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Friday, February 17, 2012 · sitting No. 83

Commons holds rare debate on standing orders as members review House rules

The House devoted its longest portion of the day to a special debate on the Standing Orders under orders of the day. Conservative MP Scott Reid opened by describing the three precedent-based systems that shape Commonwealth institutions and noted that parliamentary practices form the third. NDP MP Chris Charlton said members had invoked the 1982 rule for such a debate only twice before in 30 years, underscoring how seldom the procedure is used.

Question period featured repeated exchanges on government communications. NDP MP Peter Julian pressed Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird on a Treasury Board directive limiting departmental disclosure of planned spending cuts. Baird replied that the government would seek parliamentary authority once the review was complete and would present its plan through the estimates process.

Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux questioned Baird on Bill C-31 and the minister's power to designate safe countries for refugee claims. Baird said the government had created an appeal process that the previous Liberal administration lacked.

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 · 2012-02-17

Government (Conservative)OppositionOver the day: government 48%, opposition 52% of the words spokenOrders of the DayQuestion PeriodOrders of the Day▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 10:0511:0012:0013:00Last speech 13:25Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 3 h 20 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
30House Talks Rules, Gets Little DoneMore than half the sitting was spent on Standing Orders and procedure, with low time on substantive business. Only one bill was introduced and no votes were held.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 said six of nine partner countries had reduced or postponed F-35 orders and asked why Canada would not develop a plan B. Parliamentary Secretary Chris Alexander replied that the government was working with allies to replace the CF-18 within a fixed budget.

Read the exchange

Gasoline Prices

NDP MP Chris Charlton asked when the government would act on rising gasoline prices and pass her private member's bill. Parliamentary Secretary Ted Menzies said the opposition had voted against measures that created more than 610,000 net new jobs since the recession.

Read the exchange

Veterans Affairs

NDP MP Peter Stoffer asked why the government had not fulfilled a 2005 promise to extend the veterans independence program to all surviving spouses of Second World War and Korean War veterans. Parliamentary Secretary Eve Adams said any privacy breach was unacceptable and pointed to a 10-point action plan introduced more than a year earlier.

Read the exchange

Food Safety

NDP MP Malcolm Allen said the agriculture committee had learned that only 2 per cent of imported food is inspected. Parliamentary Secretary David Anderson replied that the CFIA applies the same standards to imports as to domestic products and noted additional funding in recent budgets.

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Pensions

Liberal MP Stéphane Dion asked whether the finance department agreed with the chief actuary that elderly benefits would peak near 3.1 per cent of GDP in 2030 before declining. Human Resources Minister Diane Finley said the government would act now to keep the program sustainable for current and future retirees.

