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Tuesday, January 31, 2012 · sitting No. 70

Commons allots two days for pooled pension bill amid NDP protests

Government House leader Peter Van Loan moved a time allocation motion that will limit second reading debate on Bill C-25, the Pooled Registered Pension Plans Act, to two further sitting days. The motion, which passed, drew immediate criticism from NDP MP Chris Charlton who called the move an absolute disgrace on an issue of retirement security.

In Question Period the NDP pressed the government on old age security, with leader Nycole Turmel and MP Peter Julian accusing the Conservatives of breaking an election promise by planning cuts. Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Human Resources Minister Diane Finley replied that current recipients will see no change and that reforms are needed only for future sustainability.

Question Period also featured exchanges on aboriginal affairs, the environment and the F-35 program, while routine proceedings included committee reports and several private members' petitions.

Decided that day

  • Bill C-25 passed
  • Bill C-313 advanced to second reading
  • Bill C-387 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 · 2012-01-31

Government (Conservative)OppositionOver the day: government 50%, opposition 50% of the words spokenGovernment businessQuestion PeriodGovernment business▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 10:0511:0012:0013:0014:0015:0016:0017:00Last speech 18:45Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 8 h 40 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
59Pensions Bill Passes, Questions Mostly DodgedThe House spent the bulk of its time on the Pooled Registered Pension Plans Act and related pensions debate, passing one bill and advancing two others. Question Period featured many deflected or misdirected answers, yet substantive business accounted for over 90 percent of words spoken.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

National Defence

NDP MP Christine Moore questioned the viability of the F-35 purchase citing parachute defects and acceleration shortfalls; Associate Minister Julian Fantino dismissed the concerns as fear-mongering and said the aircraft will be the plane of the future.

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Firearms Registry

Liberal MP Françoise Boivin asked why the government withheld an RCMP report on the registry's value; Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said the document was forwarded and tabled at the first opportunity.

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Housing

NDP MP Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet cited a Federation of Canadian Municipalities study showing a rental housing shortfall; Minister Diane Finley replied that no previous government has invested as much in affordable housing as the current one.

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Natural Resources

NDP MP Claude Gravelle accused the government of abruptly ending the popular home retrofit program; Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver said the program had reached its 250,000-home target and would approach its $400-million budget limit.

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Iran

Conservative MP Costas Menegakis announced expanded sanctions against Iran, citing human-rights concerns including the case of Saeed Malekpour; Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay later confirmed new measures targeting entities and individuals.

