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Friday, November 28, 2014 · sitting No. 151

Commons debates bill to protect service animals as NDP backs study

The House spent the largest share of its time on second reading of Bill C-35, the Justice for Animals in Service Act, also known as Quanto's Law. NDP MP Alain Giguère said the NDP supports sending the bill to committee because criminals who injure service animals often avoid the charges that would apply if the same acts were committed against officers. Conservative MP Richard Harris countered that NDP objections to mandatory minimum sentences ignore lenient judicial practice.

In Question Period, NDP MP Libby Davies pressed the government on the timeline for new veterans' mental-health spending, saying an announced $200-million package would actually be spread over 50 years rather than six. Parliamentary Secretary Parm Gill replied that the investment would add eight new operational stress injury clinics to the 13 already opened since 2011.

NDP MP Romeo Saganash and others raised reports that residents of Rankin Inlet were scavenging in a landfill for food. Conservative MP Colin Carrie said the Minister of the Environment had contacted local officials to verify the reports and that Nutrition North Canada had increased shipments of nutritious food by 25 per cent since 2011.

Decided that day

  • C-35 advanced to second reading

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 · 2014-11-28

Government (Conservative)OppositionOver the day: government 41%, opposition 59% of the words spokenGovernment businessStatements By MembersQuestion PeriodGovernment business▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 10:0511:0012:00Last speech 12:50Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 2 h 45 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
41One bill inches forward amid deflected answersThe House spent most of its time on substantive topics and moved one bill to second reading. Question period produced far more deflected or misdirected replies than clear 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

Justice for Animals in Service Act (Quanto's Law)

NDP MP Hélène LeBlanc asked whether the government was spending too much time on Bill C-35 while an omnibus budget bill remained undivided. NDP MP Alain Giguère replied that omnibus bills force rejection of entire packages even when some measures are acceptable.

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Justice for Animals in Service Act (Quanto's Law)

NDP MP Charlie Angus said the bill would impose mandatory minimum sentences for harming police dogs and noted the government had spent far less time on Jordan's principle, which passed seven years earlier.

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Port of Montreal

NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice said Normand Morin remained on the Port of Montreal board for 18 months after admitting to illegal political donations at SNC-Lavalin. Conservative MP Jeff Watson said Morin is no longer a board member and any wrongdoing is unrelated to the federal government.

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Steel Industry

NDP MP Peggy Nash said a federally owned ferry-dock project in Prince Rupert is closed to Canadian steel suppliers because of buy-American rules. Conservative MP Erin O'Toole said the government consistently opposes such protectionist measures.

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Justice

Liberal MP Irwin Cotler criticized the government for filling a Supreme Court vacancy without a selection panel or parliamentary participation. Conservative MP Bob Dechert said a previous all-party process had produced a serious breach of confidentiality.

