All sittings← 2015-05-082015-05-12 →
Monday, May 11, 2015 · sitting No. 211
NDP motion on veterans' covenant leads supply day debate
The House spent the largest part of the day on a motion moved by New Democrat MP Fin Donnelly that would recognize a standalone covenant requiring the government to provide equitable compensation and support services to injured or deceased members of the Canadian Armed Forces and their dependants. Conservative MP Laurie Hawn questioned the mover's record on the file while Liberal MP Frank Valeriote criticized the scope of the new critical injury benefit. The motion remained before the House at adjournment.
In Question Period, New Democrat MP David Christopherson pressed the government on the Prime Minister's Office role in altering a Senate report on Mike Duffy's expenses. Conservative MP Paul Calandra said the matter was before the courts and declined to comment. New Democrat MP Sadia Groguhé asked why thousands of women who fell ill on parental leave were still denied sickness benefits despite a 2013 legislative change.
Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre said the 2013 changes resolved the issue for future cases. Liberal MP Ralph Goodale criticized the government's tax measures and trade deficits while Conservative MP Joe Oliver defended the low-tax plan.
Decided that day
- Motion to remove GST from feminine hygiene products passed
- Bill C-452 advanced to next stage
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 · 2015-05-11
51Supply day passes one motion, nine interruptionsThe House spent nearly all its time on supply business and recorded one passed motion while advancing a bill. Yet nine points of order and mostly deflected answers in question period kept the focus on procedure rather than results.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
Missing Aboriginal Women
Liberal MP Carolyn Bennett moved a private member's motion calling for a national public inquiry into missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls. Conservative MP Susan Truppe said the government's action plan already included a DNA missing persons database and rejected the call for an inquiry.
Read the exchangePrivilege
Conservative MP Tom Lukiwski responded to a question of privilege raised by New Democrat MP Peter Julian concerning staff conduct near the parliamentary precinct. Julian said the government had no role investigating such matters.
Read the exchangeNational Defence
New Democrat MP Jack Harris asked why the Prime Minister's Office posted videos showing the faces of Canadian special forces personnel. Conservative MP Paul Calandra said National Defence had approved the videos.
Read the exchangeHealth
New Democrat MP Murray Rankin pressed the government for detailed compensation commitments to thalidomide survivors. Conservative MP Cathy McLeod said a $125,000 lump sum payment had already been made and further support was being negotiated.
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
- deflectedEthicsMr. David Christopherson (NDP) asked Mr. Paul Calandra (Conservative). substantive question.Avoids the questions by claiming the matter is before the courts.
as members know, this matter is before the courts, so it would obviously be inappropriate for me to comment on evidence that is before the courts.
- misdirectedEthicsMr. David Christopherson (NDP) asked Mr. Paul Calandra (Conservative). substantive question.Instead of answering, attacks an opposition member over unrelated spending.
We know, for instance, that the member for Gatineau used $24,498 against the rules of this House to fund an illegal partisan office in Montreal, and I hope that she will do her best to repay those funds immediately.
- partly answeredEmployment InsuranceMr. David Christopherson (NDP) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.Addresses the 2013 fix for future cases but ignores past denied claims.
That is precisely why our government introduced legislation to ensure that people who fall ill while they are on EI parental leave can get sick leave as well.
- partly answeredEmployment InsuranceMrs. Sadia Groguhé (NDP) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.Addresses the 2013 fix for future cases but ignores past denied claims.
That is why we introduced a bill in 2013 that allows people to access sickness benefits if they fall ill while receiving parental benefits.
- partly answeredEmployment InsuranceMrs. Sadia Groguhé (NDP) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.Addresses the 2013 fix for future cases but ignores past denied claims.
that is exactly what we did in 2013 when we introduced a bill that is now in force.
- misdirectedTaxationRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.Turns to attacking Liberal tax plans instead of addressing the question.
The Liberals have announced that they will take away the universal child care benefit.
- misdirectedTaxationRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.Turns to attacking Liberal fiscal plans instead of addressing the question.
Just like budgets do not balance themselves, the Liberal leader's platform does not balance itself either.
- misdirectedTaxationRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked Joe Oliver (Conservative). substantive question.Turns to defending government record instead of addressing the question.
