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Thursday, May 23, 2013 · sitting No. 254

House debates incorporation by reference act as rail freight bill advances

The Incorporation by Reference in Regulations Act consumed the largest share of House time as members continued second reading of Bill S-12 under government orders. Conservative MP Dan Albas told the House the measure would let regulators adopt standards dynamically while preserving bilingual requirements and parliamentary oversight. NDP MP Nathan Cullen asked which documents would be excluded from incorporation and pressed for provincial consultation.

Question period focused on the Senate expenses scandal. NDP MP David Christopherson asked whether anyone in the Prime Minister's Office knew the Senate audit had found Senator Duffy's primary residence was Ottawa and whether staff had removed that conclusion from the final report. Conservative MP James Moore replied that the independent auditor's findings were reflected in the report and that the Senate ethics commissioner and the Ethics Commissioner are now examining new questions.

Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia presented a petition against closing the Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue post office while Green Party MP Elizabeth May presented petitions on shark-fin imports and the robocalls affair.

Decided that day

  • Adjournment motion defeated
  • Bill C-51 passed a stage
  • Bill C-511 introduced

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 · 2013-05-23

Government (Conservative)OppositionOver the day: government 36%, opposition 64% of the words spokenGovernment businessQuestion PeriodGovernment businessGovernment business▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 10:0512:0013:0014:0015:0016:0017:0018:0019:0020:0021:0022:00Last speech 23:50Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 13 h 45 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
58Bills Move While Questions Mostly DeflectedThe House devoted most of its time to substantive debate on regulations, rail freight, witness protection and related measures. One bill advanced through a recorded vote and another was introduced.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

Fair Rail Freight Service Act

Conservative MP Lawrence Toet said Bill C-52 would give shippers enforceable service agreements and repeated access to administrative penalties and the courts. NDP MP Mike Sullivan replied that the $100,000 penalty was too small to deter companies earning billions.

Read the exchange

Government Appointments

NDP MP Chris Charlton said the government was stacking the new Social Security Tribunal with failed Conservative candidates and riding-association members. Conservative MP Peter Van Loan said appointments were made on merit after a rigorous process.

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Government Expenditures

NDP MP Peggy Nash asked where the $3.1 billion in public-safety funding had gone. Conservative MP Tony Clement said the figures appeared in successive public accounts.

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Safer Witnesses Act

Conservative MP Candice Bergen accused the opposition of delay tactics on Bill C-51. NDP MP Linda Duncan said New Democrats had supported the bill and had called for action on the Air India recommendations since 2007.

