House begins debate on jobs and growth act after auditor general clashes

Other moments

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 AccountabilityThomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer restates the 2023 timeline but avoids addressing accusations of hiding cuts or refusing PBO information.These future changes will ensure that this program remains viable for generations to come.
2. deflected
   Government AccountabilityThomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer claims compliance with the law but sidesteps the demand to remove barriers and disclose specific data.Clearly, we will continue to give Parliament all the information in the usual way.
3. deflected
   Government AccountabilityThomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer repeats the 2023 timeline and normal channels without addressing non-cooperation or hidden data.All information is given to Parliament through the normal channels and all that information is available to the Parliamentary Budget Officer.
4. partly answered
   Government AccountabilityMs. Megan Leslie (NDP) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). substantive question.The answer explains the website change as correcting erroneous information but does not address the environmental impact or deleted content.The department reviewed its website and removed some erroneous information.
5. partly answered
   Government AccountabilityMs. Megan Leslie (NDP) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses the pension portion but ignores the request for full committee study and amendments to the omnibus bill.If there are some other areas of the budget where there is unanimous consent, where the opposition members wish to ask the government to take something out and pass it unanimously, right away, then we can look at that.
6. deflected
   PensionsBob Rae (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer emphasizes sustainability without addressing whether the 0.3% GDP savings justify the changes or the hiding of plans.As the member well knows, in the process of balancing our budget, we are ensuring that the pension benefits of seniors are protected.
7. deflected
   PensionsBob Rae (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.The answer quotes the Auditor General on long-term factors but avoids engaging with the claim that no crisis exists.Analyses by the Department showed that the OAS program was one of the factors that could cause a deterioration in budgetary balances in the long term...
8. answered
   TaxationBob Rae (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly states that tax evasion is not tolerated and outlines Revenue Canada's role in investigations.Revenue Canada has mechanisms to thoroughly investigate and to try to recuperate any moneys that are illegally sheltered.
9. deflected
   Foreign InvestmentMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). loaded question.The answer restates past guidelines without addressing whether new rules will precede the Nexen decision.As I said in regard to the proposed transaction, this will be scrutinized very closely.
10. misdirected
    Foreign InvestmentMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). rhetorical question.The answer ignores the question and attacks the NDP's positions on trade and carbon tax instead.However, on clarity, the members on the other side of the House are anti-trade, anti-investment and they offer a carbon tax that would put a $21 billion burden on the shoulders of Canadian taxpayers.
11. deflected
    Foreign InvestmentMs. Hélène LeBlanc (NDP) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). loaded question.The answer repeats prior guidelines and states scrutiny will occur but does not confirm if new rules apply to the CNOOC-Nexen deal.With regard to the transaction in question, I repeat that we will examine it carefully.
12. misdirected
    Foreign InvestmentMs. Hélène LeBlanc (NDP) asked Ed Fast (Conservative). substantive question.The answer avoids extending the ratification timeline and instead criticizes the NDP's trade stance.Sadly, the NDP's idea of promoting Canadian trade and investment is to go to Washington and tell Americans not to do business with Canadians.
13. deflected
    Foreign InvestmentMr. Don Davies (NDP) asked Ed Fast (Conservative). substantive question.The answer claims opportunities for debate existed but does not commit to further study or input before ratification.Surprisingly, the NDP members have had three opportunities to debate this agreement in the House.
14. partly answered
    Public SafetyMr. Randall Garrison (NDP) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). substantive question.The answer quotes the Auditor General on progress but does not specify when an action plan will be delivered.We are taking action on the Auditor General's recommendations.
15. deflected
    Public SafetyMs. Rosane Doré Lefebvre (NDP) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). loaded question.The answer highlights past investments but sidesteps the 24-hour service question by blaming the NDP.The NDP consistently opposed it.
16. answered
    National DefenceMs. Christine Moore (NDP) asked Rona Ambrose (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly states that the secretariat will verify costs and options before any acquisition spending occurs.No money has been spent in the acquisition of new fighter aircraft and no money will be spent before the secretariat does all of the work necessary to independently verify the costs and the options available to replace our aging fleet of CF-18s.
17. partly answered
    National DefenceMr. Matthew Kellway (NDP) asked Rona Ambrose (Conservative). loaded question.The answer refers to public information on the secretariat but avoids directly naming members or timelines.the mandate of the secretariat is publicly available, but I can share all the information with him again, if he needs it.
18. deflected
    Intergovernmental AffairsStéphane Dion (Liberal) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). loaded question.The answer shifts to long-term sustainability and provincial jurisdiction instead of addressing the hidden study portion.With respect to provincial governments, their own fiscal plans are within the control and jurisdiction of the provincial governments, and we respect that jurisdiction.
19. misdirected
    Veterans AffairsMr. Sean Casey (Liberal) asked Steven Blaney (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the questioner's reading of the report and pivots to unrelated initiatives rather than addressing job cuts.I hope the member has clearly read the Auditor General's report because what he said in his report is that he acknowledges that we have taken the right steps to cut red tape.
