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Tuesday, May 5, 2015 · sitting No. 207

Commons opens third reading debate on anti-terrorism bill

The House devoted the largest share of its time to government orders on Bill C-51, the anti-terrorism act. Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney moved third reading and argued the legislation would equip police with necessary tools after recent attacks. Opposition members, including NDP MP Randall Garrison, rejected the claim that critics were unconcerned about terrorism and insisted the bill threatened rights without adequate oversight.

Question period featured repeated exchanges on the record trade deficit, child care affordability and tax measures. NDP MP Megan Leslie pressed the government on its failure to create child care spaces or reduce the deficit, while Finance Minister Pierre Poilievre countered that Liberal proposals would raise taxes on middle-income earners and seniors. Conservative and Liberal members also clashed over supply management protections in trade talks.

Decided that day

  • Bill C-247 advanced in the second chamber

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 · 2015-05-05

Government (Conservative)OppositionOver the day: government 45%, opposition 55% of the words spokenGovernment businessGovernment business▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 10:0512:0013:0014:0015:0016:0017:0018:0019:0020:00Last speech 21:25Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 11 h 20 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
44One bill creeps ahead amid long debatesThe House spent most of its time debating the Anti-terrorism Act and Iran policy, yet still advanced one private member's bill. Question period produced few direct answers while procedural interruptions remained light.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

Petitions

Conservative MP Leon Benoit presented petitions urging protection for persecuted Christians in Iraq and condemnation of gender-selection abortion.

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Iran Accountability Week

Parliamentary secretary Deepak Obhrai told the House that Iran's human rights record remained dire despite diplomatic overtures, while NDP MP Wayne Marston stressed the need to maintain pressure during nuclear negotiations.

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Aboriginal Affairs

NDP MP Carol Hughes asked the government to end the 17-year boil-water advisory at Shoal Lake 40 and build a reliable road link, and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt replied that Ottawa had invested billions in first nations water systems since 2006.

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Telecommunications

Industry Minister James Moore announced reduced satellite regulatory fees to improve high-speed service in remote communities and said the connecting Canadians program had already exceeded its household target.

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Citizenship and Immigration

NDP MP Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe warned that the express entry system was failing to meet the 4 per cent francophone immigration target outside Quebec, and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander defended the program's ability to identify and settle francophone newcomers faster.

