Parliament AIIndependent · non-official

All sittings← 2012-02-292012-03-02 →

Thursday, March 1, 2012 · sitting No. 87

Commons debates Canada-Jordan trade deal amid election fraud claims

The House spent the largest share of its time on second reading of the Canada-Jordan Economic Growth and Prosperity Act. New Democratic Party MP Raymond Côté said Canada must demand strong labour and human rights guarantees before approving any free trade agreement with Jordan. New Democratic Party MP Jean Rousseau asked whether Canadian standards on workers rights should be harmonized with those of trading partners.

Debate also proceeded on the Financial Literacy Leader Act. Conservative MP Shelly Glover said the bill would implement recommendations from a task force by creating a financial literacy leader. New Democratic Party MP Glenn Thibeault said the legislation lacked substance and failed to include an advisory council with labour and educator representatives.

Question period was dominated by exchanges on alleged electoral misconduct. New Democratic Party MP Nycole Turmel said the RCMP investigation had expanded beyond Guelph and asked why the government was not treating the matter seriously. Prime Minister Stephen Harper said calls made by the Conservative Party were legitimate and documented.

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 · 2012-03-01

Government (Conservative)OppositionOver the day: government 29%, opposition 71% 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 18:30Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 8 h 25 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
37Bills talked, answers dodged, nothing passedThe sitting devoted most time to debate on economic and literacy bills yet recorded only one introduction and no votes. Question period produced few clear answers while the Speaker issued several calls to order.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

Petitions

Conservative MP Ed Komarnicki presented a petition calling on Parliament to enact legislation restricting abortion to the greatest extent possible.

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National Defence

New Democratic Party MP Christine Moore asked whether the government would reconsider the F-35 purchase after reports that no contract had been signed.

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Transportation Safety

New Democratic Party MP Olivia Chow said Canada should mandate positive train control systems after the Transportation Safety Board found excessive speed caused the Burlington derailment.

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National Defence

New Democratic Party MP Hélène Laverdière asked the government to ensure Canadian personnel would not use or transport cluster munitions on joint missions.

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Health

New Democratic Party MP Carol Hughes said first nations communities faced a looming health crisis from OxyContin withdrawal and asked what plan the government had prepared.