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. deflected
    Government CommunicationsMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer discusses the savings exercise without addressing the specific question about the order or transparency concerns.Obviously it is very difficult to report on the results of that exercise when it has not been completed.
  2. deflected
    Government CommunicationsMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer restates general transparency claims but avoids committing to listing planned cuts.this government will continue to be transparent and it will seek authority from Parliament on a range of budget issues.
  3. misdirected
    Government CommunicationsMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer ignores the question entirely and instead attacks the NDP on an unrelated matter.Today we have learned that the NDP official opposition has been caught in a nasty, dirty Internet trick.
  4. deflected
    Government PrioritiesMs. Chris Charlton (NDP) asked Ted Menzies (Conservative). substantive question.The answer pivots to job growth statistics instead of addressing the rationale for cuts amid inflation.what Canadians need is a break from the incessant NDP talking down our Canadian economy, talking down the fact that since the end of the recession, Canada has a net new growth of jobs of over 610,000.
  5. deflected
    Gasoline PricesMs. Chris Charlton (NDP) asked Ted Menzies (Conservative). substantive question.The answer repeats job creation figures and does not engage with gas prices or the bill mentioned.For the NDP to say what it voted against did not help Canadians, I find that sort of a statement incredible, as do the 610,000 Canadians who are working today who were not working in July 2009.
  6. deflected
    Citizenship and ImmigrationMr. Kevin Lamoureux (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer highlights system abuse statistics but does not address the proposed amendment on safe country listings.Why did the United States have only 47 claims in 2009-10 from Europe, while Canada had 4,700 claims in the same period?
  7. partly answered
    Citizenship and ImmigrationMr. Kevin Lamoureux (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses the appeal process point but does not engage with the fairness concern about deportation timing.it was this government that established the appeal process for refugees to be able to appeal.
  8. misdirected
    Public SafetyWayne Easter (Liberal) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer rejects the premise briefly then shifts to attacking the NDP on a separate issue.Today we are very concerned that taxpayer dollars have been misused by the New Democratic Party on a dirty, sleazy trick campaign.
  9. misdirected
    Public SafetyMs. Charmaine Borg (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer ignores the privacy question entirely and pivots to attacking the NDP over unrelated alleged misconduct.I call on the member to stand in her place, take responsibility for her party, identify who is responsible for these dirty, sleazy Internet tricks
  10. misdirected
    Public SafetyMs. Charmaine Borg (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer evades the cost and privacy questions by again accusing the NDP of snooping and dirty tricks.there is only one party that is attempting to snoop into the personal and private lives of members of Parliament and Canadians and that is the New Democratic Party
  11. misdirected
    Public SafetyMr. Jack Harris (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). loaded question.The answer sidesteps the bill's costs and privacy issues to accuse the NDP of dirty tricks instead of addressing the question.This morning we learned that the New Democratic Party is involved in a dirty, sleazy Internet game
  12. misdirected
    Public SafetyMr. Jack Harris (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer refuses to engage with the call to scrap the bill and instead demands the NDP consent to an investigation of its own conduct.If the New Democratic Party has nothing to hide, would it grant unanimous consent for the Speaker to look at this issue
  13. partly answered
    National DefenceMs. Christine Moore (NDP) asked Mr. Chris Alexander (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses the replacement of CF-18s within a budget but deflects by accusing the member of opposing the Canadian Forces.once again, a member of the opposition is speaking out against the Canadian Forces and saying that she does not want to replace the CF-18s
  14. partly answered
    National DefenceMs. Christine Moore (NDP) asked Mr. Chris Alexander (Conservative). substantive question.The answer reiterates the budget and ally participation but accuses the opposition of not wanting proper equipment for the forces.We understand full well that the opposition does not want our pilots and our soldiers to have the right equipment
  15. deflected
    Citizenship and ImmigrationMr. Kennedy Stewart (NDP) asked Mr. Rick Dykstra (Conservative). loaded question.The answer discusses the new bill and past legislation but does not address the alleged broken promise on appeals.this party and the previous government, in partnership with the opposition, put together a foundation to build upon a refugee system called Bill C-11
  16. deflected
    Citizenship and ImmigrationMr. Kennedy Stewart (NDP) asked Mr. Rick Dykstra (Conservative). loaded question.The answer focuses on bogus claims and system abuse without addressing the minister's new powers or broken promise.when we have countries where individuals are making bogus refugee claims, up to the point where 95% of the claims are bogus, that is not a system that works
  17. deflected
    Citizenship and ImmigrationMs. Anne Minh-Thu Quach (NDP) asked Mr. Rick Dykstra (Conservative). loaded question.The answer supplies EU claim statistics instead of addressing the reversal or arbitrary power accusation.What we need to be doing is helping real refugees settle in this country.
  18. deflected
    National DefenceMr. Marc Garneau (Liberal) asked Mr. Chris Alexander (Conservative). substantive question.The answer pivots to Libya and past commitments rather than resolving the 65-plane budget conflict.I think I missed a one year after the beginning of great changes that have come to Libya, in part thanks to the efforts of the Canadian Forces.
  19. misdirected
    National DefenceMr. Marc Garneau (Liberal) asked Mr. Chris Alexander (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the Liberal Party's consistency instead of answering the three direct procurement questions.it is impossible to know if the Liberal Party wants to replace the CF-18s or not.
  20. deflected
