Parliament AIIndependent · non-official

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Monday, February 16, 2015 · sitting No. 172

Commons moves to end debate on parliamentary security integration

The House spent the largest share of its sitting on Government Business No. 14, a motion to integrate parliamentary security forces under a unified command that includes the RCMP. Peter Van Loan moved to end further debate on the motion, prompting objections from opposition members who said caucuses had not yet discussed the measure.

During Question Period, NDP members pressed the government on rail safety during the Canadian Pacific strike and on whether American replacement workers would operate trains carrying hazardous materials. Liberal members challenged the government over an 87 per cent reduction in the building Canada fund and questioned judicial appointment practices in Nova Scotia.

Conservative ministers defended the security motion as consistent with earlier Auditor General recommendations and said rail safety inspections would continue during the labour dispute.

Decided that day

  • Recognized necessity of measures after October 22 attack
  • Limited further debate on Government Business No. 14
  • Bill S-221 advanced

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 · 2015-02-16

Government (Conservative)OppositionOver the day: government 46%, opposition 54% of the words spokenPrivate membersGovernment businessQuestion PeriodGovernment business▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 11:0512:0013:0014:0015:0016:0017:0018:00Last speech 19:15Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 8 h 10 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
71Security motion passes, economy call failsThe House devoted nearly all its time to substantive debate on security and rail matters, advancing one bill and passing two procedural motions. Most recorded votes failed and Question Period produced few complete 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

Assaults Against Public Transit Operators

Conservative MP Corneliu Chisu told the House that Bill S-221 would create a new aggravating factor in the Criminal Code for violence against public transit operators and taxi drivers.

Read the exchange

Rail Service Resumption Act, 2015

Labour Minister K. Kellie Leitch said the government had provided mediators since November to help Canadian Pacific and its unions reach an agreement before moving legislation to resume rail operations.

Read the exchange

Foreign Affairs

Liberal MP Marc Garneau expressed sympathy to the Coptic community for the murder of 21 Christians in Libya and listed other religious minorities targeted by Daesh.

Read the exchange

Ethics

NDP MP Françoise Boivin said six of nine judges appointed in Nova Scotia by Justice Minister Peter MacKay were friends or Conservative organizers, including his best man.

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Food Safety

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said CFIA was tracing the source of a new BSE case in northern Alberta under international protocols.