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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
    EthicsMr. David Christopherson (NDP) asked James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.The answer avoids the specific question about PMO awareness by redirecting to ongoing reviews.These questions are being raised. They are being put forward. They will be answered.
  2. deflected
    EthicsMr. David Christopherson (NDP) asked James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.The answer sidesteps details on PMO involvement by noting opposition members can ask questions.I would also point out to members opposite and to taxpayers, more importantly, that there are opposition members on this committee who can ask whatever questions they want to ask.
  3. answered
    EthicsMr. David Christopherson (NDP) asked James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly addresses the question about awareness of the Wright-Duffy deal.we are not aware of any legal agreement between Mr. Wright and Mr. Duffy.
  4. deflected
    EthicsMs. Françoise Boivin (NDP) asked James Moore (Conservative). loaded question.The answer ignores the premise about the Prime Minister's confidence and restates the timeline of events.on Tuesday, here in Ottawa, and yesterday, in response to questions from the media, the Prime Minister said that he did not know until the news came out in the papers.
  5. deflected
    EthicsMs. Françoise Boivin (NDP) asked James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.The answer repeats a narrow denial without addressing documents beyond legal agreements.we are not aware of any kind of legal document or agreement between Mr. Wright and Mr. Duffy.
  6. deflected
    EthicsRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked James Moore (Conservative). loaded question.The answer avoids explaining the delay by restating the Prime Minister's public statement.Immediately upon learning that the source was indeed my chief of staff, Nigel Wright, I immediately asked that that information be released publicly.
  7. deflected
    EthicsRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.The answer evades tabling the email by reiterating lack of awareness of agreements and pointing to investigations.We are not aware of any legal agreement between Mr. Duffy and Mr. Wright whatsoever, in any format whatsoever.
  8. deflected
    EthicsRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked James Moore (Conservative). loaded question.The answer sidesteps the order to doctor the report by restating that the report reflected auditor findings.the Senate report did reflect the auditor's findings that there were inappropriate expenses that were charged to taxpayers by Senator Duffy.
  9. deflected
    EthicsMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.The answer denies the premise and pivots to general Senate findings without addressing who in PMO contacted Olsen.The Senate report did reflect the findings of the independent auditor.
  10. deflected
    EthicsMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.The answer lists ongoing reviews but does not specify any PMO actions, phone records or documents provided to investigators.The Ethics Commissioner is looking into this.
  11. deflected
    EthicsMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked James Moore (Conservative). loaded question.The answer again cites independent reviews without addressing whether the Prime Minister instructed Wright regarding Duffy.the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner is looking into this, as is the Senate Ethics Officer.
  12. answered
    EthicsMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly states that Wright acted alone and the Prime Minister learned of the cheque only later via media.as Mr. Wright himself clearly indicated in the statement he made following his resignation, he acted alone.
  13. deflected
    EthicsMs. Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe (NDP) asked James Moore (Conservative). loaded question.The answer rejects the preamble and points to independent officers without confirming any additional PMO knowledge of the Wright-Duffy dealings.It is quite clear that the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner is fully independent.
  14. answered
    EthicsMs. Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe (NDP) asked James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.The answer states plainly that Wright was the only one involved, citing his own statement.Nigel Wright was the only one involved.
  15. partly answered
    JusticeMr. Craig Scott (NDP) asked James Moore (Conservative). loaded question.The answer supplies the full Prime Minister quote but does not address whether the payment constituted an indictable offence.That's the right motive, but nevertheless it was obviously not correct for that decision to be made and executed without my knowledge or without public transparency.
  16. deflected
    JusticeMr. Craig Scott (NDP) asked James Moore (Conservative). loaded question.The answer reiterates the Ethics Commissioner review and leadership on spending but avoids judging the motive behind Wright’s payment.Before my hon. colleague starts handing out these kinds of assessments, he might want to wait for that report to come back.
  17. deflected
    EthicsMr. Nathan Cullen (NDP) asked James Moore (Conservative). loaded question.The answer sidesteps the specific query about the Prime Minister's instructions by invoking independent reviews and attacking opposition motives.As we have said, Mr. Speaker, no matter what it is that we say, the reality is that the opposition is going to attack.
  18. deflected
    EthicsMr. Marc Garneau (Liberal) asked James Moore (Conservative). loaded question.The answer avoids naming who retains confidence in the senators and instead redirects to the Senate report and Liberal senators.If he has questions, he can consult them.
  19. misdirected
