Parliament AIIndependent · non-official

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Wednesday, February 1, 2012 · sitting No. 71

Commons debates pooled pension plans amid pension security clashes

The House spent the largest share of the day on second reading of Bill C-25, the Pooled Registered Pension Plans Act. Conservative MP Ted Opitz told the House the measure would give self-employed workers and employees of small firms access to low-cost retirement savings. NDP MP Bruce Hyer said the voluntary plan amounted to another risky marketplace vehicle that would not deliver secure pensions.

In Question Period, NDP leader Nycole Turmel pressed Prime Minister Stephen Harper on whether old age security benefits would be cut or eligibility delayed to age 67. Harper replied that no current recipient would lose benefits and that the government was protecting the system for future generations. Minister Diane Finley told Peter Julian that every person now receiving old age security would continue to receive it without reduction.

Decided that day

  • Bill on Pooled Registered Pension Plans read a second time and sent to committee
  • Bill referred to Finance committee after second reading
  • Motion urging government action defeated

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 · 2012-02-01

Government (Conservative)OppositionOver the day: government 44%, opposition 56% of the words spokenQuestion PeriodGovernment businessPrivate members▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 14:0515:0016:0017:0018:00Last speech 19:30Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 5 h 25 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
66Pension bills advance, one motion failsThe House devoted most of its time to substantive debate and passed two bills to committee stage while defeating one opposition motion. Question Period produced few direct answers, but points of order remained minimal.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

Aboriginal Affairs

NDP MP Charlie Angus accused the government of punishing Attawapiskat by cutting education funding and leaving a third-party manager idle while homes sat unprepared. Minister John Duncan replied that all statements by Angus were fabrications and that the manager was awaiting information from the community.

Read the exchange

Airline Security

NDP MP Randall Garrison said new identification rules would block transgender passengers whose appearance did not match their documents. Minister Denis Lebel answered that security rules applied equally to all passengers and that the government would not relax screening standards.

Read the exchange

Maternal Health

Liberal MP Françoise Boivin charged that the government was yielding to backbench pressure by excluding family-planning groups from the Muskoka initiative. Minister Bev Oda said the government was delivering results in Ethiopia, Mozambique and Tanzania without reopening the abortion question.

Read the exchange

National Defence

NDP MP Matthew Kellway cited a Pentagon panel report on design flaws and asked the government to retender the contract. Associate Minister Julian Fantino replied that Canadian firms were already receiving contracts and that the NDP opposed jobs for Canadian workers.

