All sittings← 2012-03-022012-03-06 →
Monday, March 5, 2012 · sitting No. 89
NDP motion urges government to shield veterans affairs from budget cuts
The House spent nearly half the day on an opposition day motion moved by New Democratic Party MP Peter Stoffer that called on the government to commit in the upcoming budget to no cuts at Veterans Affairs Canada and to deliver programs and services to military and RCMP veterans and their families in a timely manner. Stoffer said the motion would honour veterans and their families. Several New Democrats and Liberals spoke in support while Conservative members defended the government's record on veterans' services.
Question period was dominated by exchanges over alleged fraudulent phone calls during the 2011 election. New Democratic Party MP Nycole Turmel asked the government to apologize for statements that only the Liberal Party had made such calls from the United States. Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre said the opposition was making exaggerated and unfounded claims and should accept the election results.
Liberal MP Bob Rae raised a poll taken in Mount Royal after the election that the Speaker had described as reprehensible and asked whether the government agreed. Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro called the allegations baseless smears.
Decided that day
- C-23 read a second time and referred to committee
- Motion that the question be now put passed
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 · 2012-03-05
57One bill inches forward amid deflected answersThe House devoted most of its time to substantive business and advanced one bill through second reading while passing two recorded votes. Question Period produced few direct answers and the remainder of the sitting yielded little beyond routine petitions and statements.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
New Democratic Party MP Christine Moore asked whether the minister had a plan B after an emergency meeting in Washington. Conservative MP Julian Fantino said he had met allies and would continue to monitor the program closely.
Read the exchangeThe Environment
New Democratic Party MP Megan Leslie asked the environment minister to define conflict of interest after a senior official took a post with an oil sands group. Conservative MP Peter Kent said the official was on unpaid leave and subject to ethics rules.
Read the exchangePensions
Liberal MP Judy Sgro said the government had money for jets and jails but only scraps for seniors. Conservative MP Diane Finley said the government was protecting pensions for current and future seniors.
Read the exchangeFinancial Literacy
New Democratic Party MP Peter Julian said his party supported Motion No. 269 to implement the task force recommendations and create a single website. Conservative MP James Rajotte thanked members for their contributions to the debate.
Read the exchangeTransportation Safety
New Democratic Party MP Olivia Chow said cuts to VIA Rail would remove funds needed for safety systems. Conservative MP Denis Lebel said the government had implemented most rail safety recommendations and reduced accidents.
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
- deflected41st General ElectionMrs. Nycole Turmel (NDP) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.Answer avoids the apology request by attacking opposition and shifting to Liberal calls.
The Liberals paid millions of dollars to make calls to hundreds of thousands of voters, and they hired American companies to make many of those calls.
- deflected41st General ElectionMrs. Nycole Turmel (NDP) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.Answer dismisses the question without evidence or explanation of polling station calls.
the hon. member has not provided any evidence to support her allegations.
- misdirected41st General ElectionMrs. Nycole Turmel (NDP) asked Mr. Dean Del Mastro (Conservative). loaded question.Answer attacks the asker and repeats Liberal blame instead of addressing Conservative US calls or voter confidence.
What the member is alleging is absolutely false.
- deflected41st General ElectionMr. Pat Martin (NDP) asked Mr. Dean Del Mastro (Conservative). substantive question.Answer evades contract details by claiming personal issues and pivoting to Liberal spending.
the member may have some issues with RackNine and they may be personal issues.
- misdirected41st General ElectionMr. Pat Martin (NDP) asked Mr. Dean Del Mastro (Conservative). loaded question.Answer ignores tax dollars question and attacks Liberals while praising a minister.
the Conservative Party does in fact have a political superweapon.
- deflectedPhone Calls to Mount Royal ConstituencyBob Rae (Liberal) asked Mr. Dean Del Mastro (Conservative). substantive question.Answer refuses to address reprehensible tactics and instead blames Liberals for election loss.