    EthicsMr. Marc Garneau (Liberal) asked James Moore (Conservative). loaded question.The answer ignores the question about who ordered the whitewash and instead attacks Liberals for a past housing allowance issue.before the Liberals really throw stones, they ought to recognize that they are standing inside of a very large glass house on this subject matter
  20. answered
    EthicsMr. Marc Garneau (Liberal) asked James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly states that the RCMP has not approached the PMO and explains the RCMP's independence.
  21. deflected
    Government AppointmentsMs. Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet (NDP) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). loaded question.The answer avoids committing to enforcement or independence and instead restates the tribunal's replacement and merit criteria.They are also responsible for ensuring the integrity of our social security system.
  22. deflected
    Government AppointmentsMs. Chris Charlton (NDP) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). loaded question.The answer sidesteps the partisan appointment criticism by repeating the merit-based selection process without addressing specific examples.That is why there is an important process in place that ensures that appointments are on merit.
  23. deflected
    Government AppointmentsMs. Linda Duncan (NDP) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). substantive question.The answer ignores the question about advising appointees to appear before committees and pivots to general praise of merit-based appointments.That is why it is important that we ensure, as our government does, that the people we appoint to deal with these important responsibilities are indeed people of merit and substance.
  24. deflected
    EthicsMs. Ève Péclet (NDP) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). loaded question.The answer evades the hypocrisy charge by shifting to unrelated open government data initiatives.There are 273,000 data sets online right now at open.gc.ca available for researchers, citizens and entrepreneurs.
  25. deflected
    Government ExpendituresMs. Peggy Nash (NDP) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.Answer points to old public accounts instead of addressing the Auditor General report or confirming if money was found.
  26. deflected
    Government ExpendituresMs. Peggy Nash (NDP) asked Ted Menzies (Conservative). substantive question.Answer shifts to promoting the budget bill and jobs instead of addressing unaccounted funds or scrutiny evasion.fiscal accountability is what this government is all about.
  27. misdirected
    TaxationMr. Murray Rankin (NDP) asked Ted Menzies (Conservative). loaded question.Answer attacks the question as false and pivots to blaming NDP rather than addressing the retroactive tax claim.there is no fact in that question. It is all false.
  28. deflected
    Government AdvertisingMr. Mathieu Ravignat (NDP) asked Lisa Raitt (Conservative). loaded question.Answer ignores the ad spending and iPod tax premise to promote the Canada job grant instead.That allows me to talk about a fantastic measure in our new economic action plan 2013.
  29. partly answered
    EthicsMs. Judy Foote (Liberal) asked James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.Answer states lack of awareness of documents and defers to Perrin but does not confirm involvement in negotiations.we are not aware of any legal documents associated to a Duffy-Wright deal and Mr. Perrin can speak for himself
  30. deflected
    EthicsMs. Judy Foote (Liberal) asked James Moore (Conservative). loaded question.Answer offers a general statement on mistakes without addressing the tweet or RCMP context.very good people can make very big mistakes, and I think that is what happened here.
  31. partly answered
    Search and RescueMr. Philip Toone (NDP) asked Mr. Jacques Gourde (Conservative). substantive question.Answer addresses bilingual services condition but avoids committing to keeping the centre open.the Canadian Coast Guard will not consolidate the Quebec City marine rescue sub-centre unless it is convinced that the ability to provide bilingual services will be maintained.
  32. deflected
    Search and RescueMr. Philip Toone (NDP) asked Mr. Jacques Gourde (Conservative). substantive question.Answer repeats the bilingual condition without giving a yes or no on keeping the centre open permanently.the Canadian Coast Guard will not consolidate the Quebec City marine rescue sub-centre unless it is convinced that the ability to provide bilingual services will be maintained.
  33. deflected
    Government AppointmentsGerry Byrne (Liberal) asked Gail Shea (Conservative). loaded question.Answer cites investigation clearing political influence but ignores the specific query on payment and attendance.The independent investigation by the Public Service Commission did not find any evidence of wrongdoing or influence on the part of ministers or political staff in this matter.
  34. partly answered
    Aboriginal AffairsMs. Jean Crowder (NDP) asked Bernard Valcourt (Conservative). substantive question.Answer notes disclosure of 120,000 pages and intent to follow tribunal rules but adds unrelated attack on NDP bill stance.We have disclosed some 120,000 pages.
  35. answered
    SecuritiesMr. Robert Aubin (NDP) asked Ted Menzies (Conservative). substantive question.Answer directly explains the federal rationale for a common regulator citing investor concerns and court ruling.It is a very cumbersome system.
  36. deflected
    SecuritiesMr. Louis Plamondon (Bloc) asked Ted Menzies (Conservative). loaded question.Answer repeats federal responsibility and benefits of common regulator without addressing Quebec's expertise or AMF objections.We firmly believe Canada needs a common securities regulator to better protect investors, improve market oversight and reduce costs for businesses.
  37. misdirected
    Business of the HouseMr. Nathan Cullen (NDP) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). rhetorical question.Question is a preamble without a clear ask; answer attacks NDP procedural moves instead of addressing listed bills or House business.His was a bogus argument and the Speaker rightly saw the NDP delay effort as entirely devoid of merit and rejected it outright.