All sittings← 2014-03-072014-03-25 →
Monday, March 24, 2014 · sitting No. 60
NDP motion calls for scrapping elections act changes
The House devoted the largest share of its sitting to an NDP opposition day motion urging the government to abandon proposed changes to the Elections Act that would end vouching, restrict voter education by Elections Canada and bar the use of voter information cards. NDP MP Craig Scott said the measures would disenfranchise youth, new Canadians, Aboriginal Canadians and seniors in residences. Conservative MP Scott Reid challenged the motion's emphasis on those groups and defended the bill's provisions on voter identification.
Liberal MP Rodger Cuzner and NDP MP Alexandrine Latendresse also spoke in favour of retaining the current identification rules. The motion remained before the House at adjournment.
Decided that day
- Interim Supply approved
- Supplementary Estimates (C) concurred in
- Bill C-28 passed all stages
- Bill C-29 passed all stages
- Bill C-15 given royal assent
- Proposed Elections Act changes rejected
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 · 2014-03-24
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
Homelessness
Conservative MP Peter Goldring told NDP MP Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet that a national point-in-time count should align with U.S. definitions for people in shelters and those living rough, while allowing additional Canadian measures.
Read the exchangeForeign Affairs
Conservative MP David Anderson told NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair that Canada has imposed travel bans and economic sanctions on Russian and Ukrainian individuals responsible for undermining Ukraine's sovereignty.
Read the exchangeVeterans Affairs
Liberal MP Frank Valeriote asked the government to instruct its lawyers to withdraw arguments denying the existence of a social contract with veterans in the Equitas Society lawsuit.
Read the exchangeCitizenship and Immigration
Immigration Minister Chris Alexander told NDP MP Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe that Canada welcomed over 1,100 Syrian refugees last year through its asylum system.
Read the exchangeAgriculture and Agri-Food
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz told NDP MP Ruth Ellen Brosseau that an order in council has doubled rail capacity for grain shipments and that legislation will be tabled soon.
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
- answeredForeign AffairsThomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Mr. David Anderson (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly details sanctions imposed and ongoing cooperation with allies.
We have imposed travel bans and economic sanctions against a number of Russian and Ukrainian individuals.
- deflectedJusticeThomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.The answer reviews background and expresses surprise but avoids committing to accept the ruling without circumvention.
We are currently reviewing the details of the decision.
- misdirectedSecuritiesThomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Joe Oliver (Conservative). loaded question.The answer ignores the policy question and instead attacks the asker over an unrelated payment.
I hope that the leader will give the NDP critic an opportunity to ask a question.
- deflectedDemocratic ReformThomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.The answer politely declines the specific invitation and redirects to the parliamentary committee process.
I invite all Canadians and the NDP to call witnesses to appear before the committee
- deflectedDemocratic ReformThomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.The answer avoids addressing the cited criticisms and instead quotes the asker on a different electoral issue.
It goes to a fundamental question of the defence of our democratic institutions.... If we can't even guarantee that the people who are voting are entitled to vote, and that can throw off the results of an election, all is being lost.
- partly answeredInfrastructureScott Brison (Liberal) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). substantive question.The answer defends past investments but does not address reversing the specific 90% cut or its timing.
Billions of dollars have been invested since 2006, and billions will continue to flow.
- deflectedInfrastructureScott Brison (Liberal) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). substantive question.The answer claims the premise is wrong and restates the overall plan without addressing the April 1 cut or tax hikes.
the preamble is totally wrong.
- deflectedInfrastructureMr. Marc Garneau (Liberal) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). substantive question.The answer rejects the premise as false and reiterates the total plan without addressing the timing of cuts or the infrastructure gap.
that statement is totally false.
- deflectedFinanceMr. Nathan Cullen (NDP) asked Joe Oliver (Conservative). substantive question.The answer explains QE without addressing agreement with the predecessor's assessment.
It is a non-conventional way to expand the monetary supply.
- deflectedFinanceMr. Nathan Cullen (NDP) asked Joe Oliver (Conservative). loaded question.The answer promotes tax relief for families without addressing the claim that 85% of Canadians get no benefit.
Once the budget is balanced, our government is committed to greater tax relief for Canadian families
- deflectedFinanceMs. Nycole Turmel (NDP) asked Joe Oliver (Conservative). substantive question.The answer repeats tax relief points without stating whether low-income Canadians benefit from income splitting.
It is a policy that is good for families, and that—
- deflectedFinanceMs. Nycole Turmel (NDP) asked Joe Oliver (Conservative). substantive question.The answer discusses net worth and taxes but does not address expected household debt to disposable income ratio.
Statistics Canada found that the net worth of Canadian families is 44.5% higher today than it was under the previous Liberal government.
- deflectedConsumer ProtectionMs. Peggy Nash (NDP) asked Joe Oliver (Conservative). substantive question.The answer lists credit card protections but ignores ATM fees and any commitment on banking fees.
our government puts consumers first.
- deflectedConsumer ProtectionMs. Annick Papillon (NDP) asked Joe Oliver (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the NDP's voting record instead of stating intent on legislation for credit card rates.
the NDP voted against our consumer protection policies and regulations and our legislation to improve financial literacy.
- deflectedConsumer ProtectionMr. Glenn Thibeault (NDP) asked Joe Oliver (Conservative). substantive question.The answer lists past actions and attacks the NDP without addressing online fraud or zero liability policies.
Sadly, the NDP has opposed all of our efforts to protect Canadian consumers.
- misdirectedDemocratic ReformMr. Craig Scott (NDP) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.The answer explains redaction by officials then pivots to attacking the NDP on election financing.
