Parliament AIIndependent · non-official

All sittings← 2013-02-142013-02-25 →

Friday, February 15, 2013 · sitting No. 212

House advances technical tax bill as Liberals pledge support

The House devoted the largest share of its time to second reading of Bill C-48, the Technical Tax Amendments Act, 2012. Liberal MP John McCallum told the House that his party supports the measure to place prior comfort letters and administrative positions into statute but called the bill far too long and said the updates are eleven years late. He said earlier Liberal governments had introduced changes that took effect in 2001 and would have taken effect in 2005.

In Question Period the NDP pressed the government on the absence of oil-sector greenhouse-gas regulations and on manufacturing-job losses. Conservative MP James Moore said the government is already halfway to its 2020 emissions target and has created 900000 net new jobs since the recession. The NDP also raised Senate travel expenses and called for disclosure of completed audits.

Liberal MP Dominic LeBlanc asked about possible closures of rural post offices while the government defended its record on postal service. Other exchanges covered Syrian-family reunification and the extension of C-17 flights to Mali.

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 · 2013-02-15

Government (Conservative)OppositionOver the day: government 37%, opposition 63% of the words spokenGovernment businessQuestion PeriodGovernment business▲ 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
29Another sitting that went nowhereThe sitting devoted most time to the Technical Tax Amendments Act and scattered other topics with almost no procedural interruptions. No votes were held, no bills advanced, and Question Period produced mostly deflected or misdirected answers.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

Fisheries and Oceans

Liberal MP Lawrence MacAulay said new DFO publication rules amount to political control of information and asked when the government would reverse them. Parliamentary Secretary Randy Kamp said the rules were issued by regional officials without political direction.

Read the exchange

Correctional Service Canada

NDP MP Randall Garrison said correctional officers testified they were told not to intervene in self-harm incidents because too many use-of-force reports were being filed. Public Safety Minister Candice Bergen said the government has introduced faster mental-health screening and a mental-health strategy for prisoners.

Read the exchange

Public Safety

NDP MP Rosane Doré Lefebvre asked the government to adopt zero-tolerance recommendations from the Commission for Public Complaints against the RCMP. Minister Candice Bergen said the report shows there are no systemic harassment issues within the force.

Read the exchange

Aerospace Industry

NDP MP Hélène LeBlanc asked what concrete measures the government will propose in the next budget to follow the Emerson report on the aerospace industry. Industry Minister Christian Paradis said the government commissioned the report to keep Canada a world leader and warned against an NDP carbon tax.

Read the exchange

Employment Insurance

NDP MP Manon Perreault asked why Service Canada guidelines list pregnancy as a possible reason for refusing employment and losing benefits. Human Resources Minister Diane Finley said maternity and parental benefits remain available and that the changes are meant to help people find work.

