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Monday, February 13, 2012 · sitting No. 79

Commons debates bill to end long-gun registry at third reading

The House spent the largest share of the sitting on debate at third reading of Bill C-19, the ending the long-gun registry act. Conservative MP Garry Breitkreuz opened the debate by saying the bill would end the need for law-abiding Canadians to register firearms. NDP MP Matthew Dubé and others argued that the registry saves lives and that the government should transfer data to Quebec rather than destroy it.

Question period featured repeated exchanges on the F-35 program. NDP MP Peter Julian pressed the government to reconsider participation after delays and cuts by other countries. Conservative MP James Moore replied that the NDP opposes all military procurement and that the Royal Canadian Air Force needs modern equipment.

Further questions in the period addressed old age security changes and the pace of job creation. NDP MPs Wayne Marston and Peter Julian pressed ministers on whether eligibility for benefits would move to age 67. Conservative ministers Diane Finley and James Moore said the government would protect current and near-retirement seniors while ensuring the system remains sustainable.

Decided that day

  • Ending the Long-Gun Registry Act bill passed second reading and referred to committee
  • Closure motion passed
  • Caterpillar condemnation motion defeated
  • C-11 passed second reading
  • C-394 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 · 2012-02-13

Government (Conservative)OppositionOver the day: government 46%, opposition 54% of the words spokenPrivate Members’ BusinessGovernment businessGovernment business▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 11:0012:0013:0014:0015:0016:0017:00Last speech 18:55Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 7 h 55 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
65Gun bill advances, closure motion carriesThe House devoted most of its time to the Ending the Long-Gun Registry Act, which passed second reading and was referred to committee after closure was approved. A motion condemning Caterpillar Inc. failed while two other bills moved forward and Question Period produced few direct answers.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

Points of Order

Conservative MP Larry Miller withdrew and apologized for references made the previous week to authoritarian governments and firearms confiscation. Liberal MP Denis Coderre accepted the apology but warned against comparisons to Hitler.

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Employment Insurance Act

NDP MP Olivia Chow said more than 100,000 Canadians with serious illnesses have their benefits cut off after 15 weeks. She linked the shortfall to the previous Liberal government's use of the EI fund surplus.

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Infrastructure

NDP MP Olivia Chow said the government created a federal port authority without consulting the City of Oshawa and appointed the finance minister's riding association president to lead it. Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre said the authority would create jobs and that partners would work with the city.

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Persons with Disabilities

NDP MP Manon Perreault said 85 per cent of accessibility fund spending since 2007 went to Conservative ridings and less than 3 per cent to Quebec. Minister Diane Finley replied that the government has made more buildings accessible than any previous administration.

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Veterans Affairs

Liberal MP Sean Casey said another veteran's medical file had been searched for political reasons and called for public hearings. Minister Steven Blaney said any privacy breach is unacceptable and that a 10-point action plan is in place.

