All sittings← 2015-05-152015-05-26 →
Monday, May 25, 2015 · sitting No. 216
NDP proposes deleting clauses from Yukon regulatory bill
New Democratic MP Dennis Bevington moved six amendments to Bill S-6, the Yukon and Nunavut Regulatory Improvement Act, that would delete the long title and five clauses on Monday. The bill amends the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Act and the Nunavut Waters and Nunavut Surface Rights Tribunal Act. Conservative MP Mark Strahl defended the legislation as part of devolution to territorial governments and said northerners are best placed to make decisions affecting their lands.
In Question Period, New Democratic MP Megan Leslie pressed the government on its new greenhouse gas targets, calling them the least ambitious among G7 countries and warning that Canada would miss them without oil and gas regulations. Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq replied that the targets are fair and ambitious and that Ottawa is taking a sector-by-sector approach while supporting developing countries.
New Democratic MP Randall Garrison questioned cuts that ended the RCMP's Project Condor program for tracking offenders unlawfully at large. Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney said the RCMP sets its own priorities and pointed to new budget funding for the force.
Decided that day
- C-59 passed second reading and referred to Finance committee
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 · 2015-05-25
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
An Act to amend the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act (Sambro Island Lighthouse)
New Democratic MP Megan Leslie said the government had announced $1.5 million for Sambro Island Lighthouse restoration but noted her private member's bill would transfer custody to Parks Canada without attached funding.
Read the exchangeEthics
New Democratic MP Peter Julian said the Prime Minister's Office helped alter the Deloitte audit of Senator Mike Duffy's expenses seven times, including passages on his Ottawa residence. Conservative MP Paul Calandra replied that the PMO assisted the RCMP and that the matter is before the courts.
Read the exchangeThe economy
Liberal MP Ralph Goodale said job creation is down 50 per cent from two years ago and that 200,000 more Canadians are jobless than before the recession. Employment Minister Pierre Poilievre said the government has created 1.2 million net new jobs, 80 per cent full time and two-thirds in high-wage sectors.
Read the exchangeInternational Trade
Liberal MP Chrystia Freeland said a record $3-billion trade deficit in March shows the government's trade agenda is failing and that talks with Japan have stalled. Conservative MP Parm Gill said the government has signed agreements with 38 countries while the Liberals signed only three during their 13 years in office.
Read the exchangeCBC/Radio-Canada
New Democratic MP Pierre Nantel said a study by the Quebec and Ontario governments found CBC/Radio-Canada lacks funds to fulfill its mandate after funding was cut 50 per cent over 25 years. Heritage Minister Shelly Glover replied that Ottawa already provides more than $1 billion annually and that the broadcaster is adjusting to a changed media environment.
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
- deflectedThe EnvironmentMs. Megan Leslie (NDP) asked Leona Aglukkaq (Conservative). loaded question.Answer promotes their sector approach but avoids addressing failure to meet targets or low ambition.
Unlike the opposition, we want to take a responsible and balanced sector-by-sector approach to reducing emissions to protect the economy and Canadian jobs.
- deflectedThe EnvironmentMs. Megan Leslie (NDP) asked Leona Aglukkaq (Conservative). loaded question.Answer lists international efforts but sidesteps domestic regulations and accounting criticisms.
we are playing a leadership role on the international stage.
- partly answeredEthicsMs. Megan Leslie (NDP) asked Mr. Paul Calandra (Conservative). loaded question.Answer acknowledges assistance to RCMP but does not deny or address PMO altering the audit.
the Prime Minister's Office participated and provided a great deal of assistance, turning over thousands of documents and ensuring that we assisted the RCMP and the crown in its case against Senator Duffy.
- misdirectedEthicsMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Mr. Paul Calandra (Conservative). substantive question.Answer pivots to attacking NDP expenses instead of addressing PMO role in altering the report.
there are some 68 members of the NDP caucus who owe Canadian taxpayers some $2.7 million because they paid for some illegal offices in Montreal.
- misdirectedEthicsMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Mr. Paul Calandra (Conservative). substantive question.Answer shifts focus to NDP owing money and courts rather than addressing Senate or PMO involvement.
It is New Democrats who are in front of the courts.
- deflectedThe economyMr. Emmanuel Dubourg (Liberal) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.Answer highlights job numbers but ignores youth unemployment and TFSA criticism.
our economy has already generated over 1.2 million new jobs, and 80% of them are full-time, 80% are in the private sector and two-thirds are in high-wage sectors.
- deflectedThe economyRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.Answer counters with tax relief claims but does not address shrinking economy or job quality.