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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
    Veterans AffairsMs. Libby Davies (NDP) asked Mr. Parm Gill (Conservative). loaded question.Answer promotes clinics without addressing the 50-year funding timeline or misleading claim.When our government took office, there were only four operational stress clinics.
  2. deflected
    Veterans AffairsMs. Libby Davies (NDP) asked Mr. Parm Gill (Conservative). loaded question.Answer promotes clinics without addressing the 50-year funding timeline or misleading claim.We take veterans' mental health care very seriously.
  3. answered
    Nothern DevelopmentMs. Libby Davies (NDP) asked Mr. Colin Carrie (Conservative). substantive question.Answer directly denies the allegation and explains the minister's actions.the allegations are completely false.
  4. answered
    Nothern DevelopmentMr. Romeo Saganash (NDP) asked Mr. Colin Carrie (Conservative). substantive question.Answer directly denies the allegation and clarifies the minister's contacts.at no time did she or her office request an apology from anyone in the hamlet.
  5. partly answered
    Nothern DevelopmentMr. Romeo Saganash (NDP) asked Mr. Colin Carrie (Conservative). loaded question.Answer addresses program results but ignores the demand for apology and program failure premise.Nutrition North Canada has shipped a total of 61 million kilograms of nutritious and perishable food to northern communities since 2011.
  6. deflected
    VeteransJohn McCallum (Liberal) asked Mr. Parm Gill (Conservative). loaded question.Answer promotes clinics without addressing the 50-year funding timeline or misleading claim.This is in addition to 13 operational stress injury clinics that we have already implemented since taking office.
  7. deflected
    VeteransJohn McCallum (Liberal) asked Mr. Parm Gill (Conservative). loaded question.Answer promotes clinics without addressing the 50-year funding timeline or website deletion.This is exactly why we are putting more operational stress injury clinics right across the country
  8. misdirected
    VeteransJohn McCallum (Liberal) asked Mr. Parm Gill (Conservative). loaded question.Answer attacks opposition record instead of addressing minister's silence or website deletion.Any initiative our government brings forward to help Canada's veterans the opposition has opposed.
  9. partly answered
    VeteransMr. David Christopherson (NDP) asked Mr. Parm Gill (Conservative). loaded question.Answer acknowledges delays and work underway but defends record without addressing the 50-year claim or failure premise.At the same time, the Auditor General did point out that there were some unnecessary delays, which the department and our government are working to address.
  10. misdirected
    VeteransMr. David Christopherson (NDP) asked Mr. Parm Gill (Conservative). loaded question.Answer shifts to attacking the questioner for yelling and voting record instead of addressing the report or apology demand.the member opposite can yell and scream all he wants, but I am sure that what Canadian veterans and Canadians would like him to do is to start standing up for Canada's veterans, especially when it comes to standing up and voting in favour of the initiatives that our government brings forward
  11. partly answered
    VeteransMr. Ryan Cleary (NDP) asked Mr. Parm Gill (Conservative). loaded question.Answer accepts recommendations and notes supports but does not address the misleading or running away accusations.At the same time, we accept all recommendations put forward by the Auditor General, including where he suggested that there are some unnecessary delays in the paperwork and the application process.
  12. deflected
    VeteransMr. Tarik Brahmi (NDP) asked Mr. Parm Gill (Conservative). loaded question.Answer highlights clinic expansions and future focus but avoids the 50-year timeline criticism entirely.As I mentioned, there were only four operational stress injury clinics when our government took office.
  13. partly answered
    Northern DevelopmentMr. Jonathan Genest-Jourdain (NDP) asked Mr. Erin O'Toole (Conservative). loaded question.Answer defends the program with stats but does not acknowledge failure or commit to changes requested.Since the program began, shipments of healthy foods to our north have increased by 25% and savings for families have been $110 on average.
  14. misdirected
    Northern DevelopmentMs. Niki Ashton (NDP) asked Mr. Erin O'Toole (Conservative). loaded question.Answer calls attacks shameful and pivots to program defense without answering when the government learned of the crisis.it is rather quite shameful that the member for Churchill is using unfounded, untrue personal attacks when she should be talking about the importance of the Nutrition North program
  15. deflected
    Northern DevelopmentMs. Niki Ashton (NDP) asked Mr. Erin O'Toole (Conservative). loaded question.Answer reiterates program benefits and new funding but sidesteps the intimidation and apology demand.This week an additional $11.3 million was added to the program.
  16. misdirected
    Northern DevelopmentMs. Jean Crowder (NDP) asked Mr. Erin O'Toole (Conservative). loaded question.Answer dismisses reports as untrue and attacks opposition rhetoric instead of addressing awareness or action timeline.In fact, in contrast to the rhetoric being thrown around by some of those members, northern Canada has the strongest member in cabinet in its history.
  17. misdirected
    Northern DevelopmentMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked Mr. Erin O'Toole (Conservative). loaded question.Answer attacks opposition and pivots to program praise instead of addressing the dump scavenging or apology demand.the only thing found in dumps here this morning is the questions and the approach of the opposition.
  18. deflected
    Northern DevelopmentHedy Fry (Liberal) asked Mr. Erin O'Toole (Conservative). loaded question.Answer promotes Nutrition North results without addressing Auditor General criticism or bullying allegations.Since 2011, there has been a 25% increase in shipments to the north of healthy food products.
  19. partly answered
    Northern DevelopmentJohn McKay (Liberal) asked Mr. Erin O'Toole (Conservative). substantive question.Answer acknowledges minister's background and commits to using Auditor General feedback on funding agreements.We are going to ensure that we take the Auditor General's feedback to ensure that there are more clauses in these funding agreements
  20. answered