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
    The EnvironmentMrs. Sadia Groguhé (NDP) asked James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.The answer avoids the specific timeline and cost questions by restating general policies and attacking the NDP platform.However, we are against the NDP's proposal to create a new $21 billion carbon tax.
  2. deflected
    The EconomyMrs. Sadia Groguhé (NDP) asked James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.The answer sidesteps the request for a growth plan by citing past programs and quoting an industry group instead of addressing current manufacturing declines.The government's policies with respect to taxes, technology, trade, training and transformation are extremely important at setting the stage for growth of advanced manufacturing industries in Canada.
  3. misdirected
    The EnvironmentMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked James Moore (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the NDP leader and platform rather than addressing job losses or international challenges tied to climate policy.We know that the leader of the NDP thinks that Alberta's energy sector is a disease in the country.
  4. misdirected
    The EnvironmentMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked James Moore (Conservative). loaded question.The answer disputes the questioner's job numbers and promotes past budgets instead of addressing manufacturing job losses or future policy changes.I do not know where he gets his job numbers from, but the truth, through Stats Canada, is that the Canadian economy has created 900,000 net new jobs since the worst part of the recession.
  5. deflected
    EthicsMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.The answer defends the senator personally and mocks the NDP's Senate reform stance without addressing the disclosure of audits or residency issues.However, what is really laughable is not just this attack on Senator Patterson but also, frankly, the NDP's approach to Senate reform, which is to express a sentiment but to have no plan whatsoever.
  6. deflected
    Government ServicesDominic LeBlanc (Liberal) asked James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.The answer ignores specific office closures and wait times by emphasizing general economic focus and past job creation.Our government is focusing on the economy to provide Canadians with the services they need.
  7. partly answered
    Canada Post CorporationDominic LeBlanc (Liberal) asked James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses rural post office usage and deficits but does not confirm or deny closures or the moratorium.On top of that, Canada Post, just last year, lost $250 million.
  8. deflected
    Canada Post CorporationWayne Easter (Liberal) asked Steven Fletcher (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the question's logic and cites a charter without confirming any specific post office closures or government involvement.the only incompetence that is present is the logic behind that question.
  9. deflected
    Foreign AffairsMr. Paul Dewar (NDP) asked Mr. Deepak Obhrai (Conservative). substantive question.The answer discusses the deployment extension and rules out combat but never addresses the failure to inform the committee.Let me be very clear that this government is not considering a combat mission and neither would it train Malian forces.
  10. deflected
    Citizenship and ImmigrationMr. Paul Dewar (NDP) asked Mr. Rick Dykstra (Conservative). substantive question.The answer praises the minister's general schedule but does not confirm whether a meeting with Syrian Canadians will occur.If a meeting is required and it needs to happen, there is no other minister who is prepared to sit down, listen and work with those in need and who in fact need to sit down with him.
  11. misdirected
    Citizenship and ImmigrationMs. Christine Moore (NDP) asked Mr. Rick Dykstra (Conservative). substantive question.The answer shifts to unrelated bills and backlogs instead of explaining delays in Syrian family reunification.if we are going to talk about the file in respect to immigration, let us look at Bill C-31 in terms of the refugee reforms in this country, or Bill C-43 , the faster removal of foreign criminals act.
  12. misdirected
    EthicsMr. Alain Giguère (NDP) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). loaded question.The answer pivots to Senate elections and attacks the NDP rather than addressing Senator Wallin's expenses or the 2011 campaign funds.I am pleased to talk about elections because we have a bill that provides for elections to select senators.
  13. misdirected
    Democratic ReformMr. Tarik Brahmi (NDP) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the NDP's opposition to Senate reform instead of addressing the $90 million cost or referendum proposal.the NDP has ensured it does not pass and does not get adopted.
  14. misdirected
    EthicsMr. Hoang Mai (NDP) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). substantive question.The answer promises disclosure but immediately pivots to attacking the NDP's Senate stance rather than committing to tabling prior reports.the question is why the NDP stands here and postures that it is defending Canadians when it does not even trust Canadians to have a say in who represents them in the Senate.
  15. misdirected
    EthicsMr. Mathieu Ravignat (NDP) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). substantive question.The answer defends Senator Patterson's residence but then shifts to criticizing the NDP's reform position instead of addressing expense-report transparency.This is what the NDP thinks is unacceptable.
  16. misdirected
    EthicsMr. Dan Harris (NDP) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). loaded question.The answer blames the NDP for blocking reform and ignores the question about recovering funds or the Senate's legitimacy.If it wants to know why we have an unelected Senate that is not as accountable as it should be, they are the reason.
  17. deflected
    EthicsMr. Dan Harris (NDP) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). loaded question.The answer promotes Senate reform and attacks the NDP instead of addressing the query about Senator Patterson or recovering funds.The NDP does not think Canadians are mature enough to have a say in who represents them in the Senate.
  18. partly answered