Our plan for tax cuts, training, and trade has helped create 1.2 million net new jobs, 80% of them full time and two-thirds in high-wage sectors.
- deflectedThe economyRalph Goodale (Liberal) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.Answer defends tax relief distribution but avoids fairness for middle class versus high earners.
the Parliamentary Budget Officer looked at the $30 billion in annual tax relief we have provided as of last year and confirmed that the overwhelming majority of benefits went to medium- and low-income Canadians.
- misdirectedEthicsMs. Ève Péclet (NDP) asked Mr. Paul Calandra (Conservative). substantive question.The answer ignores the Senate question entirely and instead attacks the NDP on unrelated expenses.
The scandal is that $2.7 million of taxpayer money was used illegally to support a partisan NDP office in Montreal.
- misdirectedEthicsMs. Irene Mathyssen (NDP) asked Mr. Paul Calandra (Conservative). substantive question.The answer sidesteps Senate reform and pivots to attacking the NDP over expenses.
I contrast that to the opposition, which thinks it is funny to have used $2.7 million of Canadian taxpayer resources, illegally, to support partisan offices in Montreal
- deflectedPublic SafetyMr. Randall Garrison (NDP) asked Steven Blaney (Conservative). substantive question.The answer avoids discussing Project Condor cuts and instead urges support for the budget.
However, what the member and his colleagues can do is stand up in this House for the additional funding announced by the Prime Minister last week in Montreal.
- misdirectedPublic SafetyMr. Randall Garrison (NDP) asked Steven Blaney (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks an NDP member's past comments rather than addressing de-radicalization or border issues.
Let me quote the member for Brome—Missisquoi : I am confused about what motivated the government to introduce [the Combating Terrorism Act]...because since 2007 nothing has happened in Canada.
- deflectedPublic SafetyMs. Rosane Doré Lefebvre (NDP) asked Steven Blaney (Conservative). substantive question.The answer avoids the Project Condor question and redirects to voting for the budget.
If my colleague wants to do more than express her half-hearted support, then she should vote in favour of the budget so that the RCMP has the resources it needs to protect us.
- deflectedPublic SafetyMs. Rosane Doré Lefebvre (NDP) asked Steven Blaney (Conservative). substantive question.The answer discusses general border investments instead of addressing the specific incident of a wanted individual crossing.
Last week, our Prime Minister was at Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to announce additional funding for Canada Border Services Agency officers.
- deflectedPublic SafetyMr. Brian Masse (NDP) asked Steven Blaney (Conservative). substantive question.The answer highlights officer increases and ends by attacking the NDP's budget stance rather than fixing the deficiency.
Why is the NDP opposing the budget in support of our officers?
- answeredCitizenship and ImmigrationMr. Andrew Cash (NDP) asked Chris Alexander (Conservative). loaded question.The answer directly clarifies that expired PR cards do not remove status and explains the requirements.
just because the date has expired on a PR card does not mean that someone loses their status in Canada.
- deflectedCitizenship and ImmigrationMs. Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe (NDP) asked Chris Alexander (Conservative). substantive question.The answer promotes citizenship instead of addressing delays in ID card processing.
the best way for permanent residents to travel freely is to become Canadian citizens.
- misdirectedInternational TradeMs. Chrystia Freeland (Liberal) asked Mr. Parm Gill (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the Liberals' record rather than addressing the stalled Japan talks.
we will not take any lessons from the Liberals over there when it comes to trade.
- misdirectedInternational TradeMs. Chrystia Freeland (Liberal) asked Mr. Parm Gill (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the Liberals instead of stating when CETA will be ratified.
when they were in government, trade was simply not a priority for the Liberals.
- misdirectedInternational TradeMr. Marc Garneau (Liberal) asked Mr. Parm Gill (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the Liberals instead of addressing delays or changes to CETA.
The Liberals have been completely absent on the trade file.
- deflectedCanada PostMr. Robert Chisholm (NDP) asked Mr. Jeff Watson (Conservative). substantive question.The answer explains Canada Post's finances but does not address instructing them to reconsider the decision.
Canada Post must balance its finances and not be a burden on taxpayers.
- deflectedCanada PostMs. Charmaine Borg (NDP) asked Mr. Jeff Watson (Conservative). substantive question.The answer repeats statistics on mail volume but ignores the call for a moratorium.
Two-thirds of Canadians do not receive their mail at home, and Canada Post has to balance its finances without being a burden to Canadian taxpayers.