Our government is focused on what matters to Canadians: jobs and economic growth, with 1.2 million net new jobs created, 20% more than the G7.
- deflectedEmploymentMs. Peggy Nash (NDP) asked Joe Oliver (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the NDP's voting record rather than addressing the budget's lack of job creation measures.
the New Democrats have a lot of nerve criticizing our record on job creation.
- deflectedEmploymentMs. Peggy Nash (NDP) asked Joe Oliver (Conservative). loaded question.The answer lists tax measures but does not address the specific question about job losses or budget priorities.
I am proud of the many tax measures that will benefit all Canadian families, the middle class, seniors and the disabled.
- partly answeredEmployment InsuranceMs. Irene Mathyssen (NDP) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.The answer explains the 2013 Act for future cases but avoids addressing the 3,000 denied claims due to court proceedings.
As the matter in question is before the courts, it would be inappropriate to comment.
- deflectedEmployment InsuranceMs. Irene Mathyssen (NDP) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.The answer repeats the 2013 Act explanation without addressing the 3,000 claimants or EI fund use.
That is why back in 2013, we introduced the Helping Families in Need Act.
- deflectedEmployment InsuranceMr. Robert Aubin (NDP) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.The answer corrects the premise and discusses future contribution changes but ignores the current access issues for unemployed workers.
the hon. member is wrong. What he said is not accurate.
- answeredNational DefenceMr. Jack Harris (NDP) asked Mr. Paul Calandra (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly confirms that National Defence approved the videos in question.
The latest videos that he referenced have been approved by National Defence.
- answeredNational DefenceMs. Élaine Michaud (NDP) asked Mr. Paul Calandra (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly states that National Defence reviewed and approved the videos.
Again, Mr. Speaker, as I just said, National Defence has reviewed these videos and has approved them for viewing.
- partly answeredVeteransMr. Sylvain Chicoine (NDP) asked Erin O'Toole (Conservative). substantive question.The answer details Bill C-58 reforms but does not specify how the government would support the motion if passed.
We have the retirement income security benefit, the critical injury benefit, the family caregiver relief benefit, on top of improvements to permanent impairment allowance
- misdirectedVeteransMr. Peter Stoffer (NDP) asked Erin O'Toole (Conservative). substantive question.The answer diverts by questioning the asker's lobbying of the NDP instead of addressing federal payment for veterans' care.
The real question is, since Camp Hill, which I have enjoyed touring on occasion, transferred to the provincial government in 1977, did the member lobby the NDP government that owns that facility to grant access to those beds?
- misdirectedTaxationMr. Emmanuel Dubourg (Liberal) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks Liberal tax plans and income splitting rather than explaining support for TFSA changes.
The Liberals believe that people who earn less than $60,000 a year are too rich and should be taxed more.
- misdirectedTaxationMs. Eve Adams (Liberal) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the member's past campaign position instead of addressing the cost or rationale for raising the TFSA limit.
She made a solemn promise to help lower their taxes. Why is she promising now to raise taxes on those very same people?
- partly answeredEmployment InsuranceMr. Rodger Cuzner (Liberal) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.The answer references a 2013 act allowing sickness benefits during parental leave but does not address the specific case or Prime Minister's inaction.
That is why in 2013, our government brought in the Helping Families in Need Act, that ensures that parents who fall ill while they are on parental leave can actually access sickness benefits.
- deflectedEthicsMs. Ève Péclet (NDP) asked Mr. Paul Calandra (Conservative). substantive question.The answer cites court proceedings then pivots to attacking an NDP member's office spending instead of addressing PMO involvement.
As I said, it is equally inappropriate to use taxpayers' resources for partisan political purposes, like the member for Gatineau who used $24,498 that was supposed to be spent in her riding but funnelled it to an illegal office in Montreal.
- deflectedEthicsMs. Ève Péclet (NDP) asked Mr. Paul Calandra (Conservative). substantive question.The answer again cites courts then shifts to criticizing another NDP member's spending rather than explaining PMO actions on Senate files.
He in fact funnelled it to an illegal office in Montreal. He should pay that money back, do the right thing for himself and his constituents and pay the money he used against the rules of this House.
- deflectedEthicsMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked Mr. Paul Calandra (Conservative). substantive question.The answer references constitutional practice and courts then attacks the member's boundary commission involvement instead of stating Senate appointment criteria.
I do not want to do what the member opposite, the member for Timmins—James Bay was accused of doing by the boundary reform commission for his inappropriate involvement in that process.
- deflectedEthicsMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked Mr. Paul Calandra (Conservative). substantive question.The answer repeats constitutional practice then launches a personal attack on the member's voting and boundary actions instead of answering about Senate eligibility criteria.
The member for Timmins—James Bay turned his back on his constituents, voted against them and then tried to inappropriately involve himself in the boundary review commission because he knew he was in trouble.
- deflectedHealthMr. Murray Rankin (NDP) asked Mrs. Cathy McLeod (Conservative). substantive question.The answer highlights existing payments and negotiations without addressing the requested deadline or specific commitments.
We are in the process of negotiating the remainder, which is going to be $180 million for fewer than 100 survivors.
- deflectedHealthMs. Christine Moore (NDP) asked Mrs. Cathy McLeod (Conservative). substantive question.The response restates payments made and commitments without providing the requested details on compensation.
we do agree that it is time, and that is why each survivor got $125,000 in an immediate tax-free payment.
- deflectedHealthMr. Claude Gravelle (NDP) asked Mrs. Cathy McLeod (Conservative). substantive question.The answer describes ongoing work and research but does not address why the bill was not supported.
the health minister has been working in good haste with the provinces to develop a pan-Canadian strategy.
- deflectedFisheries and OceansMr. Fin Donnelly (NDP) asked Gail Shea (Conservative). substantive question.The response asserts regulatory rigor and declines to comment further on closing loopholes.
We are currently reviewing the decision and the member opposite should be aware it is inappropriate to comment further at this time.
- misdirectedHealthHedy Fry (Liberal) asked Mrs. Cathy McLeod (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the previous government's record instead of addressing the current lack of full compensation.
I find it a little ironic. This member was part of the government for 13 years.
- partly answeredTelecommunicationsMr. Sean Casey (Liberal) asked Ed Holder (Conservative). substantive question.The response addresses general consultation rules but does not address the specific lighthouse case or DFO action.
The new cell tower rules we put in place will ensure that homeowners and municipal governments are at the forefront of the tower placement process by ensuring that they are all consulted on all new towers.
- deflectedTelecommunicationsMs. Rathika Sitsabaiesan (NDP) asked Shelly Glover (Conservative). substantive question.The answer states it is a private decision and redirects the question to the broadcaster.
I would suggest that this member pose that question to the private broadcaster.
- deflectedTelecommunicationsMs. Jinny Jogindera Sims (NDP) asked Shelly Glover (Conservative). substantive question.The response attributes the issue to private broadcaster decisions and points to existing programs without new action.
This is, in fact, one of those decisions made by a private broadcaster because of the changes in the media environment.
- deflectedForestry IndustryMs. Lise St-Denis (Liberal) asked Mrs. Kelly Block (Conservative). substantive question.The answer promotes budget measures and exports but never addresses the call for a national wood policy.
We will continue to make targeted investments in research and development along with expanding and diversifying our exports to new and emerging markets.
- partly answeredCanada PostMs. Françoise Boivin (NDP) asked Lisa Raitt (Conservative). substantive question.The answer explains the conversion plan and municipal consultation but sidesteps the request for a moratorium.
In doing this work, it is expected to work with the municipalities in siting and take into consideration the concerns of the people who will be having this change.
- deflectedMarine TransportationMr. Louis Plamondon (Bloc) asked Lisa Raitt (Conservative). substantive question.The answer highlights general investments in the seaway but ignores the specific safety and wreck concerns raised.
Montreal, Quebec, and Trois-Rivières have all seen significant investment by this government, and we will continue to make sure that we look out for their best interests.
- answeredFisheries and OceansMr. Scott Andrews (Independent) asked Gail Shea (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly commits to investigating the cable-laying issue and responding promptly.
I will look into the matter and get back to the member promptly.
- partly answeredEmploymentMr. André Bellavance (Independent) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.The answer notes a special farming program exists but then shifts to general priority for Quebec workers without addressing the specific reductions cited.
a special temporary foreign worker program already exists for the farming industry.