What is reprehensible, Mr. Speaker, is that the opposition, specifically the Liberal Party, is having a very hard time accepting the results of the last election.
- deflectedPhone Calls to Mount Royal ConstituencyBob Rae (Liberal) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.Answer changes subject to Liberal acceptance of election results rather than Speaker's ruling.
the real question is whether the Liberal Party is prepared to accept the results that Canadians handed them in the election.
- misdirectedPhone Calls to Mount Royal ConstituencyBob Rae (Liberal) asked Mr. Dean Del Mastro (Conservative). substantive question.Answer accuses asker of smears and demands Liberal records instead of agreeing or disagreeing with Speaker.
it is reprehensible to make baseless, unsubstantiated smears in this House.
- misdirected41st General ElectionMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the Liberal Party and ignores the RMG question entirely.
The fact is that the Liberal Party spent millions of dollars on hundreds of thousands of calls.
- misdirected41st General ElectionMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.The answer pivots to a general mandate statement instead of addressing RMG payments in Quebec ridings.
Canadians gave us a strong mandate to manage the economy, create jobs and protect national security.
- misdirected41st General ElectionMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked Mr. Dean Del Mastro (Conservative). substantive question.The answer deflects by accusing Liberals of misconduct rather than clarifying Conservative call-centre involvement.
It is also clear and an absolute fact that the Liberal Party paid millions of dollars to contact hundreds of thousands of households right across this country.
- deflected41st General ElectionMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked Mr. Dean Del Mastro (Conservative). substantive question.The answer claims rule compliance without addressing the shifting explanations or fraud allegations.
In our campaign, as our campaign manager said yesterday and has been repeated by others who have come forward, we were absolutely punctilious in following all the rules of Elections Canada.
- misdirected41st General ElectionMr. François Lapointe (NDP) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.The answer dismisses the senior-citizen fundraising complaint by attacking the opposition's election loss narrative.
Now the opposition is trying to explain its historic defeat by making false, unfounded allegations.
- partly answered41st General ElectionMs. Alexandrine Latendresse (NDP) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.The answer briefly affirms Elections Canada's role but does not address the request for expanded powers.
Elections Canada is the appropriate organization to carry out this investigation, and we respect that responsibility.
- deflectedService CanadaMr. Guy Caron (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.The answer denies involvement without engaging the conflict-of-interest or relocation questions.
The minister was not involved in the decision made five years ago regarding Thetford Mines.
- deflectedGovernment PrioritiesMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Mrs. Shelly Glover (Conservative). substantive question.The answer highlights economic ratings and plans but avoids addressing specific spending priorities raised.
We are focused on implementing the next phase of Canada's economic action plan and are looking forward to March 29 when we will introduce the economic action plan for 2012.
- answeredGovernment PrioritiesMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Mrs. Shelly Glover (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly addresses the priority question by citing specific family tax measures and economic growth data.
It is this government that put another $3,000 in families' pockets through tax cuts.
- misdirected41st General ElectionMr. Frank Valeriote (Liberal) asked Mr. Dean Del Mastro (Conservative). substantive question.The answer avoids handing over evidence and instead attacks the Liberal Party for unsubstantiated allegations.
the member can do even more to assist. He can go to his leader and ask his leader to provide the call records from the Liberal Party in the last election
- misdirected41st General ElectionMs. Kirsty Duncan (Liberal) asked Mr. Dean Del Mastro (Conservative). substantive question.The answer shifts focus to Liberal Party calls and late polling changes instead of addressing Conservative scripts or guidelines.
It is also clear that the Liberal Party spent millions of dollars to contact hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of homes right across this country.
- deflected41st General ElectionMr. Marc Garneau (Liberal) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.The answer states Elections Canada is appropriate but does not address requesting CRTC intervention.
Elections Canada is the appropriate agency to conduct this investigation.