Read the exchange

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. partly answered
    La justiceMrs. Nycole Turmel (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Notes withdrawal but pivots to victims instead of addressing support or action.the senator has already withdrawn his comments.
  2. deflected
    La justiceMrs. Nycole Turmel (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Repeats withdrawal and victim focus while ignoring law and death penalty claims.the senator has clearly withdrawn those words.
  3. misdirected
    PensionsMrs. Nycole Turmel (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Ignores Senate abolition and OAS question to attack NDP on justice.I would encourage the NDP to really focus on trying to help us deal with the criminal justice system
  4. answered
    PensionsMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.Directly states current recipients keep benefits unchanged.the people who are currently receiving old age security benefits will continue to receive them.
  5. deflected
    PensionsMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.Avoids spending priorities to restate general protection of OAS.every Canadian who is now receiving old age security will not lose a penny.
  6. partly answered
    PensionsBob Rae (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Reassures on current seniors but does not address cascade of benefits or low-income impacts.
  7. deflected
    PensionsBob Rae (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Rejects premise and repeats no cuts to current benefits without engaging the qualification chain.I do not accept the premise of the hon. member's question.
  8. misdirected
    PensionsBob Rae (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Attacks Liberal record and fearmongering instead of addressing OAS changes or provincial impacts.even the Globe and Mail has said that the leader of the Liberal Party is fearmongering
  9. deflected
    Aboriginal AffairsMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked John Duncan (Conservative). loaded question.The answer dismisses all claims as fabrications and refuses to comment due to court proceedings instead of addressing the funding cuts.all of the statements that were just made are all basically fabrications.
  10. partly answered
    Aboriginal AffairsMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked John Duncan (Conservative). loaded question.The answer directly explains the manager's need for information but avoids the accusation of punishing the community.He has asked for and not received the information he needs in order to pay the bills for which the member for Timmins is asking.
  11. deflected
    Government ServicesMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). rhetorical question.The answer ignores the broad policy critique and pivots to general statements about upgrading systems without committing to maintaining services.we always try to make sure that people get their benefits as quickly as possible.
  12. partly answered
    Government ServicesMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer offers to help with specific cases but does not address the systemic delay or the four-month wait example.In particularly difficult situations, members are welcome to contact me with the details so that we can find a solution as quickly as possible.
  13. deflected
    Airline SecurityMr. Randall Garrison (NDP) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). loaded question.The answer restates general security rules without acknowledging or addressing the transgender identification issue raised.These rules are applied fairly for all passengers.
  14. misdirected
    Airline SecurityMr. Dany Morin (NDP) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the questioner's party for requesting more security rather than addressing the regulation change.what is unacceptable is that the member's party regularly asks us to increase security at Canadian airports and for air transportation.
  15. deflected
    Maternal HealthMs. Françoise Boivin (NDP) asked Bev Oda (Conservative). loaded question.The answer provides examples of results but ignores the question about excluding family planning and abortion-related pressure.our government has been very clear. We want to help improve the health of mothers and children.
  16. deflected
    Maternal HealthMs. Libby Davies (NDP) asked Bev Oda (Conservative). loaded question.The answer repeats the denial of reopening abortion debates and lists results while avoiding the backbench challenge and funding questions.We are not opening up the discussion on abortion, but we are improving the health and reducing the mortality of women and children in developing countries.
  17. deflected
    Official LanguagesMr. Robert Aubin (NDP) asked James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.Promotes general language policies without addressing the Auditor General's French learning or MP committee transfers.Francophone communities in every corner of our country have been supported by our unprecedented investments and we will continue to make such investments.
  18. deflected
    PensionsGerry Byrne (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.Discusses demographics and past Liberal votes instead of committing to no OAS or GIS reductions.Unfortunately, every time we try to do something to help seniors, like introduce pension income splitting or increase the GIS by record amounts, the Liberals vote against it.
  19. answered
    Access to InformationMr. Scott Simms (Liberal) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). loaded question.Explains legal restrictions on releasing exact salaries and notes reduced PMO spending.we have laws in his country, including the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act, where the names and exact salaries of personnel cannot be released.
  20. answered
    The EnvironmentMs. Kirsty Duncan (Liberal) asked Peter Kent (Conservative). loaded question.Affirms understanding of the difference and confirms continued ozone monitoring.yes, this government does indeed know the difference and much better than the previous Liberal government.
  21. partly answered
    Post-Secondary EducationMs. Rathika Sitsabaiesan (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.Lists student aid programs but does not address working with provinces on tuition affordability.We introduced the Canada student grants program, which is helping almost 300,000 students access post-secondary education.
  22. deflected
    Post-Secondary EducationMr. Matthew Dubé (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.Notes provincial authority over tuition without addressing federal actions on student debt or education funding.the hon. member should know that it is the provinces and territories that set tuition fees.
  23. deflected
    International Co-operationMs. Jinny Jogindera Sims (NDP) asked Bev Oda (Conservative). loaded question.Emphasizes results and poverty reduction without addressing aid cuts or corporate subsidies.We want to ensure that the unemployed youth, who are growing every year in developing countries, will have the skills and training they need to be gainfully employed.
  24. deflected
    International Co-operationMs. Jinny Jogindera Sims (NDP) asked Bev Oda (Conservative). substantive question.Highlights private sector partnerships without committing to refocus CIDA away from mining company PR.That means we will look to the private sector and continue our good partnership with civil society and NGO organizations.
  25. deflected
    National DefenceMr. Matthew Kellway (NDP) asked Julian Fantino (Conservative). substantive question.Answer evades the miscalculation and tender question by shifting to jobs and attacking NDP.Why is the NDP against jobs for Canadians?
  26. deflected
    National DefenceMr. Matthew Kellway (NDP) asked Julian Fantino (Conservative). substantive question.Answer ignores the cost and delay query entirely and restates partnership benefits.By doing so, we are creating jobs for Canadian workers today that will be sustained into the future.
  27. partly answered
    Government ContractsMs. Christine Moore (NDP) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.Answer justifies the contracts as specialized training but does not confirm or address the Xe/Blackwater name change.The type of training provided by Xe is highly specialized.
  28. deflected
    Government ContractsMs. Christine Moore (NDP) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.Answer dismisses the question as histrionics and refuses to engage with the reputation or values concern.that kind of histrionics is absolutely inaccurate.
  29. misdirected
    Foreign AffairsJim Karygiannis (Liberal) asked Jason Kenney (Conservative). substantive question.Answer pivots to Bill C-4 and Liberal opposition instead of addressing resettlement or Sri Lanka risks.It is disappointing that the Liberal Party has opposed every effort to combat human smuggling.
  30. deflected
    Airline SecurityMr. Justin Trudeau (Liberal) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). loaded question.Answer defends security screening without addressing transgender discrimination or the new rule's impact.We do not believe in half measures when it comes to air security.
  31. partly answered
    LabourMr. David Christopherson (NDP) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). substantive question.Answer lists U.S. Steel commitments but does not justify dropping the lawsuit or address current job losses.Under the agreement last December, U.S. Steel must continue to produce steel in Canada, operate at Lake Erie and Hamilton until 2015
  32. deflected
    Forestry IndustryMr. Mathieu Ravignat (NDP) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). substantive question.Answer cites the softwood lumber agreement but offers no emergency fund or specific forestry support for Quebec.Under the softwood lumber agreement, we can provide direct support to companies—the hon. member should know that—and we will continue to do everything we can to support the forestry industry.
  33. misdirected
    Fisheries and OceansLawrence MacAulay (Liberal) asked Keith Ashfield (Conservative). substantive question.Answer opens by attacking the questioner and prior Liberal government instead of addressing the vessel's status.that is a bit rich coming from the member opposite.
  34. partly answered
    InfrastructureMs. Élaine Michaud (NDP) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). loaded question.Answer states the program has ended and funds are allocated but sidesteps the punishment accusation by noting the predecessor was not a government member.I would remind the member that, to my knowledge, her predecessor was not a government member either.
  35. deflected
    VeteransMs. Annick Papillon (NDP) asked Steven Blaney (Conservative). rhetorical question.Question asks the government to follow foreign examples rather than pose a factual query; answer restates intent to maintain services without engaging the comparison.we want to maintain high quality services for our veterans.
  36. deflected
    PensionsMr. Louis Plamondon (Bloc) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.Answer denies the premise but pivots to a general statement on protecting seniors without addressing provincial costs.What we are going to do is protect the old age security system for our seniors today and for decades to come.