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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
    Aboriginal AffairsMrs. Nycole Turmel (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer refers to an existing action plan without providing steps or timeline and ends by attacking the NDP.This time I would hope the NDP would actually vote for them instead of against them.
  2. partly answered
    PensionsMrs. Nycole Turmel (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer denies any benefit cuts for current seniors but does not address the premise of future changes.We have no intention of changing any benefits.
  3. deflected
    PensionsMrs. Nycole Turmel (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer acknowledges demographic pressures without addressing the specific report or the claim of cutting benefits to reduce the deficit.demographic changes are putting pressure on our retirement income system and on many other programs.
  4. partly answered
    PensionsMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.The answer reaffirms no change for current recipients but ignores the comparison to senators and the broken-promise accusation.Everyone who is currently receiving benefits will continue to do so.
  5. misdirected
    PensionsMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the NDP's voting record instead of addressing the proposed cuts or spending priorities raised.if the NDP members are really so concerned about seniors, then they should have voted for the pension income splitting.
  6. deflected
    PensionsBob Rae (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer restates commitments to current seniors and future generations without addressing the election-platform contradiction or expert disagreement.Seniors will continue to receive everything that they are expecting.
  7. misdirected
    PensionsBob Rae (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer pivots to attacking the questioner's record as Ontario premier rather than clarifying the definition of taking care of seniors.One is how this government is taking care of people during this recession and how the Ontario government under his leadership took care of people during that recession.
  8. misdirected
    PensionsBob Rae (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer defends protecting seniors then attacks Liberals for voting against pension measures instead of addressing the concealment claim.Why, if the Liberals care so much about seniors and pensions, do they vote against every improvement we make for seniors and pensions in our country, including today.
  9. misdirected
    The EnvironmentMs. Megan Leslie (NDP) asked Joe Oliver (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the questioner about insulting ancestors rather than addressing the choice on environment policy.Now, she is insulting our ancestors. When will it stop?
  10. deflected
    The EnvironmentMs. Megan Leslie (NDP) asked Joe Oliver (Conservative). substantive question.The answer restates project approval policy instead of confirming agreement with the scientific link.We will only approve projects that are safe for Canadians and for the environment.
  11. deflected
    The EnvironmentMs. Megan Leslie (NDP) asked Joe Oliver (Conservative). substantive question.The answer discusses investments and oil sands emissions reductions instead of answering the yes-or-no question on hydrocarbons.the government has invested over $10 billion in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, creating energy efficiency programs.
  12. misdirected
    The EnvironmentMs. Megan Leslie (NDP) asked Joe Oliver (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks opponents of hydrocarbon development rather than clarifying the minister's stance on climate science.There are some radicals who oppose all hydrocarbon development.
  13. answered
    Natural ResourcesMr. Claude Gravelle (NDP) asked Joe Oliver (Conservative). loaded question.The answer directly explains that the eco-energy program reached its goal of 250,000 homeowners.the eco-energy retrofit program reached its goal of 250,000 registered homeowners.
  14. partly answered
    Natural ResourcesMr. Claude Gravelle (NDP) asked Joe Oliver (Conservative). loaded question.The answer defends the program's success and mentions new funding but does not address the claim of suddenly cutting it.On Sunday, we reiterated our commitment to energy efficiency with an additional $117 million in funding for these initiatives.
  15. answered
    HousingMs. Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer states the government's record of creating more than 14,000 affordable housing projects.With our economic action plan, we created more than 14,000 projects for improving, renovating and building affordable housing.
  16. misdirected
    HousingMr. Andrew Cash (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.The answer accuses the NDP of hypocrisy and lists past investments instead of addressing renters specifically.the hypocrisy of the NDP is growing by leaps and bounds from minute to minute.
  17. deflected
    InfrastructureMs. Olivia Chow (NDP) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). substantive question.The answer ignores the specific gas tax proposal and instead lists past government actions.No government in history before this government invested in infrastructure like this one.
  18. misdirected
    PensionsWayne Easter (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.The answer disputes the premise of an attack on pensions rather than addressing the regional minister's stance.the hon. member has it all wrong again.
  19. deflected
    PensionsJudy Sgro (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.The answer states the government's general position without addressing the personal challenge to the minister.we are going to protect the pensions.
  20. deflected
    PensionsDenis Coderre (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.The answer gives a generic assurance without addressing the Quebec lieutenant or the proposed age change.we stand united in ensuring that seniors get the benefits they are supposed to get.
  21. misdirected
    National DefenceMs. Christine Moore (NDP) asked Julian Fantino (Conservative). rhetorical question.The answer dismisses the question as nonsense and fear-mongering instead of addressing program status.It is fear-mongering. It is more of the same. It is rhetoric.
  22. deflected
    National DefenceMs. Christine Moore (NDP) asked Julian Fantino (Conservative). substantive question.The answer justifies the original F-35 choice without providing any plan B.There are now F-35s flying. They are being tested. They are being developed.
  23. misdirected
    National DefenceMr. Matthew Kellway (NDP) asked Julian Fantino (Conservative). substantive question.The answer disputes facts about allies and then attacks the opposition's support for the military.What the opposition should tell this House and Canadians is that it does not support our military
  24. misdirected
    National DefenceMr. Matthew Kellway (NDP) asked Julian Fantino (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the NDP and dismisses the question by preferring advice from experts.Were it left to the NDP, we would have no assets in our military at all.
  25. answered
    Firearms RegistryMs. Françoise Boivin (NDP) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly supplies the exact dates the report was received and tabled.It was then forwarded by the Department of Public Safety to my office on December 20 and we tabled it on the first available tabling date, as I understand it.
  26. misdirected
    Firearms RegistryMr. Jack Harris (NDP) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the questioner and pivots to criticizing the registry rather than addressing the claim of hiding information.I will overlook the patently false statements made by the member and state that the only embarrassing thing is that the long gun registry, with the support of the NDP, continues to needlessly target law-abiding hunters, farmers and sports shooters rather than criminals.
  27. answered
    Royal Canadian Mounted PoliceMr. Jasbir Sandhu (NDP) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). substantive question.The answer explains the unchanged protocol and its purpose without evasion.the protocol has not changed since the days of Anne McLellan.
  28. partly answered
    Royal Canadian Mounted PoliceMr. Sylvain Chicoine (NDP) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). substantive question.The answer affirms the commissioner meets freely and restates the protocol but does not address tabling the document.The commissioner of the RCMP meets with whomever he chooses when he chooses.
  29. deflected
    Aboriginal AffairsCarolyn Bennett (Liberal) asked John Duncan (Conservative). substantive question.The answer ignores the documents and apology request, shifting to general partnership statements.we are committed to working in partnership with our first nations.
  30. deflected
    HealthHedy Fry (Liberal) asked Leona Aglukkaq (Conservative). loaded question.The answer defends the funding formula but does not address violating the accord or the Canada Health Act.we have announced long-term stable funding arrangements for the provinces and the territories that will see transfers reach historic levels of $40 billion at the end of the decade.
  31. answered
    Aboriginal AffairsMs. Linda Duncan (NDP) asked Peter Kent (Conservative). substantive question.The answer states the reconsideration outcome and notes the recovery plan under consultation.I have reconsidered that decision and find that, on a national basis, the woodland caribou is not at risk.
  32. partly answered
    Aboriginal AffairsMs. Linda Duncan (NDP) asked Peter Kent (Conservative). substantive question.The answer affirms consultation but does not directly confront the treaty-rights or Federal Court compliance claim.
  33. misdirected
    National DefenceJohn McKay (Liberal) asked Julian Fantino (Conservative). loaded question.The answer ignores the question on competition and instead attacks the opposition's past actions.The Liberals initiated Canada's involvement in the Joint Strike Fighter program in 1997 and in so doing committed $100 million to get it started.
  34. answered
    L'infrastructureMr. François Pilon (NDP) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). loaded question.The answer directly addresses the timeline breach, cost increases and lack of progress on the project.It is now 2012 and not a single shovel has hit the ground.
  35. deflected
    Veteran AffairsMr. Peter Stoffer (NDP) asked Steven Blaney (Conservative). loaded question.The answer avoids the specific job cuts and instead criticizes the opposition for opposing past investments.the real question is why the opposition always opposes the investments we have made in veterans over the last six years.
  36. partly answered
    PensionsMr. Louis Plamondon (Bloc) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer reassures on current benefits but does not address the analysts' claims or the federation's concerns.I want to assure my colleagues that the people currently receiving old age security benefits will not lose one cent.