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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
    National DefenceMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked James Moore (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the NDP's overall stance instead of addressing reconsideration of F-35 involvement.It simply does not believe in ensuring that the Canadian Forces have the equipment they need to fulfill the missions that Parliament asks them to do.
  2. deflected
    National DefenceMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked James Moore (Conservative). loaded question.The answer pivots to accusing the NDP of opposing military investment rather than addressing international F-35 cuts.those questions prove what I just said: the NDP always gets mad when we invest in the Canadian Forces.
  3. deflected
    PensionsMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked James Moore (Conservative). loaded question.The answer accuses the asker of showing true colours and restates OAS commitments without answering the yes-or-no question on age 67.the hon. member showed his true colours at the beginning of his question.
  4. deflected
    PensionsMr. Wayne Marston (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.The answer acknowledges unsustainability and future adjustments but avoids confirming or denying a change to age 67.old age security, if it continues on the current course, will become unsustainable.
  5. deflected
    PensionsMr. Wayne Marston (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the NDP for misleading and restates general commitments without answering the yes-or-no question.We are not going to mislead them the way the NDP has been doing.
  6. partly answered
    The EconomyBob Rae (Liberal) asked James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.The answer affirms focus on jobs and growth but does not give a categorical assurance about the next budget specifically.his question started off so strong and then it zigged when I hoped it would zag, but there we are.
  7. answered
    The EconomyBob Rae (Liberal) asked James Moore (Conservative). loaded question.The answer directly counters the premise of tax increases by restating the government's record of tax reductions.all Canadians know that our government has lowered taxes in every single one of our budgets.
  8. deflected
    The EconomyBob Rae (Liberal) asked James Moore (Conservative). loaded question.The answer accuses the opposition of creating division and avoids committing to any policy change.The only division is in the Liberal Party.
  9. deflected
    PensionsMs. Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer discusses viability but avoids stating any intention on raising retirement age.For that reason we are considering this issue and will ensure that there is an old age security system in future.
  10. deflected
    PensionsMs. Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer reassures about no immediate changes but does not confirm or deny raising the eligibility age.People planning for their retirement will have enough time to provide for their retirement.
  11. partly answered
    National DefenceMr. Brian Masse (NDP) asked Julian Fantino (Conservative). loaded question.The answer directly rejects the premise of an emergency meeting and explains the CF-18 replacement context.The meeting the member referred to is not an emergency at all.
  12. deflected
    National DefenceMr. Brian Masse (NDP) asked Julian Fantino (Conservative). loaded question.The answer dismisses the question as rhetoric and repeats assurances without addressing tendering or plan B.Let me assure the member opposite that we are working diligently with all of our partners to ensure that our men and women in the military are given the tools they need and deserve
  13. misdirected
    InfrastructureMs. Olivia Chow (NDP) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.The answer pivots to job creation and local economy instead of addressing the ethanol plant or land transfer recommendation.It is this government that has undertaken that initiative.
  14. misdirected
    InfrastructureMs. Olivia Chow (NDP) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.The answer ignores the patronage and consultation claims and urges support for the port authority.It is time for the NDP to get on board with this job-creating effort that we are leading in Oshawa and right across Canada.
  15. partly answered
    Government AppointmentsMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.The answer states appointments are merit-based and follow a process but does not address the specific cases raised.In the case of ports across Canada, there is an appointment process in place and we will follow that process.
  16. misdirected
    Government AppointmentsMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked Mr. Dean Del Mastro (Conservative). loaded question.The answer shifts to open federalism and Quebec relations without addressing the study or patronage allegations.We make no apologies for making certain that the province of Quebec has the tools it needs to develop within a united Canada.
  17. deflected
    Persons with DisabilitiesMs. Manon Perreault (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.Answer praises program and claims distribution by demand but ignores partisan allocation allegation.The funds were distributed according to demand.
  18. partly answered
    PensionsJudy Sgro (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.Answer explains no current retirees affected and goal of protecting system but sidesteps premise of hurting vulnerable.no one who is currently collecting OAS will see any change and no one who is nearing retirement will see any change.
  19. deflected
    PensionsJudy Sgro (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.Answer cites experts and demographic shifts but evades direct response to hurting seniors and Valentine's Day remark.There are several experts who agree that we need to make changes
  20. partly answered
    Veterans AffairsMr. Sean Casey (Liberal) asked Steven Blaney (Conservative). substantive question.Answer acknowledges privacy breaches unacceptable and references action plan but avoids committing to public hearings.we established a 10 point privacy action plan to tackle this issue.
  21. misdirected
    Government SpendingMr. Mathieu Ravignat (NDP) asked Mr. Dean Del Mastro (Conservative). loaded question.Answer pivots to criticizing opposition instead of addressing Privy Council flight spending.it strikes me as somewhat ironic that this question would come from a party that is unlikely to support any cost efficiencies
  22. answered
    Government SpendingMr. Mathieu Ravignat (NDP) asked Mr. Dean Del Mastro (Conservative). substantive question.Answer directly counters with specific reductions in Challenger use and ministers' travel costs.This government has reduced the use of Challenger jets by 80%.
  23. answered
    Government ServicesMr. Robert Chisholm (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.Answer explains online services and extra staff to improve EI and Service Canada processing.We have enhanced our online services.
  24. deflected
    Government ServicesMr. Robert Chisholm (NDP) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). loaded question.Answer restates mandate for efficiency but ignores specific program cut amounts raised.the Canadian people gave this government a mandate to ensure we deliver excellent quality public services at a more accountable and better price to Canadians
  25. deflected
    JusticeMs. Françoise Boivin (NDP) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). loaded question.Answer attacks NDP premise instead of addressing projected case dismissals.I got it straight from members of the NDP. Now they are worried that real criminals will not be going to jail under the bill.
  26. deflected
    JusticeMs. Françoise Boivin (NDP) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). substantive question.Answer pivots to general victim priority and NDP opposition without engaging court delay data.One of the things I know we can always count on is that no matter what we on this side of the House do for victims, and we have always made it a priority, it will always be opposed by the NDP.
  27. partly answered
    Aboriginal AffairsMs. Jean Crowder (NDP) asked John Duncan (Conservative). substantive question.Answer cites doubled funding and prevention model but omits equal-funding comparison or court rationale.Funding for family services has more than doubled over the past decade.
  28. partly answered
    Aboriginal AffairsMs. Jean Crowder (NDP) asked John Duncan (Conservative). loaded question.Answer highlights agreements and reduced apprehensions without addressing equal funding or residential-school comparison.we have child and family service agreements with six provinces that cover over two-thirds of first nations children across the country.
  29. misdirected
    Public SafetyMr. Francis Scarpaleggia (Liberal) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). loaded question.Answer equates opposition with supporting child pornographers rather than addressing warrantless access or Facebook misuse.He can either stand with us or with the child pornographers.
  30. answered
    Public SafetyMr. Francis Scarpaleggia (Liberal) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). loaded question.Answer directly rebuts the no-warrant claim and references prior Liberal support for the bill.This legislation would not allow access to private communications without a warrant.
  31. deflected
    EmploymentMr. Dan Harris (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.Answer cites national job totals and training programs without addressing Toronto-specific low-wage or part-time trends.So far, it has created over 610,000 net new jobs.
  32. deflected
    EmploymentMr. Dan Harris (NDP) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). substantive question.Answer repeats national and Ontario recovery figures while ignoring Service Canada cuts and corporate funding criticism.since the end of the recession there are more than 610,000 net new jobs across the country.
  33. deflected
    Government CommunicationsMr. Ted Hsu (Liberal) asked Gary Goodyear (Conservative). loaded question.The answer denies the accusation without addressing the specific claim about scientists' freedom to speak to the press.We do not do what the member says we do.
  34. answered
    Fisheries and OceansMr. Fin Donnelly (NDP) asked Mr. Randy Kamp (Conservative). loaded question.The answer directly states that the department is implementing the court's decision on protecting critical habitat.The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is implementing the court's decision and will be legally protecting critical habitat using the Species at Risk Act.
  35. deflected
    Public SafetyMs. Charmaine Borg (NDP) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). loaded question.The answer denies the premise and shifts to a general statement on punishing crime rather than addressing the bill's provisions.Our proposed approach will not allow police officers to access private communications without a warrant.
  36. answered
    Employment InsuranceMr. André Bellavance (Bloc) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer explains the cause of delays and the specific action taken to address processing times.That is why we added several hundred employees to process the applications as quickly as possible.