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Wednesday, October 19, 2011 · sitting No. 32
Commons opens debate on bill to end Canadian Wheat Board monopoly
The House spent the largest share of its sitting on second reading of Bill C-18, the Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz told members the bill would give western wheat and barley growers the same marketing choices long enjoyed by farmers in Ontario and Quebec. Opposition members argued the measure violates existing statute because producers had not approved the change in a referendum.
In Question Period, NDP Leader Nycole Turmel pressed Prime Minister Stephen Harper on the same legislation, citing the requirement in the Canadian Wheat Board Act for producer approval. Harper replied that the government held a mandate from western farmers and would proceed. Liberal Leader Bob Rae questioned Harper on the costs of proposed Criminal Code changes and on U.S. buy-American policies.
From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard
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Who held the floor · 2011-10-19
38Wheat Board Debate Stalls Without ProgressThe sitting focused on extended debate over the Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act, with no bills advancing and only a failed motion to adjourn. Multiple points of order, calls to order, and mostly deflected Question Period answers further limited concrete outcomes.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
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NDP MP Wayne Marston introduced Bill C-331 to give pensions priority over other creditors; Conservative MP Ted Menzies said the NDP had voted against earlier pension-protection measures.
Read the exchangeSmall Business
Conservative MP Costas Menegakis asked Industry Minister Maxime Bernier what the government was doing for small firms; Bernier cited the 11 per cent tax rate and the Red Tape Reduction Commission.
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
- deflectedCanadian Wheat BoardMrs. Nycole Turmel (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The response promotes marketing freedom without addressing the referendum results or farmers' stated preference.
We are going to give them that freedom.
- deflectedCanadian Wheat BoardMrs. Nycole Turmel (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Shifts to constitutional principles and electoral mandate instead of addressing the specific law cited.
A previous government cannot bind a future government to its policy.
- misdirectedCanadian Wheat BoardMrs. Nycole Turmel (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the opposition rather than addressing the legal requirement.
That party over there does not speak for those people, does not care about those people, does not represent those people.
- deflectedCanadian Wheat BoardMr. Pat Martin (NDP) asked Gerry Ritz (Conservative). loaded question.Promotes industry benefits without addressing the claim of doing the Americans' bidding.
The Canadian Wheat Board will survive on a voluntary basis.
- misdirectedCanadian Wheat BoardMr. Pat Martin (NDP) asked Gerry Ritz (Conservative). loaded question.The response makes a personal insult rather than addressing the trade policy question.
the member for Winnipeg Centre is impotent to stand in the way of farmers getting freedom.
- deflectedCanadian Wheat BoardBob Rae (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Restates the mandate and attacks the Liberals without explaining why a plebiscite is refused.
I just hope the member for Winnipeg Centre ' bark is not as bad as his bite.
- deflectedCanada-U.S. RelationsBob Rae (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Avoids confirming any call or specific response from Obama and gives a general statement.
we are encouraging our American friends not to take such action.
- deflectedCriminal CodeBob Rae (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Disagrees with the premise and cites prior numbers without addressing the policy direction.
I completely disagree with the premise of that question.
- partly answeredTaxationMs. Peggy Nash (NDP) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). loaded question.Answer lists tax cuts and jobs but ignores the inequality premise and CEO pay comparison.
we have made substantial tax reductions for Canadian families, a total, for a typical Canadian family, of about $3,000 a year.
- deflectedTaxationMs. Peggy Nash (NDP) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). loaded question.Answer shifts to criticizing NDP voting record instead of addressing family affordability or CEO pay.
why is the official opposition continually voting against every tax measure we bring into the House to help families in Canada
- deflectedTaxationMr. Hoang Mai (NDP) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). loaded question.Answer pivots to attacking NDP tax proposal rather than responding to housing costs and corporate tax cuts.
I know that the NDP's solution to all of this is a new $10 billion tax, which it put forward to the Canadian people during the last election and which was resoundingly rejected.
- deflectedTaxationMr. Hoang Mai (NDP) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). loaded question.Answer highlights Canada's G7 standing and global praise but does not address stagnant incomes or household debt.
Canada is relatively well off. We have the best debt to GDP number in the G7.
- partly answeredInternational TradeMr. Robert Chisholm (NDP) asked Ed Fast (Conservative). loaded question.Answer defends trade efforts with Asia but does not address the claimed damage to Canada's reputation.
Negotiations are moving forward on a FIPA with China.
- deflectedInternational TradeMr. Robert Chisholm (NDP) asked Ed Fast (Conservative). loaded question.Answer attacks the questioner for grandstanding and pivots to U.S. meetings without addressing Europe deal concerns.
while that member was here grandstanding, I was in Washington dealing with my counterpart
- deflectedInternational TradeMr. Mathieu Ravignat (NDP) asked Ed Fast (Conservative). substantive question.Answer claims to defend supply management but immediately attacks NDP on trade instead of committing clearly.
The truth is that the NDP is opposed to trade.