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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
    41st General ElectionMrs. Nycole Turmel (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer ignores the question on investigation scope and instead accuses the opposition of a smear campaign.suggests that this is a smear campaign by a party that lost the election.
  2. deflected
    41st General ElectionMrs. Nycole Turmel (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer denies the premise without addressing money laundering or ethical abandonment.
  3. deflected
    41st General ElectionMrs. Nycole Turmel (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer dismisses the question as untrue and a smear without addressing information handover or investigation growth.these complaints had their origin nine months after the election, which is obviously a deliberate smear tactic by a party that lost the election.
  4. misdirected
    41st General ElectionMr. Pat Martin (NDP) asked Mr. Dean Del Mastro (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the NDP and shifts to unrelated Liberal actions instead of addressing the apology request.he might be the only member in the House silly enough to suggest that we would have to suppress votes in Calgary to win seats.
  5. deflected
    41st General ElectionMr. Pat Martin (NDP) asked Mr. Dean Del Mastro (Conservative). rhetorical question.The answer labels the question a smear and denies evidence without engaging the fraud prevention or integrity points.This is an unsubstantiated smear campaign and the member has played a role in that.
  6. misdirected
    41st General ElectionBob Rae (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer turns to accusing the Liberal Party of the calls rather than addressing statute of limitations or sincerity of complaints.
  7. deflected
    41st General ElectionBob Rae (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer pivots to Liberal calls instead of agreeing on voter suppression or addressing the ongoing investigations.the evidence points to the fact that they actually did come from the Liberal Party.
  8. deflected
    41st General ElectionBob Rae (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer demands evidence from Liberals rather than confirming willingness to share Conservative information.It is up to the Liberal Party to prove that it did not make these calls to voters.
  9. answered
    41st General ElectionMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly identifies who signed the contract and its purpose.The $15,000 bill from RMG was a local campaign expense. The contract was signed by my official agent and RMG.
  10. misdirected
    41st General ElectionMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.The answer ignores the question about Thunder Bay and instead attacks the Liberal Party.The only party that hired a firm with offices in North Dakota was the Liberal Party
  11. misdirected
    41st General ElectionMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked Mr. Dean Del Mastro (Conservative). substantive question.The answer pivots to Liberal actions instead of addressing Thunder Bay.We have heard a number of people come forward and suggest that there were calls made, and that these calls were made on behalf of the Liberal Party
  12. deflected
    41st General ElectionMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked Mr. Dean Del Mastro (Conservative). substantive question.The answer repeats unsubstantiated claims about Liberals rather than addressing Thunder Bay.These calls sometimes offended people. The callers indicated that they were calling on behalf of the Liberal Party.
  13. partly answered
    41st General ElectionMs. Alexandrine Latendresse (NDP) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses cooperation with Elections Canada but deflects on the request for new powers.Because we have already given the evidence to Elections Canada.
  14. misdirected
    41st General ElectionMr. David Christopherson (NDP) asked Mr. Dean Del Mastro (Conservative). substantive question.The answer again shifts focus to Liberal candidates instead of the Chief Electoral Officer's powers.Kim Rudd, in fact, paid $11,300 to First Contact to conduct research work in that riding.
  15. answered
    Service CanadaMr. Guy Caron (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly states that no ministerial decision or influence occurred.No decision was made about the new offices in Thetford Mines during the consolidation of employment insurance activities.
  16. answered
    Service CanadaMr. Guy Caron (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly denies interference and attributes decisions to Public Works.All of the decisions about where the employment insurance offices would be located were made by Public Works and Government Services Canada employees
  17. deflected
    AsbestosMr. François Lapointe (NDP) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). loaded question.The answer repeats the safe-use position instead of addressing the transition plan request.the Government of Canada has been promoting the safe use of chrysotile for more than 30 years.
  18. misdirected
    41st General ElectionMr. Frank Valeriote (Liberal) asked Mr. Dean Del Mastro (Conservative). substantive question.The response accuses the Liberals of smears and dirty tricks rather than addressing disclosure to Elections Canada.It has not just allowed it to go on but it has made baseless smears against our party for more than a week
  19. misdirected
    41st General ElectionMs. Joyce Murray (Liberal) asked Mr. Dean Del Mastro (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the Liberal Party's use of a company instead of addressing the Prime Minister's stance on Elections Canada officials.It is pretty clear that they were in fact calling on behalf of the Liberal Party because the Liberal Party hired this company to do it.
  20. misdirected
    41st General ElectionMr. Marc Garneau (Liberal) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.The response accuses a Liberal MP of hiding information rather than addressing whether the constituent lied.Why did the Liberals try to hide this information instead of being open and transparent?
