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Thursday, February 16, 2012 · sitting No. 82
NDP motion on first nations education takes up supply day
New Democrat MP Jonathan Genest-Jourdain moved an opposition motion calling on the government to adopt Shannen's Dream and commit to equal high-quality education for first nation children. The motion requires the government to provide funding that brings reserve schools in line with provincial schools and to work with first nation leaders on transparent school construction and maintenance standards. Debate on the motion occupied the largest share of the sitting.
In question period Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper told New Democrat MP Nycole Turmel that the government is examining long-term changes to old age security while protecting those already retired. Public Safety Minister Vic Toews defended Bill C-30 against criticism from New Democrat MP Charlie Angus and Liberal MP Ralph Goodale over warrantless access to personal data. Defence Minister Peter MacKay told Liberal MP Ralph Goodale that Canada remains committed to acquiring F-35 aircraft within the existing budget.
Decided that day
- C-397, C-31, C-398, C-399 and C-400 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 · 2012-02-16
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
Petitions
New Democrat MP Pat Martin presented a petition urging Parliament to end subsidies for asbestos exports and to support an international ban on the substance.
Read the exchangeAct to Ensure Secure, Adequate, Accessible and Affordable Housing for Canadians
New Democrat MP Marie-Claude Morin introduced Bill C-400 to establish secure adequate accessible and affordable housing as a right for all Canadians.
Read the exchangeFirearms Registry
Conservative MP Brian Storseth reported that the House had passed the ending the long-gun registry act by a vote of 159 to 130 and asked Public Safety Minister Vic Toews for an update on implementation.
Read the exchangeEmployment Insurance
New Democrat MP Claude Patry questioned Human Resources Minister Diane Finley about delays in processing employment insurance claims after staffing cuts at service centres.
Read the exchangeOfficial Languages
New Democrat MP Yvon Godin asked Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore to conduct formal consultations required by the Official Languages Act before finalizing the next roadmap for linguistic duality.
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
- partly answeredPensionsMrs. Nycole Turmel (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses current retirees but sidesteps the direct yes/no on future age increase.
the government has been very clear that it is not contemplating any changes for those who are retired or those nearing retirement.
- deflectedCitizenship and ImmigrationMrs. Nycole Turmel (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer rejects the premise and restates government policy without addressing the broken promise claim.
I do not agree at all with what the Leader of the NDP has said.
- deflectedCitizenship and ImmigrationMrs. Nycole Turmel (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer ignores the consensus quote and repeats the abuse narrative instead of explaining the policy reversal.
once again, Canada has the fairest and most generous refugee system in the world.
- misdirectedPublic SafetyMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). loaded question.The answer pivots to victim protection and ignores the backbench quote and apology demand.
I will not apologize for ensuring that victims of crime, especially children, are protected, and that is what we are going to do.
- deflectedPublic SafetyMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). loaded question.The answer repeats the warrant claim and lists attorney general support without addressing the backdoor or privacy commissioner quote.
as I have indicated, police officers will not be able to read emails or view web activity unless they obtain a warrant issued by a judge.
- answeredPublic SafetyRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly confirms the bill will go to committee for broad examination including amendments.
I was pleased to hear the Prime Minister state yesterday that he wanted this legislation sent directly to committee for full examination on the best way to protect all Canadians from online crime and online predators.
- misdirectedNational DefenceRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the Liberal record and avoids specific numbers on planes, price or delivery.
what is imploding is the credibility of the member opposite's party.
- deflectedNational DefenceDominic LeBlanc (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.The answer discusses fleet replacement timing but does not confirm awareness of the Chinese breach.
For that reason, it makes perfect sense. It is prudent planning, to prepare to replace that aircraft.
- deflectedPublic SafetyMs. Françoise Boivin (NDP) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). substantive question.Answer criticizes opposition's knowledge of the bill rather than addressing the request for a commitment to withdraw provisions.
it is difficult for me to understand which provisions those members consider troublesome, given that they have never once identified accurately any provisions in terms of what is actually in the bill.
- misdirectedFirearms RegistryMs. Françoise Boivin (NDP) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). substantive question.Answer attacks the questioner's motives on prosecuting hunters instead of addressing the request to preserve registry data.
I do not understand why the member continues to want to prosecute farmers, hunters and sports shooters in my riding.
- deflectedFirearms RegistryMs. Françoise Boivin (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.Answer challenges opposition to campaign on the issue rather than addressing provincial requests to preserve data.
If the NDP really believes and the Liberal Party really believes in the long gun registry, then I challenge them to come to the House every day from now until the next election and tell Canadians they will bring it back.
- deflectedGovernment PrioritiesMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.Answer lists past measures but does not address the specific budget choice or F-35 cost comparison raised.
that is exactly what this government has done and will continue to do: protect families and put families first.
- deflectedGovernment PrioritiesMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.Answer questions NDP voting record instead of addressing budget priorities or cost comparisons for families and seniors.
why does the NDP oppose every measure this government introduces to help families?
- partly answeredNational DefenceMs. Christine Moore (NDP) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.Answer provides a quote defending the F-35 choice but does not address why no plan B was requested.
Our analysis of our mandatory requirements for the next generation fighter made it clear that only a 5th generation fighter could satisfy those requirements in the increasingly complex and uncertain future security environment.
- misdirectedNational DefenceMs. Christine Moore (NDP) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.Answer mocks the member personally and attacks NDP record instead of addressing plan B or costs.
NDP really means no defence party.