- answeredTransportMr. Jamie Nicholls (NDP) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). substantive question.Answer directly states the report is under review and outlines next steps with provinces.
we received the report and are reviewing it.
- deflectedTransportMr. Brian Masse (NDP) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). substantive question.Answer shifts to unrelated bridge project and future studies instead of addressing the working group request.
For now, the study has been received by the government.
- misdirectedCanada-U.S. RelationsWayne Easter (Liberal) asked Ed Fast (Conservative). loaded question.Answer attacks Liberals rather than addressing the U.S. protectionism or Wheat Board claims.
- partly answeredCanada-U.S. RelationsMs. Joyce Murray (Liberal) asked Ed Fast (Conservative). substantive question.Answer rejects premise and begins to address border barriers but cuts off without full response.
As I have repeatedly said, any new tax, any new barrier at the border raises consumer costs--
- partly answeredCanada-U.S. RelationsScott Brison (Liberal) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). loaded question.Answer addresses FATCA privacy concerns raised but ignores other elements like amnesty and buy American provisions.
I have also raised it with the secretary of the treasury and my officials continue to discuss it with them.
- answeredHuman RightsMr. Randall Garrison (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.Answer directly confirms commitment to prioritizing LGBT rights at the Commonwealth meeting.
That certainly includes the rights of gays and lesbians.
- answeredHuman RightsMr. Dany Morin (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.Answer affirms intent to fight criminalization of homosexuality using Canada's influence.
At the Commonwealth summit in Perth, we will continue to fight for human rights to ensure that Canadian values are promoted and advanced at these international summits, and that certainly includes the rights of gays and lesbians.
- deflectedCitizenship and ImmigrationMs. Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet (NDP) asked Jason Kenney (Conservative). substantive question.Answer refuses ministerial intervention by citing legal process instead of addressing the specific deportation case.
It is totally inappropriate for members of Parliament or even ministers to reverse the legal decisions of our just legal system.
- deflectedCitizenship and ImmigrationMs. Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet (NDP) asked Jason Kenney (Conservative). substantive question.Answer reiterates legal process without addressing steps to handle violence against the Mexican LGBT community.
It is up to the board to decide if a person is being persecuted or if the personal safety of that person is threatened.
- deflectedG8 SummitMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.Answer rejects premise and pivots to Auditor General acceptance without committing to investigation.
The Auditor General has thoroughly looked into this issue.
- deflectedG8 SummitMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.Answer corrects a factual claim but ignores the request for a full investigation.
None of the three individuals he mentioned approved any of the 32 projects.
- deflectedG8 SummitMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.Answer praises cooperation and spending outcomes while avoiding the funding cut accusation.
She reviewed the 32 projects where every single dollar has been accounted for.
- misdirectedG8 SummitMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.Answer shifts to quoting an NDP member instead of addressing the ridings or media centre question.
I believe the money was fairly well distributed.
- deflectedOfficial LanguagesBob Rae (Liberal) asked James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.Answer highlights consultations but never states when or if the government will affirm the priority.
This government is well aware of the needs of official language communities and it takes those needs into account during the development and implementation of these programs.
- deflectedCanada PostDenis Coderre (Liberal) asked Steven Fletcher (Conservative). loaded question.Answer rejects the premise outright and states the government does not intervene.
I reject the premise of the member's question.
- partly answeredSmall BusinessMr. Raymond Côté (NDP) asked Maxime Bernier (Conservative). substantive question.Answer notes the existing 11% rate but attacks NDP spending ideas instead of addressing further cuts.
The important thing for small businesses is that we have cut their tax rate to 11%
- deflectedSmall BusinessMr. Raymond Côté (NDP) asked Maxime Bernier (Conservative). substantive question.Answer describes an existing loan program but does not address a new job creation tax credit.
By giving that foundation a contribution of $20 million in the last budget, we have enabled 1,000 young entrepreneurs across the country to create their own jobs
- partly answeredThe EnvironmentMr. Rodger Cuzner (Liberal) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). substantive question.The answer states it is provincial jurisdiction but avoids confirming sole responsibility and adds federal non-involvement.
That is provincial jurisdiction, and we will continue to work with the province.
- deflectedPensionsMr. Wayne Marston (NDP) asked Ted Menzies (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the NDP voting record instead of addressing cooperation on new pension legislation.
I wish the New Democrats would have worked with us when we moved legislation to protect those pensions to which he referred.
- deflectedSearch and RescueMr. Ryan Cleary (NDP) asked Keith Ashfield (Conservative). loaded question.The question builds on an unsupported premise about worst response times and ends with a rhetorical trap; the answer shifts to public messaging without addressing the delay.
If the member would like to be constructive, he would help us to take this message back to the public so that lives are not put at unnecessary risk.
- misdirectedGovernment AppointmentsMr. Louis Plamondon (Bloc) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). substantive question.The answer pivots to praising the Supreme Court's bilingual record and merit instead of addressing reconsideration of the unilingual appointment.
The individuals whose names have been unanimously approved and recommended by the committees of the House of Commons are based on merit and legal excellence.