- misdirectedCanadian HeritageMr. Pierre Dionne Labelle (NDP) asked Shelly Glover (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the NDP's voting record instead of addressing the exhibit removal.
I am extremely surprised to hear an NDP member talk about our Canadian Museum of History because when we decided to give it more money in order to create more jobs for Canadians, the NDP voted against that.
- misdirectedCanadian HeritageMr. Pat Martin (NDP) asked Shelly Glover (Conservative). loaded question.The answer uses personal insult and attacks the NDP instead of addressing political interference claims.
I hate to suggest this, Mr. Speaker, but I think the member's underwear is tight again, because he has forgotten that he actually voted against additional funding for this museum.
- deflectedCBC/Radio-CanadaMr. Pierre Nantel (NDP) asked Shelly Glover (Conservative). loaded question.Answer repeats funding figure and CRTC role without addressing the study or call for more money.
we already give CBC/Radio-Canada more than $1 billion a year to fulfill its mandate.
- deflectedCBC/Radio-CanadaMr. Pierre Nantel (NDP) asked Shelly Glover (Conservative). loaded question.Answer attacks Liberal record instead of addressing the 50% funding drop claim or current study.
I might remind the member that it was in the 1990s that the Liberals, when they were in power, cut the CBC by over $400 million.
- misdirectedCBC/Radio-CanadaMs. Françoise Boivin (NDP) asked Shelly Glover (Conservative). substantive question.Answer shifts to defending the monument and listing supporters rather than addressing the poll or changing plans.
I would like to name some of the organizations that support our plan.
- deflectedCBC/Radio-CanadaMr. Paul Dewar (NDP) asked Shelly Glover (Conservative). loaded question.Answer corrects location claim but avoids timelines or responding to 82% opposition by restating the promise.
Of course, it is not going to be constructed in front of the Supreme Court of Canada, like the opposition parties are suggesting, but rather on a completely different plot of land
- partly answeredInfrastructureMark Eyking (Liberal) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). substantive question.Answer notes past transfers and ongoing work but does not commit to immediate action for Cape Breton this year.
Projects are ready to be announced.
- deflectedCanadian HeritageMr. Adam Vaughan (Liberal) asked Denis Lebel (Conservative). loaded question.Answer describes general support without addressing rushed process, varying criteria or slush-fund allegation.
in addition to our support for the festivities for the 150th anniversary of our country, we will support renovation, expansion and improvement of existing community infrastructure.
- partly answeredPublic SafetyMs. Jinny Jogindera Sims (NDP) asked Steven Blaney (Conservative). substantive question.Answer states funding amount and agreement with request but gives no timeline for boots on the ground.
We are coming up with $3.5 million because we take this issue very seriously.
- misdirectedPublic SafetyMs. Jinny Jogindera Sims (NDP) asked Steven Blaney (Conservative). substantive question.Answer attacks NDP record instead of providing any timeline for RCMP deployment.
It is because we adopted tough measures, especially on gang violence, such as new prison sentences for drive-by shootings.
- partly answeredVeterans AffairsMr. Frank Valeriote (Liberal) asked Erin O'Toole (Conservative). substantive question.Addresses acceptance of diagnoses but pivots to unrelated initiatives without answering the timeline question.
We do accept the medical evaluations of the Canadian Armed Forces.
- deflectedHousingMs. Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet (NDP) asked Candice Bergen (Conservative). loaded question.Denies the premise outright and lists unrelated programs instead of addressing housing stock protection.
the member is absolutely wrong.
- deflectedRail TransportationMr. Bruce Hyer (Green) asked Mr. Jeff Watson (Conservative). substantive question.Avoids the appointment suggestion by emphasizing VIA's independence without engaging the proposal.
VIA Rail is an independent arm's-length crown corporation responsible for its operational decisions.
- deflectedCitizenship and ImmigrationMr. Louis Plamondon (Bloc) asked Chris Alexander (Conservative). loaded question.Corrects the numbers and praises the system rather than addressing the deadline extension request.
The figures mentioned by the member opposite are completely inaccurate.
- answeredInternational TradeMr. Louis Plamondon (Bloc) asked Maxime Bernier (Conservative). substantive question.Directly references past protection of supply management and commits to defending it in negotiations.
we have signed free trade agreements with the European Union and South Korea and have been able to protect supply management
- answeredEmploymentMrs. Maria Mourani (Independent) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.Explains the existing policy requiring proof that Canadians were unavailable before hiring foreign workers.
before hiring foreign workers, the company must prove that it attempted to advertise the job in question to determine whether or not Canadians were available.