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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. partly answered
    Food SafetyMr. David Christopherson (NDP) asked Gerry Ritz (Conservative). substantive question.Addresses sourcing the case but omits any mention of assistance to ranchers.The expectations of the farm and CFIA are that they will source this out.
  2. deflected
    Food SafetyMr. David Christopherson (NDP) asked Gerry Ritz (Conservative). substantive question.Shifts focus to blaming the opposition instead of detailing current confidence measures.of course, the glacial speed was the other party over there in the corner.
  3. partly answered
    Rail TransportationMr. David Christopherson (NDP) asked Mr. Jeff Watson (Conservative). substantive question.Confirms standards and monitoring but does not address the specific claim about U.S. workers.what I can confirm, of course, is that Transport Canada's role is to ensure that the qualification standards for locomotive engineers are consistently followed.
  4. partly answered
    Rail TransportationMs. Nycole Turmel (NDP) asked Mr. Jeff Watson (Conservative). substantive question.Repeats standards and monitoring without confirming or denying use of U.S. replacement workers.it is the same question different language, but the same answer.
  5. deflected
    Rail TransportationMs. Nycole Turmel (NDP) asked Mr. Jeff Watson (Conservative). substantive question.Ends by questioning the member on the economy rather than addressing safety negotiations.Does the member opposite believe that we should be taking some important action to ensure that the economy keeps moving forward?
  6. deflected
    InfrastructureStéphane Dion (Liberal) asked Mr. Peter Braid (Conservative). loaded question.Rejects the premise and promotes government spending without addressing the alleged cut.of course, we know that statement is incorrect.
  7. misdirected
    InfrastructureStéphane Dion (Liberal) asked Mr. Peter Braid (Conservative). substantive question.Attacks the Liberals' understanding instead of addressing the funding cut numbers.I appreciate that the Liberals have a hard time understanding the bottom line.
  8. deflected
    InfrastructureStéphane Dion (Liberal) asked Mr. Peter Braid (Conservative). substantive question.Compares to Liberals and explains process without addressing the 2019 delay.our Conservative government will take no lessons from the Liberals on infrastructure investments in the country.
  9. deflected
    Public SafetyMr. Randall Garrison (NDP) asked Steven Blaney (Conservative). substantive question.The answer discusses general terrorism prevention instead of explaining the specific provision.when it comes to terrorism, clearly it is important to take action on all fronts, including prevention, whenever an individual seeks to become radicalized and get involved in terrorism.
  10. deflected
    Public SafetyMs. Rosane Doré Lefebvre (NDP) asked Steven Blaney (Conservative). substantive question.The answer restates general support for the bill without providing a specific example of prohibited activities.after 30 years, we need to give our intelligence agency a wider range of tools in order to protect Canadians, especially when it comes to reducing threats.
  11. misdirected
    Public SafetyMs. Rosane Doré Lefebvre (NDP) asked Steven Blaney (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the NDP's position rather than addressing the definition of terrorism.Is the NDP prepared to accept the truth about this?
  12. answered
    Foreign AffairsMr. Wayne Marston (NDP) asked Mr. David Anderson (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly confirms the Prime Minister raised the issue and outlines actions taken.My colleague opposite knows that the Prime Minister has personally raised the issue of Mohamed Fahmy with the Egyptian president.
  13. partly answered
    Foreign AffairsMs. Linda Duncan (NDP) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses overall sanctions but does not explain why the named individuals were omitted.In addition to our military NATO assurance measures, we placed sanctions on more than 210 individuals and entities.
  14. deflected
    Foreign AffairsMs. Hélène Laverdière (NDP) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). substantive question.The answer emphasizes general toughness on Russia without addressing the specific omissions.Nobody has been tougher on the Putin regime than this government.
  15. answered
    Foreign AffairsMs. Hélène Laverdière (NDP) asked Rob Nicholson (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly addresses the language issue and personal efforts to improve.I speak English and as far as French is concerned, I do not speak it very well yet.
  16. misdirected
    EthicsMs. Françoise Boivin (NDP) asked Mr. Bob Dechert (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the NDP's use of tax money instead of addressing the judicial appointments.The Broadbent Institute's efforts would be better spent investigating the inappropriate use of tax money to fund NDP regional operations across Canada.
  17. deflected
    EthicsMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked Mr. Bob Dechert (Conservative). loaded question.The answer restates general policy without addressing the specific allegations of favoritism.Our judicial appointments are based on one criterion and one criterion only: whether that individual is qualified for the job, determined by merit and legal experience.
  18. misdirected
    National DefenceMs. Joyce Murray (Liberal) asked Jason Kenney (Conservative). loaded question.The answer pivots to past funding increases and equipment acquisitions instead of addressing current cuts.I begin this mandate proud of this government's achievement of rebuilding the Canadian Forces, with a 28% increase in funding from the decade of darkness of the Liberals.
  19. deflected
    Foreign AffairsMr. Marc Garneau (Liberal) asked Mr. David Anderson (Conservative). substantive question.The answer claims prior response but avoids confirming direct Prime Minister communication with el-Sisi.The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Consular , the former Minister of Foreign Affairs , the Prime Minister , our mission, our officials, have all raised the issue of Mr. Fahmy, and we will continue to do so.
  20. answered
    Foreign AffairsMr. Marc Garneau (Liberal) asked Mr. David Anderson (Conservative). loaded question.The answer directly states that the Prime Minister personally raised the case with the Egyptian president.The Prime Minister has personally raised the case with the Egyptian president.
