All sittings← 2015-02-062015-02-17 →
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
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 exchangeRail 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 exchangeForeign 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 exchangeEthics
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.
Read the exchangeFood Safety
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said CFIA was tracing the source of a new BSE case in northern Alberta under international protocols.
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
- partly answeredFood 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.
- deflectedFood 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.
- partly answeredRail 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.
- partly answeredRail 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.
- deflectedRail 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?
- deflectedInfrastructureStéphane 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.
- misdirectedInfrastructureStéphane 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.
- deflectedInfrastructureStéphane 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.
- deflectedPublic 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.
- deflectedPublic 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.
- misdirectedPublic 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?
- answeredForeign 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.
- partly answeredForeign 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.
- deflectedForeign 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.
- answeredForeign 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.
- misdirectedEthicsMs. 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.
- deflectedEthicsMr. 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.
- misdirectedNational 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.
- deflectedForeign 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.
- answeredForeign 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.
- misdirectedAboriginal 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.
- deflectedAboriginal AffairsMrs. Carol Hughes (NDP) asked K. Kellie Leitch (Conservative). loaded question.The answer emphasizes action and confidentiality while avoiding apology or inquiry commitment.
- partly answeredRail 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.
- partly answeredRail 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.
- deflectedScience 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.
- misdirectedScience 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.
- partly answeredQuebec 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.
- partly answeredQuebec 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.
- deflectedCitizenship 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.
- deflectedCitizenship 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.
- deflectedCBC/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.
- misdirectedCBC/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.
- deflectedJusticeWayne 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.
- partly answeredNational 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.
- answeredInfrastructureMr. 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.
- answeredInternational 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.
- partly answeredJusticeMr. 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.
- deflectedEmployment 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.