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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
    International TradeMs. Megan Leslie (NDP) asked Ed Fast (Conservative). substantive question.The answer boasts about past trade deals and surplus while attacking the NDP on taxes instead of addressing the current deficit or a plan.Our government remains focused on creating jobs through aggressive trade promotion, while of course the NDP wants to raise taxes on the middle class.
  2. deflected
    Child CareMs. Megan Leslie (NDP) asked Candice Bergen (Conservative). substantive question.The answer defends existing benefits and attacks the NDP's approach but does not address the lack of a child care plan or the trade deficit.We refuse to dictate to Canadian families how they should be looking after their children.
  3. partly answered
    Manufacturing IndustryMs. Megan Leslie (NDP) asked James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly addresses manufacturing policy with specific budget measures and endorsements but ignores child care and trade deficit points.in this year's budget we put forth accelerated capital cost allowance, which has been called for by the manufacturing sector for a long time.
  4. misdirected
    Public SafetyMs. Rosane Doré Lefebvre (NDP) asked Steven Blaney (Conservative). substantive question.The answer turns to attacking the NDP for opposing the bill rather than addressing concerns about its flaws or the votes by Liberals and Conservatives.the real question is this: how can the NDP refuse to give our police the tools they need to protect Canadians?
  5. misdirected
    Public SafetyMs. Rosane Doré Lefebvre (NDP) asked Steven Blaney (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the NDP for opposing the bill and references hearings instead of addressing the bill's controversial clauses or opposition to amendments.New Democrats are still opposing measures to keep Canadians safe.
  6. misdirected
    TaxationDominic LeBlanc (Liberal) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the Liberal leader's tax plans instead of addressing why Conservatives prioritize TFSA over middle-class debt relief.yesterday the leader of the Liberal Party announced that he wants to hike taxes for those earning less than $60,000 a year by eliminating tax-free savings accounts.
  7. misdirected
    TaxationRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the Liberal leader's admitted tax hikes and holes instead of addressing why TFSA is prioritized over broad middle-class tax cuts.yesterday the Liberal leader admitted that his plan for higher taxes has a $2 billion hole in it.
  8. misdirected
    TaxationRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.The answer repeats attacks on the Liberal leader's tax plans instead of addressing why the government opposes middle-class tax cuts or benefits for single parents.yesterday the Liberal leader admitted he would raise taxes on people earning less than $60,000 a year.
  9. answered
    National DefenceMs. Élaine Michaud (NDP) asked Mr. James Bezan (Conservative). substantive question.Answer directly addresses the safety concern by confirming protocols were reviewed and videos removed.When concerns were raised about a few specific images, these were taken down immediately so we could review whether the protocols were properly applied.
  10. partly answered
    National DefenceMr. Jack Harris (NDP) asked Mr. James Bezan (Conservative). substantive question.Answer admits error and removal but does not identify who takes responsibility or explain why rules were broken.as I just said, we regret this error. These images were taken down and they will not be re-posted.
  11. answered
    National DefenceMr. Jack Harris (NDP) asked Mr. James Bezan (Conservative). substantive question.Answer confirms awareness of the investigations and states their outcome regarding charges.They found that there were no grounds for any charges to be laid.
  12. deflected
    National DefenceMr. Jack Harris (NDP) asked Mr. James Bezan (Conservative). substantive question.Answer denies the policy exists then shifts to unrelated justification for operations in Iraq.there is no policy in place as alluded to by the member.
  13. deflected
    International TradeMr. Don Davies (NDP) asked Ed Fast (Conservative). substantive question.Answer avoids committing to defend supply management and instead gives general assurance about trade deals.our government continues to promote Canadian interests across all sectors, in all regions of Canada at the TPP negotiating table.
  14. deflected
    International TradeMs. Ruth Ellen Brosseau (NDP) asked Maxime Bernier (Conservative). substantive question.Answer claims past protection of supply management but does not give the requested clear commitment.We have always protected and promoted the supply management system.
  15. deflected
    International TradeMs. Ruth Ellen Brosseau (NDP) asked Maxime Bernier (Conservative). loaded question.Answer points to past agreements rather than answering the yes-or-no demand on supply management.In the past, we have signed free trade agreements with many countries, including the European Union and South Korea.
  16. misdirected
    International TradeMs. Chrystia Freeland (Liberal) asked Ed Fast (Conservative). substantive question.Answer ignores the trade deficit question and attacks the Liberal record instead.we will put up our record on trade against the Liberal record any day.
  17. deflected
    TaxationMr. Emmanuel Dubourg (Liberal) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.The answer shifts focus to Liberal tax plans on lower earners instead of stating a position on the asked tax hike.Are we in favour of the Liberal plan to increase their taxes? No, we are absolutely not going to hike the taxes of the middle class.
  18. deflected