- answeredNational DefenceMs. Christine Moore (NDP) asked Julian Fantino (Conservative). substantive question.The answer confirms listening to allies and meeting them for updates on F-35 issues.
I met with our allies and received an update on the program's progress and challenges.
- misdirectedNational DefenceMr. Matthew Kellway (NDP) asked Julian Fantino (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the NDP and the member personally rather than addressing the request for truth on F-35 costs and status.
the only emergency here is the NDP's desire not to help and support our military men and women.
- partly answeredPublic SafetyMr. Jasbir Sandhu (NDP) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). substantive question.The answer affirms legal compliance but provides no specific guidelines and redirects to filing complaints.
let me assure the House that our security officials conduct investigations in accordance with Canadian law
- partly answeredPublic SafetyMr. Sylvain Chicoine (NDP) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). substantive question.The answer repeats the legal compliance assurance but offers no policy review or updated guidelines.
let me assure the House that our security officials conduct investigations in accordance with Canadian laws.
- deflectedVeterans AffairsMs. Annick Papillon (NDP) asked Steven Blaney (Conservative). substantive question.The answer promotes an amendment on bureaucracy instead of addressing the budget motion.
That is why I am inviting the opposition to support our amendment, which is designed to maintain our veterans' benefits.
- misdirectedVeterans AffairsMr. Peter Stoffer (NDP) asked Steven Blaney (Conservative). loaded question.The answer avoids specifics on denials and attacks the NDP voting record instead.
Why are the New Democrats voting against the extension of the VIP?
- deflectedVeterans AffairsMr. Peter Stoffer (NDP) asked Steven Blaney (Conservative). substantive question.The answer ignores the specific case and pivots to general services and budget support.
I invite the NDP member to support our budget initiatives so we can continue to support our veterans.
- deflectedVeterans AffairsMr. Peter Stoffer (NDP) asked Steven Blaney (Conservative). substantive question.The answer reframes the question around red tape rather than committing to the motion.
Is the member ready to cut the red tape and get rid of wasteful bureaucracy?
- misdirectedPensionsJudy Sgro (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the opposition's past votes instead of addressing OAS plans.
If the hon. member is so concerned about seniors, then why did she and her party vote against pension income splitting
- partly answeredNational DefenceJohn McKay (Liberal) asked Julian Fantino (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses international progress but ignores cost report, plan B and timelines.
Good progress continues to be made.
- partly answeredThe EnvironmentMs. Megan Leslie (NDP) asked Peter Kent (Conservative). substantive question.The answer explains the assignment but does not fully address the conflict of interest concern.
We anticipate his assignment will bring new opportunities to strengthen the relationship between the Government of Canada and oil sands industry.
- answeredThe EnvironmentMs. Megan Leslie (NDP) asked Peter Kent (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly defines the conflict rules and restrictions applied to the assignment.
He is subject to the values and the ethics code for the public service and this code is clear on the measures to be taken by public servants to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest.
- deflectedVeterans AffairsMr. Sean Casey (Liberal) asked Steven Blaney (Conservative). substantive question.The answer mentions an apology and pivots to budget support without addressing the request to remove the member.
the member has done the right thing and apologized.
- partly answeredThe EnvironmentMs. Hélène LeBlanc (NDP) asked Peter Kent (Conservative). substantive question.The answer confirms the $35 million funding commitment via NSERC but does not address the fate of the PEARL lab.
budget 2011 did provide $35 million over five years to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
- deflectedTransportation SafetyMs. Olivia Chow (NDP) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). substantive question.The answer highlights past actions and bill implementation but ignores the specific cuts to VIA Rail and comparison to fighter jets.
our actions helped to decrease the numbers of rail accidents in 2007.
- deflectedForeign AffairsMs. Elizabeth May (Green) asked John Baird (Conservative). substantive question.The answer lists general concerns about Iran but does not address the question regarding Sinopec undermining sanctions.
we are tremendously concerned about three things going on in Iran.