    Fisheries and OceansLawrence MacAulay (Liberal) asked Mr. Randy Kamp (Conservative). loaded question.The answer addresses the policy claim by clarifying no political direction but avoids the broader muzzling accusation.That was done without political direction or the knowledge of the minister.
  19. deflected
    Fisheries and OceansLawrence MacAulay (Liberal) asked Mr. Randy Kamp (Conservative). loaded question.The answer defends the policy changes without addressing staff morale, capacity, or reversing the agenda.no, we will not, because the common sense changes we are making to the Fisheries Act allow us to focus on commercial, aboriginal and recreational fishers
  20. misdirected
    Fisheries and OceansMr. Scott Simms (Liberal) asked Mr. Randy Kamp (Conservative). substantive question.The answer denies the premise and pivots to NAFO changes rather than addressing the specific turbot quota agreement with big business.of course, none of that is true.
  21. partly answered
    Correctional Service CanadaMr. Randall Garrison (NDP) asked Ms. Candice Bergen (Conservative). substantive question.The answer lists some implemented changes but does not directly address the 2001 policy or the specific orders mentioned in the inquest.We have ensured faster mental health screening.
  22. deflected
    Public SafetyMs. Rosane Doré Lefebvre (NDP) asked Ms. Candice Bergen (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the asker and pivots to Bill C-42 without committing to the zero-tolerance recommendations.It is despicable that she would have just made that comment.
  23. partly answered
    Fisheries and OceansMr. Robert Chisholm (NDP) asked Mr. Randy Kamp (Conservative). loaded question.The answer clarifies the regional advice but avoids addressing the claim of misleading the House or apologizing.This was done without the minister's knowledge.
  24. deflected
    Fisheries and OceansMs. Laurin Liu (NDP) asked Mr. Randy Kamp (Conservative). loaded question.The answer highlights publication volume and IP rules but does not address the rejection by American scientists or censorship claims.when we partner with external scientists, then we need to ensure what the rules are with respect to the intellectual property that is the property of the crown.
  25. deflected
    Aerospace IndustryMs. Hélène LeBlanc (NDP) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the NDP's carbon tax instead of outlining any concrete measures from the Emerson report.I urge the NDP, instead, to start working with us and abandon its absurd ideas, like the idea of a $21.5 billion carbon tax.
  26. partly answered
    Employment InsuranceMs. Manon Perreault (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses parental benefits but does not explain why pregnancy can lead to disqualification from EI.The program includes benefits for new mothers and fathers.
  27. deflected
    Employment InsuranceMr. Jonathan Tremblay (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer restates general policy without addressing seasonal workers or regional shortages.However, if there is no work in their field and in their region, employment insurance will be available, as always.
  28. misdirected
    Employment InsuranceMr. Pierre Jacob (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.The answer dismisses the question as containing no facts and pivots to general talking points.Mr. Speaker, there is nothing good about that question, since it contains no facts.
  29. partly answered
    Financial InstitutionsMauril Bélanger (Liberal) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). substantive question.The answer notes the review is ongoing but provides no timeline or commitment on revising the BDC mandate.The BDC is undergoing a review process, which will be properly carried out, as it should.
  30. deflected
    Financial InstitutionsMauril Bélanger (Liberal) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). substantive question.The answer ignores the missed statutory deadline and pivots to unrelated economic achievements.Canada is now positioning itself as one of the best countries, when it comes to the economy in general.
  31. deflected
    TransportationMr. José Nunez-Melo (NDP) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the NDP proposal and mentions carbon tax instead of addressing the air passengers' bill of rights.The NDP is proposing a horrible regulation that will increase costs for passengers and workers in the industry.
  32. answered
    LabourMr. Don Davies (NDP) asked Ms. Kellie Leitch (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly states the minister's position on not crossing the picket line and ongoing mediation efforts.The minister continues to monitor the circumstances and the federal mediator remains involved in assisting both parties in coming to a reasonable solution.
  33. deflected
    Veterans AffairsMr. Sean Casey (Liberal) asked Bernard Valcourt (Conservative). rhetorical question.The answer pivots to post-decision spending and fee criticism without addressing the specific past refusals and court fights raised.As soon as the court decision was rendered, our government took action.
  34. deflected
    TelecommunicationsMs. Charmaine Borg (NDP) asked Christian Paradis (Conservative). substantive question.The answer defends Bill C-12's purpose but never explains why it was not withdrawn along with Bill C-30.on the contrary, Bill C-12 will better protect the personal information of consumers.
  35. misdirected
    Canada Post CorporationMr. Denis Blanchette (NDP) asked Steven Fletcher (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the opposition's past actions instead of addressing the economic impact of reduced postal service.If that member and his party were serious about mail delivery, they would not have blocked our attempts to restore mail delivery in the spring of 2011.
  36. partly answered
    Employment InsuranceMr. André Bellavance (Bloc) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). loaded question.The answer denies the premise of dismantling EI and restates policy goals but does not engage the specific new restrictions listed.We want to help people find jobs in their region and in their area of expertise.
  37. deflected
    Airport SecurityMs. Elizabeth May (Green) asked Ms. Candice Bergen (Conservative). substantive question.The answer labels the issue operational and pivots to promoting Bill C-42 rather than describing replacement security measures.the deployment of RCMP assets is an operational decision and certainly we do not involve ourselves politically in the day-to-day operations of the RCMP.