    TaxationScott Brison (Liberal) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.The answer pivots to a $2 billion hole in Liberal plans without addressing why Conservatives prioritize tax breaks for the wealthy.Even after raising taxes on those people who use tax-free savings accounts, he would have a $2 billion hole.
  19. deflected
    Public SafetyMs. Françoise Boivin (NDP) asked Steven Blaney (Conservative). substantive question.The answer acknowledges first responders but cites provincial jurisdiction and offers no action on the NDP bill or volunteer protections.Obviously, we respect provincial jurisdictions.
  20. partly answered
    Public SafetyMr. Randall Garrison (NDP) asked Steven Blaney (Conservative). substantive question.The answer notes increased funding and work with provinces but avoids concrete federal actions beyond budget support.We will continue to work with our provincial partners and our municipalities to take the challenge.
  21. answered
    Tourism IndustryMr. Brian Masse (NDP) asked Maxime Bernier (Conservative). substantive question.The answer confirms additional funding for U.S. tourism advertising as requested in the question.Members in the industry asked us to put more money into the U.S. to attract more U.S. travellers to Canada.
  22. deflected
    Tourism IndustryMs. Annick Papillon (NDP) asked Maxime Bernier (Conservative). substantive question.The answer highlights a provincial consensus on reinvestment but provides no specific dollar amount for the campaign.It was our government that reached a consensus with the provinces to ensure that there is reinvestment in the United States.
  23. partly answered
    Aboriginal AffairsMrs. Carol Hughes (NDP) asked Bernard Valcourt (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses immediate health and safety contact but states no requests were received and offers no intervention on the ferry or boil-water advisory.To date, we have received no requests for help.
  24. deflected
    Aboriginal AffairsMrs. Carol Hughes (NDP) asked Bernard Valcourt (Conservative). loaded question.The answer lists past water investments without addressing the specific infrastructure failures or timeline for Shoal Lake.That is why since 2006, approximately $3 billion have been invested in first nations' water and waste water infrastructure and related public health activities.
  25. answered
    TelecommunicationsMr. John Rafferty (NDP) asked James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly addresses rural internet access by citing specific programs and exceeded targets for household connections.Our goal was to have 280,000 households connected, which would take us to over 99% of all households connected in Canada, and we have exceeded that with over 300,000 households.
  26. answered
    TelecommunicationsMs. Christine Moore (NDP) asked James Moore (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses rural access concerns by referencing proposed funding and upcoming regional announcements.We will make announcements next week in each region, including Quebec.
  27. partly answered
    National DefenceMs. Joyce Murray (Liberal) asked Mr. James Bezan (Conservative). loaded question.The answer addresses the specific incident and report recommendations but does not engage the premise of government silence or neglect.The Chief of the Defence Staff has accepted all the recommendations from the Deschamps report and is acting on them.
  28. answered
    National DefenceMr. Marc Garneau (Liberal) asked Mr. James Bezan (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly addresses the image release error, confirms removal, and states protocols for troop safety.
  29. partly answered
    Citizenship and ImmigrationMs. Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe (NDP) asked Chris Alexander (Conservative). substantive question.The answer cites past achievements and general program benefits but does not specify how the express entry program will meet the 4% francophone target.The new express entry program will allow us to identify many more francophone immigrants and to ensure that they settle in all regions faster than ever.
  30. deflected
    Citizenship and ImmigrationMr. Claude Gravelle (NDP) asked Chris Alexander (Conservative). substantive question.The answer shifts to attacking the NDP instead of outlining measures to increase francophone immigration targets.the scandal is the NDP's failure to recognize the progress that has been made in this area.
  31. deflected
    SeniorsJudy Sgro (Liberal) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.The answer pivots to criticizing the Liberal plan and income splitting rather than addressing OAS age changes or seniors' debt issues.However, the Liberal plan has a $2 billion hole and that means they will not only have to eliminate income splitting for families, but they will also eliminate it for seniors.
  32. partly answered
    National DefenceMs. Irene Mathyssen (NDP) asked Mr. James Bezan (Conservative). substantive question.The answer explains the property assessment but does not confirm a decision or timeline for the Legion's proposal.properties are rightly assessed to ensure they meet all requirements.
  33. deflected
    Aboriginal AffairsMr. Bruce Hyer (Green) asked Bernard Valcourt (Conservative). substantive question.The answer lists general spending figures but never addresses the specific Shoal Lake disparity raised.our government continues to take action on first nations across Canada so that they have the same quality of drinking water as all other Canadians.
  34. misdirected
    International TradeMr. Louis Plamondon (Bloc) asked Maxime Bernier (Conservative). substantive question.The response attacks the Bloc Québécois instead of confirming whether the supply-management mandate remains unchanged.what has the Bloc Québécois done for agricultural producers in Quebec and Canada? Nothing.