  21. misdirected
    Aboriginal AffairsMr. Jonathan Genest-Jourdain (NDP) asked K. Kellie Leitch (Conservative). loaded question.The answer denies lack of consultation but ignores the call for a national inquiry.Our government is taking action to make sure that women are safe and secure and that they are protected and supported in their time of need.
  22. deflected
    Aboriginal AffairsMrs. Carol Hughes (NDP) asked K. Kellie Leitch (Conservative). loaded question.The answer emphasizes action and confidentiality while avoiding apology or inquiry commitment.
  23. partly answered
    Rail TransportationMr. Claude Gravelle (NDP) asked Mr. Jeff Watson (Conservative). substantive question.The answer notes no injuries and TSB involvement but provides no details on cause, leak, or fire status.I understand, of course, that the Transportation Safety Board is on scene, and others.
  24. partly answered
    Rail TransportationMr. Hoang Mai (NDP) asked Mr. Jeff Watson (Conservative). substantive question.The answer references a prior report response and training blitzes but does not confirm enforcement of standards.This was one of the action points the department, of course, committed to, including important blitzes to see if there are any gaps in the training competencies of railway companies.
  25. deflected
    Science and TechnologyMs. Laurin Liu (NDP) asked Ed Holder (Conservative). substantive question.The answer restates general investments without addressing the specific funding issue for the observatory.we have made record investments in science, technology and innovation.
  26. misdirected
    Science and TechnologyMr. Pierre-Luc Dusseault (NDP) asked Ed Holder (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the opposition party instead of addressing the funding criteria change or solution.We will take no lessons from that party when it comes to our commitment to science, technology, and innovation.
  27. partly answered
    Quebec BridgeMr. Denis Blanchette (NDP) asked Mr. Jeff Watson (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses the funding commitment but shifts responsibility to CN without confirming action on the promise.the government promised $75 million to repaint the Quebec Bridge.
  28. partly answered
    Quebec BridgeMs. Annick Papillon (NDP) asked Mr. Jeff Watson (Conservative). substantive question.The answer repeats the funding commitment and points to CN but does not confirm the Prime Minister signing a cheque.as the owner of the bridge, Canadian National is responsible for maintaining it and keeping it safe.
  29. deflected
    Citizenship and ImmigrationJohn McCallum (Liberal) asked Chris Alexander (Conservative). substantive question.The answer avoids entering discussions with China by redirecting to past Liberal issues and general visa stats.For our part, we have been giving much better service to all Chinese citizens coming to Canada since we began to clean up the Liberal mess in this area.
  30. deflected
    Citizenship and ImmigrationJohn McCallum (Liberal) asked Chris Alexander (Conservative). loaded question.The answer lists achievements on trade and visas but does not address the yo-yo diplomacy claim or commit to immediate action on 10-year visas.we are in touch with the Government of China on this, as on many other issues, because we are making huge progress with it on immigration issues and trade issues.
  31. deflected
    CBC/Radio-CanadaMr. Pierre Nantel (NDP) asked Shelly Glover (Conservative). substantive question.The answer repeats the existing billion-dollar funding without addressing the petitions, artists' concerns, or dismantling warnings.the truth is that the government is already giving CBC/Radio-Canada over a billion dollars a year.
  32. misdirected
    CBC/Radio-CanadaMr. Pierre Nantel (NDP) asked Shelly Glover (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the NDP proposal instead of responding to the budget cuts, job losses, or public rallies.I find it strangely odd that the NDP would suggest that we actually take money away from taxpayers, as we provide a universal child care benefit, to give to an organization that gets over a billion dollars a year.
  33. deflected
    JusticeWayne Easter (Liberal) asked Mr. Bob Dechert (Conservative). loaded question.The answer avoids the specific allegations by restating the general appointments process.Our judicial appointments are based on one criterion and one criterion only: whether the individual is qualified for the job, determined on merit and legal excellence.
  34. partly answered
    National DefenceMr. Dany Morin (NDP) asked Jason Kenney (Conservative). substantive question.Provides some details on personnel and investments but does not confirm the original $300 million promise.What is more, the Royal Canadian Air Force just set up the core of an air expeditionary wing, which will bring in an additional 230 people.
  35. answered
    InfrastructureMr. Bruce Hyer (Green) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). loaded question.States that the government is already partnering with municipalities on infrastructure as requested.We have introduced the largest and longest infrastructure plan in Canadian history in partnership with the provinces and municipalities.
  36. answered
    International TradeMr. Massimo Pacetti (Independent) asked Ed Fast (Conservative). substantive question.Explains the global markets action plan and its explicit focus on SMEs.about a year ago we released Canada's global markets action plan, which identifies the priority markets that matter to Canada, identifies the priority sectors of our economy that matter to Canadians, and puts a special focus on the small and medium-sized enterprises that the member referred to.
  37. partly answered
    JusticeMr. Jean-François Fortin (Forces et Démocratie) asked Mr. Bob Dechert (Conservative). substantive question.Acknowledges sensitivity but only commits to studying the decision without addressing recognition of the Quebec law.We will study the decision and ensure that all perspectives on this difficult issue are heard.
  38. deflected
    Employment InsuranceMr. Jean-François Fortin (Forces et Démocratie) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.Praises the EI system and mentions process improvements without addressing the survey on discouraging claims.Our system is very generous to the unemployed. We are working to provide them the benefits to which they are entitled.