  21. deflected
    Government PrioritiesMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Mr. Andrew Saxton (Conservative). substantive question.The answer restates general budget talking points without addressing transparency on specific cuts.our upcoming budget will build on our low tax plan for jobs and growth, which has already created over 610,000 net new jobs for Canadians.
  22. misdirected
    Government PrioritiesMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the NDP's ability to count instead of addressing the planned service cuts.this is one of the more dramatic examples of the truth, which is that we all know that the NDP members cannot count.
  23. deflected
    Government PrioritiesMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). substantive question.The answer lists positive economic ratings without addressing the impact of cuts on services or recession risk.the IMF and the OECD both project Canada to have the strongest growth in the G7.
  24. deflected
    Government PrioritiesMr. Yvon Godin (NDP) asked Mr. Andrew Saxton (Conservative). substantive question.The answer dismisses union concerns and repeats job-creation lines without committing on service maintenance.It is no surprise that self-interested public sector union bosses would promote big and wasteful government.
  25. misdirected
    National DefenceMs. Christine Moore (NDP) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.Answer attacks NDP instead of addressing reconsideration of F-35 purchase.That member, among all members present, should know that this is the only fifth generation aircraft available to the Royal Canadian Air Force.
  26. misdirected
    National DefenceMr. Matthew Kellway (NDP) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.Answer attacks NDP and changes subject rather than addressing plan B or contract tender.That party is the no defence, no deterrents, no development party.
  27. deflected
    Transportation SafetyMs. Olivia Chow (NDP) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). substantive question.Answer discusses voice recorders instead of positive train control system.have tasked the Advisory Council on Rail Safety on an urgent basis to look again into the matter of installing voice recorders in locomotive cabs.
  28. deflected
    Transportation SafetyMs. Olivia Chow (NDP) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). substantive question.Answer again shifts to voice recorders and attacks opposition on election timing.for her party an opportunistic election was more important than ensuring the safety of hard-working Canadians.
  29. misdirected
    41st General ElectionsMr. Kevin Lamoureux (Liberal) asked Mr. Dean Del Mastro (Conservative). loaded question.Answer accuses Liberals of similar conduct instead of addressing election fraud proof.the Liberal Party has known for some time that it hired these firms, firms that made calls from the U.S.
  30. misdirected
    41st General ElectionsMs. Kirsty Duncan (Liberal) asked Mr. Dean Del Mastro (Conservative). loaded question.Answer accuses Liberals of robocalls rather than addressing voter suppression allegations.the Liberal Party spent a significant amount of money in the Kitchener area on these U.S.-based companies to make robocalls on its behalf.
  31. partly answered
    Aboriginal AffairsMs. Linda Duncan (NDP) asked Mr. Greg Rickford (Conservative). substantive question.Answer addresses investments and new legislation but not the specific cuts mentioned.We have made significant investments in two important regards: capacity, reporting, monitoring and maintenance of water infrastructure on reserve
  32. partly answered
    Aboriginal AffairsMs. Linda Duncan (NDP) asked Mr. Greg Rickford (Conservative). substantive question.Answer defends investments and legislation but does not address lack of funding guarantees or consultation.our water action plan has resulted in real improvements in water systems on reserves.
  33. deflected
    Fisheries and OceansLawrence MacAulay (Liberal) asked Keith Ashfield (Conservative). substantive question.The answer discusses ongoing consultations instead of confirming the policy will remain unchanged.We are presently conducting a consultation, both in the field face to face and through online consultation, to get feedback from Canadians as to how we should proceed in the modernization of the fishery.
  34. partly answered
    HealthMrs. Carol Hughes (NDP) asked Leona Aglukkaq (Conservative). substantive question.It references existing funding for prevention but provides no specific plan for the withdrawal crisis.My department continues to fund prescription drug abuse prevention and treatments for first nation communities, including committing to the level of support and services.
  35. deflected
    National DefenceMs. Hélène Laverdière (NDP) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The response covers ratification steps without addressing concerns about potential weakening of the convention.In order to fully ratify the treaty, legislation is required, which we will be introducing shortly for full debate by my colleague opposite.
  36. misdirected
    40th General ElectionMs. Elizabeth May (Green) asked Mr. Dean Del Mastro (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the Liberal Party's actions rather than addressing the 2008 election issue raised.
  37. answered
    Business of the HouseMr. Joe Comartin (NDP) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). substantive question.It supplies the upcoming business schedule after an initial sarcastic remark about Senate interest.I do want to express my amusement, I guess is the best word, at the opposition House leader's great interest in the democratic process in the Senate.
  38. answered
    Points of OrderRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). rhetorical question.The response directly clarifies the distinction between the two companies named First Contact.the letter to the editor that was written by the Liberal candidate and read by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister actually stated that it is a Canadian company that uses American servers, and that is why American phone numbers showed up on the calls they made.