The NDP should start coming clean about the taxpayer-funded resources it has been employing to illegally finance campaigns
- deflectedDemocratic ReformMs. Alexandrine Latendresse (NDP) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.The answer ignores the briefing book question entirely and pivots to unrelated NDP accusations.
Clearly, the New Democrats are still breaking the rules.
- partly answeredJusticeStéphane Dion (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.The answer discusses the appointment process and consultations but avoids any promise on reappointment or a timeline for Quebec representation.
We will examine the decision by the Supreme Court as we continue to move forward in the process to appoint a justice
- misdirectedJusticeStéphane Dion (Liberal) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.The answer dismisses the question as nonsense and attacks the asker rather than addressing the federalism critique.
what nonsense, coming from a member from Quebec.
- deflectedDemocratic ReformMr. Scott Simms (Liberal) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.The answer promotes the bill's features but never addresses the scholars' criticisms or the request to stop partisan handling.
the fair elections act would keep everyday Canadians in charge of democracy by keeping interest groups on the sidelines and rule breakers out of business.
- partly answeredJusticeMs. Françoise Boivin (NDP) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.The answer details consultations and the selection committee but offers no commitment on restarting the process or avoiding Nadon's reappointment.
I consulted the attorney general of Quebec, Quebec's chief justice, the chief justice of the Quebec Superior Court,
- misdirectedJusticeMs. Françoise Boivin (NDP) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.The answer defends the process then pivots to attacking the asker with a quote from another MP instead of addressing ignored recommendations.
Who said that? The member for Gatineau .
- misdirectedEthicsMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked Mr. Ted Opitz (Conservative). substantive question.The answer abandons the senator ethics topic completely and responds about Ukraine instead.
in the past two weeks the situation in Ukraine escalated rapidly.
- deflectedHealthMs. Libby Davies (NDP) asked Mr. Colin Carrie (Conservative). substantive question.The answer highlights record transfers and commitments but sidesteps the expired accord, specific failures, and calls to work with provinces.
our government is committed to a strong, publicly funded health care system, guided by the Canada Health Act.
- deflectedHealthMr. Dany Morin (NDP) asked Mr. Colin Carrie (Conservative). substantive question.The response criticizes past Liberal actions and highlights funding increases instead of addressing current collaboration with provinces.
our government will never balance our books on the backs of the provinces and the territories like the Liberals did.
- deflectedAgriculture and Agri-FoodMs. Ruth Ellen Brosseau (NDP) asked Gerry Ritz (Conservative). substantive question.Answers by touting actions taken but ignores the compensation question entirely.
We brought in an order in council which has doubled the capacity of the two railways in the first couple of weeks that it came into play.
- misdirectedAgriculture and Agri-FoodMr. Malcolm Allen (NDP) asked Gerry Ritz (Conservative). substantive question.The minister attacks the opposition's research source and promotes government actions without addressing the fines or compensation to farmers.
the NDP should stop using the NFU for their research.
- misdirectedVeterans AffairsMr. Frank Valeriote (Liberal) asked Mr. Parm Gill (Conservative). substantive question.Begins with addressing the social contract but pivots to criticizing the Liberal Party's choice of critic.
I want to take a second to point out that the Liberals have finally accepted that the member for Scarborough—Agincourt was a disgraceful veterans affairs critic
- deflectedHealthCarolyn Bennett (Liberal) asked Mr. Colin Carrie (Conservative). substantive question.Deflects by criticizing Liberal past cuts instead of addressing lack of federal leadership or negotiating new accord.
we are not going to take any lessons from the Liberal Party that cut $25 billion out of transfers
- partly answeredCitizenship and ImmigrationMs. Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe (NDP) asked Chris Alexander (Conservative). substantive question.Provides statistics on contributions and refugees welcomed but does not specify future plans or address the delay.
We also welcomed over 1,100 Syrian refugees last year through our very generous system
- deflectedCitizenship and ImmigrationMr. Andrew Cash (NDP) asked Chris Alexander (Conservative). substantive question.Avoids direct reassurance by discussing consultations and past Liberal issues.
just because an issue was raised at a round table as part of the very extensive consultations that our government organizes across this country does not mean it is going to become government policy.
- answeredRegional DevelopmentMr. Rodger Cuzner (Liberal) asked Mr. Gerald Keddy (Conservative). substantive question.Directly confirms that the funding level will be maintained under ACOA.
The level of economic development funding that was delivered through ECBC will be maintained.
- deflectedAboriginal AffairsMs. Jean Crowder (NDP) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.The answer promotes existing government actions and attacks the NDP instead of addressing the demand for a national inquiry.
Sadly, the consistent approach of the NDP has been to talk. Our government has taken action.
- partly answeredHealthMr. Raymond Côté (NDP) asked Mr. Jeff Watson (Conservative). substantive question.The answer explains the port's arm's-length status and mentions some measures but does not address imposing stricter standards.
I know that the Port of Quebec has been working with certain tenants over the past number of months to implement measures like water cannons and dust capturing equipment, aimed at eliminating dust emissions from the port.
- deflectedJusticeMr. Jean-François Fortin (Bloc) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). loaded question.The answer notes consultations and intent to appoint but avoids committing to using a list from the Quebec government.
We intend to proceed with the appointment of a new member of the Supreme Court.
- partly answeredJusticeMrs. Maria Mourani (Independent) asked Peter MacKay (Conservative). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the need to respond to the ruling and mentions programs but does not commit to new legislation or specific support programs.
We do not need a bill to provide a comprehensive response to the Supreme Court ruling.