    TourismMr. Arnold Chan (Liberal) asked Mike Lake (Conservative). substantive question.Answer lists specific government actions on visas, air agreements and promotion instead of restoring commission funding.We have introduced more efficient electronic visa application processes.
  21. answered
    Port of MontrealMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked Mr. Jeff Watson (Conservative). substantive question.Answer states the individual is no longer on the board and any wrongdoing should face legal consequences.this individual is no longer a member of the board, and none of the issues regarding his alleged activities at SNC-Lavalin are related to the federal government.
  22. answered
    Port of MontrealMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked Mr. Jeff Watson (Conservative). substantive question.Answer repeats that the individual is off the board and any wrongdoing should face the law.this individual is no longer a member of the board.
  23. deflected
    Steel IndustryMs. Peggy Nash (NDP) asked Mr. Erin O'Toole (Conservative). substantive question.Answer expresses concern and restates general opposition to buy-American policies without detailing corrective actions.Our government has a track record of consistently opposing such measures and standing up and opening markets for Canadians.
  24. misdirected
    Steel IndustryMs. Laurin Liu (NDP) asked Mr. Erin O'Toole (Conservative). substantive question.Answer attacks an opposition colleague's past statements instead of addressing protection of Canadian steel jobs.What is interesting is that her colleague the member of Parliament for Burnaby—New Westminster has been promoting such measures
  25. deflected
    Public Works and Government ServicesMs. Ruth Ellen Brosseau (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer restates general commitments to efficiency without addressing relocation to Shawinigan.Our consolidation of services includes streamlining, increasing accessibility, and making sure that, as we do that, we offer employees every opportunity to continue work with the federal government.
  26. deflected
    Public Works and Government ServicesMr. Robert Aubin (NDP) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer repeats talking points on modernization without committing to local integration.All of the employees will receive or have received offers so that they can continue to work for the federal government.
  27. deflected
    Canada PostMr. Wayne Marston (NDP) asked Mr. Jeff Watson (Conservative). substantive question.The answer points to Canada Post's independence and refers the question elsewhere instead of committing to intervention.However, if there is a particular question, I will refer the member to Canada Post.
  28. misdirected
    Canada PostMr. José Nunez-Melo (NDP) asked Mr. Jeff Watson (Conservative). loaded question.The answer corrects a premise about government action and shifts to Canada Post's financial issues rather than addressing the service elimination query.To correct the record, Mr. Speaker, the Conservative government has done no such thing.
  29. partly answered
    JusticeIrwin Cotler (Liberal) asked Mr. Bob Dechert (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses the process concern by noting a confidentiality breach but ends by attacking the asker.Do members know who said that? It was the member when he was minister of justice.
  30. answered
    Fisheries and OceansMr. Scott Simms (Liberal) asked Mr. Randy Kamp (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly addresses the wharf assessment and investment request with specific actions underway.An engineering assessment is being undertaken to determine what can be done in preparation for the next fishing season.
  31. deflected
    Regional Economic DevelopmentMr. John Rafferty (NDP) asked Mrs. Kelly Block (Conservative). substantive question.The answer avoids explaining the lapsed spending and instead restates general economic goals.We will continue to ensure that communities and businesses in northern Ontario have the tools they need to have a strong, diversified economy.
  32. partly answered
    Rail TransportationMs. Hélène LeBlanc (NDP) asked Mr. Jeff Watson (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses rail safety actions but does not respond to the TSB recommendations on tanker cars or disciplining carriers.Specifically, as we vowed, the most offending DOT-111s have been removed from the service of transporting crude.
  33. deflected
    Public Works and Government ServicesMs. Lise St-Denis (Liberal) asked Diane Finley (Conservative). substantive question.The answer discusses modernization and employee assistance without addressing whether the cuts will be reversed.I can assure the member that every employee will be getting assistance in order to continue working for the federal government.
  34. misdirected
    CBC/Radio-CanadaMrs. Anne-Marie Day (NDP) asked Mr. Rick Dykstra (Conservative). loaded question.The answer pivots to an ombudsman ruling on a documentary instead of addressing the specific claims of PMO interference.With respect to this documentary, the ombudsman found that the rules of journalistic standards and practices had not been correctly applied.
  35. deflected
    Employment InsuranceMr. Claude Patry (Bloc) asked Mr. Scott Armstrong (Conservative). substantive question.The answer asserts no limits on access but does not explain the low beneficiary ratio or plans to improve it.If people lose their job due to no fault of their own, the employment insurance system will be there for them, just as it always is.
  36. deflected
    Employment InsuranceMr. Claude Patry (Bloc) asked Mr. Scott Armstrong (Conservative). substantive question.The answer defends premium stability and criticizes the prior government rather than addressing use of the current surplus.That is why we treat the employment insurance fund with respect, unlike the previous government, which raided it for over $50 billion.
  37. partly answered
    Agriculture and Agri-FoodMr. André Bellavance (Independent) asked Mr. Pierre Lemieux (Conservative). substantive question.The answer affirms support for supply management pillars but does not address the specific warning about future negotiations.We are ensuring that the three pillars of supply management remain intact in all trade agreements that our government implements, including the agreements with Europe and Korea.
  38. misdirected
    Points of OrderMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked Mr. LaVar Payne (Conservative). substantive question.The answer endorses the smear instead of apologizing or clarifying the remark about kings.I actually saw the member for Winnipeg Centre do the same thing as described by my colleague.