    The EnvironmentMs. Kirsty Duncan (Liberal) asked Ms. Michelle Rempel (Conservative). loaded question.The answer cites interview numbers and past Liberal failure rather than addressing muzzling or reputation damage.In fact, last year I believe they conducted over 1,000 interviews with the media.
  21. deflected
    Veterans AffairsMr. Peter Stoffer (NDP) asked Ms. Eve Adams (Conservative). loaded question.The answer refuses the specific case and pivots to shaming the asker on past votes.Perhaps the member opposite might want to commence voting in favour of some of our government measures on behalf of veterans.
  22. partly answered
    Veterans AffairsMr. Peter Stoffer (NDP) asked Ms. Eve Adams (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses the privacy violation with the 10-point plan but ignores the VIP promise and specific board case.That is why over a year ago we took action to introduce a 10-point privacy action plan that ensures there are strict disciplinary measures if anyone breaks the law
  23. deflected
    The EnvironmentMs. Laurin Liu (NDP) asked Ms. Michelle Rempel (Conservative). loaded question.The answer lists other spending and notes the vote against it instead of explaining the missing $35 million.but my colleague opposite voted against it.
  24. deflected
    The EnvironmentMs. Laurin Liu (NDP) asked Ms. Michelle Rempel (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the opposition's record on jobs and energy instead of addressing the climate action shortfall.It has voted against any sort of measure that makes sense to support our energy sector from a sustainable development perspective, and it lobbies against Canadian jobs.
  25. answered
    Food SafetyMr. Malcolm Allen (NDP) asked Mr. David Anderson (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly lists actions taken to address imported food inspection standards.Our recent budget includes an additional $100 million over five years to enhance food safety.
  26. misdirected
    Food SafetyMr. Malcolm Allen (NDP) asked Mr. David Anderson (Conservative). substantive question.The response attacks the opposition's campaign instead of addressing the CFIA budget commitment.The member opposite should stand up and represent his caucus and apologize for the sleazy online campaign that they have been conducting.
  27. misdirected
    EmploymentMr. Dan Harris (NDP) asked Ted Menzies (Conservative). substantive question.The answer criticizes the NDP's online activity rather than addressing Toronto job market concerns.if the NDP members spent more time worrying about Canadian jobs than they do on the Internet with their sleazy tricks
  28. deflected
    EmploymentMr. Dan Harris (NDP) asked Ted Menzies (Conservative). substantive question.The response points to past budgets but avoids committing to a new Toronto-specific jobs plan.It is the same plan they voted against.
  29. deflected
    PensionsStéphane Dion (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer discusses sustainability concerns without confirming or refuting the specific GDP projection figures.We know that as the population ages and fewer people are left in the workplace to pay into OAS, it will become unsustainable.
  30. deflected
    PensionsStéphane Dion (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The response dismisses the question as opinion and reiterates general concerns without providing requested figures.the gentleman the member referred to is entitled to his opinion.
  31. answered
    InfrastructureMr. Philip Toone (NDP) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.The answer states the runway meets current needs and notes no official extension request.the main runway is currently able to accommodate fully loaded aircraft and heavy transports such as the C-130 Hercules.
  32. partly answered
    InfrastructureMr. Philip Toone (NDP) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.The answer reaffirms runway capacity but does not address the economic development argument raised.the main runway is in fact capable of accommodating the C-130 Hercules, which I believe is a fairly heavy aircraft.
  33. deflected
    InfrastructureMr. Sean Casey (Liberal) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.The answer discusses general infrastructure funding without addressing the specific delay for Charlottetown.Municipalities were invited to set their priorities, provinces to back them, and then our government matched them with record funds in order to make major capital improvements right across the country.
  34. deflected
    Official LanguagesMs. Élaine Michaud (NDP) asked Mr. Andrew Saxton (Conservative). substantive question.The answer claims private sector is cheaper but does not address the hidden report or job losses.The private sector, universities and colleges have the ability and the expertise to provide training to the public service at a lower cost to taxpayers.
  35. misdirected
    Asbestos IndustryMr. François Lapointe (NDP) asked Mr. Jacques Gourde (Conservative). substantive question.The answer restates the government's long-standing position instead of addressing the exit plan request.for more than 30 years, Canada has been promoting the safe and controlled use of chrysotile nationally and internationally, and recent scientific journals report that chrysotile can be used safely in a controlled environment.
  36. partly answered
    Procedure and House AffairsMr. Jean-François Fortin (Bloc) asked Mr. Joe Preston (Conservative). substantive question.The answer notes the item is before the Board but does not address committee seating for the Bloc.I know that the item has been before the Board of Internal Economy, but, of course, because members of the House do not know what that is, we would not know the answer to this question until such time as it is referred to the procedure and House affairs committee.
  37. deflected
    Points of OrderMs. Chris Charlton (NDP) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). substantive question.The answer elaborates on the troubling nature of the postings but provides no evidence for the NDP accusation.From this, the inference of course has been drawn of whether or not this came from the New Democratic Party.
  38. answered
    Points of OrderMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly clarifies that no allegations were made against the Liberal Party.I made no such allegations against the Liberal Party of Canada.
  39. deflected
    Points of OrderMr. François Choquette (NDP) asked Mr. Royal Galipeau (Conservative). substantive question.The answer defends the statement as public information without apologizing or addressing the breach of rules.With regard to the absence of a member during a vote, that is public information.