20. deflected
    Foreign InvestmentWayne Easter (Liberal) asked Ed Fast (Conservative). substantive question.The answer promotes benefits of the agreement and criticizes Liberals but does not address reciprocity or hearings.The treaty is similar to investment treaties that Canada has signed with many other countries and will provide stronger protection for Canadian investors and create jobs and economic growth at home.
21. misdirected
    EthicsMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.The answer accuses the asker of donations to a separatist party instead of addressing consequences for illegal lobbying.What we do know for sure is that the member donated not once, not twice, but 29 times to the separatist Québec solidaire.
22. misdirected
    EthicsMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked Mr. Andrew Saxton (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks a former NDP staffer and demands condemnation rather than addressing the minister's role.What I find reprehensible is that the member stands in this place claiming to defend integrity after a former NDP leader's chief of staff knowingly ignored the word of the Lobbying Act.
23. deflected
    Official LanguagesMr. Yvon Godin (NDP) asked Mr. Jacques Gourde (Conservative). rhetorical question.The answer lists existing programs but does not address the plan for French communities or EI impacts.our government has given unprecedented support through the roadmap.
24. deflected
    Official LanguagesMr. Yvon Godin (NDP) asked Mr. Jacques Gourde (Conservative). substantive question.The answer emphasizes funding levels but avoids bilingualism decline or specific community support measures.We have kept our promise. We are providing unprecedented support to Canadian families with our road map and a $1.1 billion plan, the most money ever invested in linguistic duality in Canada.
25. deflected
    The EnvironmentMs. Anne Minh-Thu Quach (NDP) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). loaded question.The answer redirects focus to the historical purpose of the act rather than addressing impacts of the bill.the Navigable Waters Protection Act has always been about navigation, not the environment.
26. deflected
    The EnvironmentMr. Dennis Bevington (NDP) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). substantive question.The answer repeats the same point about the act's purpose without addressing the specific rivers or intent mentioned.the Navigable Waters Protection Act has always been about navigation, not environment.
27. answered
    Regional DevelopmentMs. Rathika Sitsabaiesan (NDP) asked Mr. Paul Calandra (Conservative). loaded question.The answer directly explains the rationale for cancelling membership and lists alternative spending.it is quite clear that these international expositions no longer leave the lasting legacy of job creation and economic growth.
28. deflected
    Regional DevelopmentMr. Andrew Cash (NDP) asked Mr. Paul Calandra (Conservative). substantive question.The answer shifts to praising other government actions and members instead of addressing the expo decision.Instead, we have incredible members, like the members for Don Valley East and Don Valley West who are working hard for infrastructure
29. answered
    Food SafetyHedy Fry (Liberal) asked Gerry Ritz (Conservative). substantive question.The answer confirms an expert panel was appointed and points to its public availability.The CVs of those learned people, those top-notch Canadians, are up on the CFIA website, if the member would care to have a look.
30. partly answered
    Foreign InvestmentMs. Joyce Murray (Liberal) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). loaded question.The answer addresses the decision process but pivots to criticizing the prior Liberal government.I must remind the House that the previous Liberal government never turned down any single deal.
31. answered
    Canada Mortgage and Housing CorporationMs. Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet (NDP) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). loaded question.The answer states there are no plans to privatize CMHC and references oversight measures.
32. deflected
    Canada Mortgage and Housing CorporationMs. Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet (NDP) asked Jim Flaherty (Conservative). loaded question.The answer repeats the denial but attacks the NDP for not supporting oversight.it is regrettable that the NDP, the official opposition, cannot understand that function with respect to residential mortgages of the CMHC and support the oversight measures taken by the government.
33. deflected
    Citizenship and ImmigrationRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked Jason Kenney (Conservative). substantive question.The answer avoids addressing the specific case by invoking privacy rules.the member has been here for a long time, so he will know perfectly well that ministers cannot comment on individual cases without a privacy waiver from the individuals involved.
34. partly answered
    HealthMs. Libby Davies (NDP) asked Leona Aglukkaq (Conservative). substantive question.The response outlines existing measures but does not commit to fast-tracking new changes.Last year the department announced a new approach to regulating energy drinks that would include limits on the level of caffeine in those products.
35. misdirected
    Border SecurityMr. Jean Rousseau (NDP) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the questioner's consistency instead of addressing the border issue.That is the kind of hypocrisy that he should be going home and telling his constituents about, that on the one hand he supports Bill C-31 but on the other hand he does not.
36. deflected
    Employment InsuranceMr. André Bellavance (Bloc) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer promotes government actions and questions the member's opposition rather than addressing the invitation.Why is the member opposed to that?
37. misdirected
    Points of OrderBob Rae (Liberal) asked The Speaker (Conservative). rhetorical question.The answer addresses an unrelated topic about the Grey Cup instead of the point of order raised.When Albert Grey, the fourth Earl of Grey and ninth Governor General of Canada, commissioned the creation of a silver chalice in 1909, he probably could never have envisioned the remarkable story that his namesake trophy would experience in its 100 years.
38. misdirected
    Points of OrderMs. Elizabeth May (Green) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). substantive question.The answer accuses the member of suppressing voices rather than addressing the decorum concern.I find it very unusual that a member like her, who is always fighting to have her voice heard, rises repeatedly to try and suppress the voice of others in this House.