All sittings← 2013-05-282013-05-30 →
Wednesday, May 29, 2013 · sitting No. 258
House limits debate on rail freight bill after closure motion
The House devoted nearly half the sitting to a government motion allotting one further day for third reading of Bill C-52, the Fair Rail Freight Service Act. Transport Minister Denis Lebel said the legislation would improve rail service and accountability for shippers, while NDP House Leader Nathan Cullen and Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux condemned the repeated use of time allocation.
In Question Period, NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair asked whether the Prime Minister's Office holds an email in which Senator Mike Duffy said he stayed silent on instructions from that office. Prime Minister Stephen Harper replied that all relevant information would be shared with the appropriate authorities.
Further exchanges saw NDP MP Paul Dewar and others press for the removal of Arthur Porter from the Privy Council over fraud charges, with Public Safety Minister Vic Toews noting Porter's earlier appointment had cross-party support.
Decided that day
- Bill C-52 amendments passed
- C-48 advanced to committee
- C-49 passed second reading
- C-458 passed second reading
- Four other bills 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 · 2013-05-29
65Rail bill chugs forward through House votesThe House devoted most of its time to the Fair Rail Freight Service Act and moved several bills forward through multiple stages. Eight calls to order punctuated proceedings while Question Period yielded only four full 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
Iran
Conservative MP David Sweet highlighted the 1988 mass execution of political prisoners in Iran and the ongoing detention of Baha'i student Navid Khanjani.
Read the exchangeWorld MS Day
NDP MP Mike Sullivan called for more flexible employment insurance sickness benefits to help people with multiple sclerosis remain in the workforce.
Read the exchangeEmployment Insurance
NDP MP Dany Morin warned that changes to employment insurance would prevent forestry workers in Chicoutimi from returning to seasonal jobs after training elsewhere.
Read the exchangeThe Senate
Conservative MP Jacques Gourde said the Senate had adopted new travel and expense rules and accused Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau of defending the status quo.
Read the exchangeLanguage Skills Act
Liberal MP Stéphane Dion argued that officers of Parliament must be bilingual, citing the appointment of a unilingual Auditor General as a departure from past practice.
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
- deflectedEthicsThomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer avoids naming anyone in the PMO and redirects to authorities investigating Duffy.
As we know well, the activities of Mr. Duffy are being looked into by the appropriate authorities.
- misdirectedEthicsThomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer first addresses the question then pivots to attacking the NDP leader on an unrelated matter.
Of course that would be very different, I understand, than the leader of the NDP who, after 17 years of apparently knowing about the activities of the mayor of Laval, who is now charged with various offences, did not reveal that information to the public and the police until very recently.
- deflectedEthicsThomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer claims not to understand the question and states the Senate manages its own expenses instead of identifying who was tasked.
I do not fully understand the question.
- misdirectedEthicsThomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer refuses to discuss cabinet matters and immediately attacks the NDP leader on an unrelated issue.
which is very different than the leader of the NDP who withheld information on the wrongdoing of the mayor of Laval for 17 years.
- partly answeredEthicsThomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer states what Wright told the Prime Minister but then diverts to attacking the NDP leader.
that is what Mr. Wright told me.
- deflectedEthicsMr. Justin Trudeau (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer avoids releasing the email and redirects to government authorities handling the matter.
We expect the authorities to deal with those matters and they will have the full assistance of the government in doing so.
- partly answeredEthicsMr. Justin Trudeau (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly explains when the Prime Minister learned of the payment and why the office did not know earlier.
Mr. Wright informed me and informed others of this matter on the morning of May 15.
- misdirectedEthicsMr. Justin Trudeau (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer restates facts then pivots to attacking the Liberal leader on an unrelated offshore account issue.
On the other hand, the leader of the Liberal Party should explain why he has known for weeks that a member of his caucus, a Liberal senator, is connected to an undisclosed offshore bank account worth $1.7 million and he has chosen to take no action whatsoever.
- misdirectedEthicsThomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses the question briefly then pivots to attacking the asker on an unrelated scandal.
It is up to him to explain why, when he knew such information, he did not think it relevant to tell the public or the courts.
- deflectedEthicsThomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer claims not to understand a straightforward question without providing any information.
Mr. Speaker, I do not understand the question.
- misdirectedEthicsThomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer gives a partial response then shifts to attacking the asker on an unrelated matter.
What I do not understand is how the entire Quebec construction industry can be mired in a deep scandal involving mayors and public officials all across the province
- partly answeredEthicsThomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses the motive but then diverts to attacking the asker instead of clarifying who 'we' refers to.
Mr. Wright has been clear that his motive was he wanted to see the taxpayers recompensed for expenses that we all believed were inappropriate.
- answeredEthicsThomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly states that only legal entitlements will be paid with no extras.
Mr. Wright will receive only the payments to which he is entitled under the law and nothing more.
- answeredEthicsThomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer specifies that only accumulated vacation pay and similar legal amounts will be paid.
Mr. Wright will be paid only those amounts of money.
- partly answeredEthicsThomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer clarifies the PM's own knowledge date but then attacks the asker on an unrelated issue.
once again, I have been very clear that Mr. Wright informed me of this on May 15.
- deflectedEthicsThomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer avoids confirming any email review and instead attacks the asker repeatedly.
We will obviously assist those authorities and we will ensure that anybody who has broken any rules or laws is held accountable.
- deflectedEthicsThomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). substantive question.The answer states the audit is incomplete rather than addressing lessons learned.
the audit of Senator Wallin's expenses is not complete.
- deflectedEthicsBob Rae (Liberal) asked James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.Avoids naming anyone in PMO by shifting to Senate report and actions.
what Canadians are looking for is the action that was taken yesterday by the Senate
- deflectedEthicsBob Rae (Liberal) asked James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.Rejects premise and pivots to Senate actions instead of identifying PMO staff.
the premise of the question is entirely false.
- partly answeredEthicsBob Rae (Liberal) asked James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.Names Nigel Wright but does not address others in PMO as asked.
Mr. Wright took sole responsibility for this because he was the one involved.
- misdirectedGovernment AppointmentsMr. Paul Dewar (NDP) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). substantive question.Ignores the Privy Council question and attacks the NDP leader instead.
unlike the leader of the NDP who knew about corruption
- misdirectedGovernment AppointmentsMs. Françoise Boivin (NDP) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). substantive question.Ignores the extradition and Privy Council question to attack the opposition leader.
the Leader of the Opposition denied a specific bribery attempt
- misdirectedGovernment AppointmentsMs. Rosane Doré Lefebvre (NDP) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). substantive question.Ignores the security collaboration question and attacks the opposition leader.
the Leader of the Opposition failed to share information
- misdirectedGovernment AppointmentsMr. Randall Garrison (NDP) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). substantive question.Ignores the allies' reputation question and attacks the opposition leader.
the Leader of the Opposition , who for 17 years, hid attempts by the mayor to bribe him.
- deflectedGovernment AppointmentsMr. Robert Chisholm (NDP) asked Gail Shea (Conservative). substantive question.The answer states general expectations but provides no details on the investigation or specific steps to restore confidence.
We have ensured that this matter was brought to the attention of the Ethics Commissioner, and we do expect that the CEO will fully co-operate with that investigation.
- deflectedGovernment AppointmentsMr. Ryan Cleary (NDP) asked Gail Shea (Conservative). substantive question.The answer claims no wrongdoing by ministers but does not address consequences for the chief of staff.
The independent investigation by the Public Service Commission did not find any evidence of wrongdoing or influence on the part of the ministers, or of any political staff, for that matter.
- deflectedEmployment InsuranceMr. Dany Morin (NDP) asked Ms. Kellie Leitch (Conservative). substantive question.The answer promotes general training programs without addressing the specific concern about losing forestry expertise due to EI changes.
I ask the member opposite to maybe read the budget, economic action plan 2013, where we are investing in training to make sure that individuals have an opportunity to do exactly that: train for those jobs that are available, those in-demand jobs.
- deflectedEmployment InsuranceMr. Yvon Godin (NDP) asked Ms. Kellie Leitch (Conservative). loaded question.The answer ignores the petition and premiers' opposition and instead promotes the same job plan without engaging the question.
We are creating jobs and opportunities for Canadians to be better connected to jobs, whether that be through job alerts or whether that be through the opportunities in economic action plan 2013: 5,000 more internships; the Canada jobs grant, which is an excellent opportunity to train.
- misdirectedEthicsDominic LeBlanc (Liberal) asked James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.The answer turns to attacking Liberals and Duffy instead of addressing the Prime Minister's prior statement on Wallin's expenses.
It is true whether it is Mike Duffy or whether it is Liberals who have been caught with their hands in the cookie jar.
- partly answeredEthicsDominic LeBlanc (Liberal) asked James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.The answer states the expectation that individuals repay from their own funds but does not confirm whether Wallin did so personally.
of course, it is expected that any individual repay taxpayers from his or her own funds.
- misdirectedAboriginal AffairsMr. Romeo Saganash (NDP) asked Bernard Valcourt (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the asker for timing rather than explaining why the meeting request remains unanswered.
Yesterday he came to my office to give me a letter from the company in question requesting a meeting.
- misdirectedPrivacyMs. Jean Crowder (NDP) asked Bernard Valcourt (Conservative). substantive question.The answer shifts to unrelated matrimonial property legislation instead of addressing the Privacy Commissioner's findings or the campaign against Blackstock.
if the member is preoccupied with the kids living on reserve in this country, she should also be preoccupied with all of the families on reserve that are deprived of basic rights, which we in the House are trying to give them.
- misdirectedEthicsMs. Judy Foote (Liberal) asked James Moore (Conservative). loaded question.The answer ignores all listed transparency issues and instead attacks the Liberal leader's past statements.
He said that Canadians who do not speak both of Canada's official languages are "lazy".
- answeredIntergovernmental RelationsMr. Matthew Dubé (NDP) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly states the government will continue working with partners on the Grand Prix while correcting the premise.
We will continue to work with our partners, and of course we will respect Canadian taxpayers' ability to pay for these things.
- deflectedGovernment ExpendituresMr. Mathieu Ravignat (NDP) asked Vic Toews (Conservative). loaded question.The answer avoids the specific Parole Board expense by citing general spending reductions and blaming the opposition.
the New Democrats opposed our measures to cut these conferences in half, in 2012.
- answered41st General ElectionMr. André Bellavance (Bloc) asked Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly confirms payment of the fine and future compliance with CRTC rules.
we are pleased that the CRTC has clarified the rules.