- deflectedNational DefenceMr. Matthew Kellway (NDP) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.Answer defends need for aircraft and attacks opposition motives rather than providing specific numbers on quantity or cost.
All of the misinformation and the misfired questions coming from the members opposite tell the truth about how they feel about the Canadian Forces.
- misdirectedNational DefenceMr. Matthew Kellway (NDP) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the questioner's partisanship and knowledge instead of addressing timelines, numbers or plan B.
no, what I have a problem with is the blind partisan criticism that comes from the uninformed member opposite on this program.
- answeredCitizenship and ImmigrationMr. Kevin Lamoureux (Liberal) asked Jason Kenney (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly corrects the premise by explaining that IRB sets criteria and rejection rates, not the minister alone.
the criteria for the designation of safe countries is laid out in Bill C-31
- deflectedFederal-Provincial RelationsMs. Judy Foote (Liberal) asked Ted Menzies (Conservative). substantive question.The answer pivots to past Liberal cuts rather than addressing current downloading or Moody's warning.
Speaking of responsibility, Mr. Speaker, that is what this government is all about, because we will not do what the Liberals did in the 1990s, and that is slash transfers to the provinces.
- deflectedFederal-Provincial RelationsStéphane Dion (Liberal) asked Ted Menzies (Conservative). loaded question.The answer again references past Liberal actions instead of responding to current provincial deficits or pension changes.
once again another question from the party that slashed transfers to the provinces.
- partly answeredCitizenship and ImmigrationMr. Don Davies (NDP) asked Jason Kenney (Conservative). substantive question.The answer defends the policy change and explains delays but does not address the claim of betraying an all-party agreement.
It now takes us several years to be able to remove a manifestly bogus asylum claimant from Canada, which is unacceptable.
- answeredCitizenship and ImmigrationMrs. Sadia Groguhé (NDP) asked Jason Kenney (Conservative). substantive question.The answer offers to consider amendments and explains faster processing and fake-claim measures.
- misdirectedThe EnvironmentMs. Megan Leslie (NDP) asked Ms. Michelle Rempel (Conservative). loaded question.The answer accuses the member of lobbying against jobs and calls her a job-creation denier instead of addressing the terrorist watch-list claim.
Yet she goes and lobbies against our jobs in the U.S. That begs the question: Does she believe in job creation or is she a job-creation denier?
- deflectedThe EnvironmentMs. Megan Leslie (NDP) asked Mr. David Anderson (Conservative). substantive question.The answer emphasizes jobs and calls the NDP the no development party rather than addressing changes to the review process or public input.
Perhaps the NDP should be better known as the no development party.
- partly answeredEmployment InsuranceMr. Claude Patry (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.Addresses added staff for processing but ignores cuts and doubled backlog.
After we saw an unexpected rise in EI claims in January, we added several hundred people to the EI process to speed up the processing of claims.
- partly answeredEmployment InsuranceMs. Jean Crowder (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.Addresses added staff and backlog reduction but ignores months-long waits and cuts.
That is why, after we saw in December and January an unexpected rise in EI claims, we added several hundred people to the EI process, and it is working.
- answeredOfficial LanguagesMr. Yvon Godin (NDP) asked James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.Directly confirms further consultations will be held as required.
We will hold further consultations.
- partly answeredOfficial LanguagesMr. Robert Aubin (NDP) asked Lisa Raitt (Conservative). substantive question.Addresses launching a committee but ignores the NDP bill and timeline delay.
We will launch a consultative committee and assess whether a problem exists with the language of work in federally regulated private sector businesses
- deflectedAboriginal AffairsCarolyn Bennett (Liberal) asked Mr. Greg Rickford (Conservative). loaded question.Ignores funding inadequacy and aspirational label, pivots to agreements signed.
We are engaged with first nations.
- deflectedGovernment CommunicationsMr. Ted Hsu (Liberal) asked Gary Goodyear (Conservative). loaded question.Ignores muzzling claim, pivots to funding levels and presentations.
I can say that we are very proud to promote the important work of our scientists and researchers
- deflectedHousingMr. Andrew Cash (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.Ignores call for national strategy, attacks NDP for not supporting past measures.
It is a real shame that the NDP did not support it.
- deflectedHousingMr. Andrew Cash (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.Ignores call for national strategy, attacks NDP for opposing past measures.
While the NDP talk and oppose everything, we do it anyway.
- partly answeredInternational TradeLawrence MacAulay (Liberal) asked Mr. Gerald Keddy (Conservative). substantive question.The answer mentions the sealing industry but dodges the specific question about market access gained in China.
the hon. member may not have been listening to all of the press releases coming out of China
- deflectedAsbestosMr. François Lapointe (NDP) asked Mr. David Anderson (Conservative). loaded question.The answer restates a position without addressing the demand for a budget plan.
the minister has been very clear on the government's position and that has not changed.
- partly answeredFreedom of the PressMr. Pierre Dionne Labelle (NDP) asked Gail Shea (Conservative). substantive question.The answer explains the inability to comment further due to an ongoing investigation but does not address legislating protections.
There is currently an RCMP investigation going on into this matter so I cannot comment any further.
- partly answeredFirearms RegistryMr. Jean-François Fortin (Bloc) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). loaded question.The answer addresses data destruction timing but not the request to wait for Quebec's legal options.
the data will also be destroyed, and that will be done as soon as legally possible.
- deflectedBusiness of the HouseMs. Hélène Laverdière (NDP) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). rhetorical question.The answer notes the question is not about the House agenda and shifts to inviting input on speaking times.
perhaps I did not hear it right. I thought this was a question about the House agenda.