administrative dispute over legal transfers of funds.

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Cinar

Gilles Duceppe pressed the government on why it had not acted after the Sûreté du Québec laid charges, and Rob Nicholson answered that the matter was now before the courts.

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Tax Havens

Pierre Paquette said the federal government's complacency had allowed $120 million to be transferred illegally to the Bahamas, and Keith Ashfield said budget 2010 measures would close loopholes and support aggressive audits.

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Quebec City Arena

Christiane Gagnon accused the government of creating expectations and then refusing funds, and Josée Verner replied that the project lacked the required substantial private-sector contribution.

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International Cooperation

John McKay asked who in the Prime Minister's Office had directed Bev Oda to cut funding and insert the word not in a departmental recommendation, and Oda said the government wanted aid dollars to reach those who need them most.

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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. deflected
    Political FinancingRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.The answer restates the party's legal position on transfers but ignores the character issue for the Prime Minister.Conservative candidates spent Conservative funds on Conservative advertising.
  2. deflected
    Political FinancingRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.The answer repeats the administrative dispute framing without addressing the trust or circumvention claims.Of course, Conservative candidates did spend Conservative funds on Conservative advertising, and the national party transferred funds to the local campaigns.
  3. misdirected
    Political FinancingRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.The answer pivots to economic achievements and attacks the opposition instead of addressing the culture of deceit or caucus removal.the kinds of personal slurs that the member is engaging in will not create a single job for Canadians.
  4. misdirected
    Political FinancingDominic LeBlanc (Liberal) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.The answer shifts to jobs and the economic plan while dismissing the accountability question as personal slurs.the kinds of personal slurs that the Liberal Party has been engaging in for some time now will not create a single job and will not help families save for their future.
  5. deflected
    Political FinancingDominic LeBlanc (Liberal) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.The answer explains the transfers and court process but sidesteps the fraud and tough-on-crime contradiction.It is true that Conservative headquarters did transfer funds to local campaigns.
  6. deflected
    CinarMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). substantive question.The answer refuses to engage by citing ongoing court proceedings without addressing government inaction.I am not sure exactly what the hon. member's problem is.
  7. deflected
    CinarMr. Gilles Duceppe (Bloc) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). substantive question.The answer insists the matter is before the court and avoids discussing the voluntary disclosure agreement or prior inaction.There is a decision within this matter and the matter should take its course.
  8. partly answered
    Tax HavensMr. Pierre Paquette (Bloc) asked Keith Ashfield (Conservative). loaded question.The answer outlines CRA tools and budget measures but does not address the Bahamas tax convention or protection of tax havens.This includes important measures contained in budget 2010 to close tax loopholes, and the inclusion of proceeds of crime legislation in the Criminal Code.
  9. deflected
    Tax HavensMr. Pierre Paquette (Bloc) asked Lawrence Cannon (Conservative). substantive question.Answer promotes new bill instead of addressing why immediate action under existing laws is not taken.The sooner this legislation receives royal assent, the sooner we can act.
  10. deflected
    Political FinancingJack Layton (NDP) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.Answer restates defense of actions and legality without addressing admission of cheating.Conservative candidates spent Conservative funds on Conservative advertising.
  11. deflected
    Political FinancingJack Layton (NDP) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.Answer repeats prior defense of rules compliance and transparency without addressing senators or scandal.The reason Elections Canada knows all of that, the reason it is aware of all of these transactions, is precisely because we made it aware
  12. misdirected
    Political FinancingJack Layton (NDP) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.Answer praises immigration minister's record instead of addressing use of parliamentary resources for party fundraising.We are very proud of our immigration minister and we stand beside him 100%.
  13. misdirected
    Political FinancingMr. Marc Garneau (Liberal) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.Answer shifts to jobs and economy while ignoring question on specific riding spending and reimbursement.I notice that the Liberal Party, in fact all of the coalition parties, has asked absolutely nothing about the number one issue in the country, which is jobs for Canadians.
  14. deflected
    Political FinancingCarolyn Bennett (Liberal) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.Answer reiterates legality and transparency without addressing fraud or breaking the law.It is legal, it is ethical and it is common practice among all parties.
  15. deflected
    Political FinancingGerry Byrne (Liberal) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.Answer dismisses rhetoric and restates compliance without addressing lack of local ads or laundering claim.we are talking about a five-year-old administrative dispute.
  16. misdirected
    Political FinancingBob Rae (Liberal) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.Answer pivots to economic record and attacks Liberals instead of addressing cabinet accountability or transparency.still not a single question from the Liberals on jobs for Canadians.