All sittings← 2015-05-272015-05-29 →
Thursday, May 28, 2015 · sitting No. 219
House advances fisheries treaty bill amid time allocation on privacy measure
The House spent the largest share of its sitting on second reading of the Port State Measures Agreement Implementation Act. Conservative MP Patricia Davidson outlined the bill's measures to combat illegal fishing through port controls and international cooperation. Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux and NDP MPs Megan Leslie and Linda Duncan pressed for details on inland fisheries impacts, ratification timelines with trading partners and Arctic enforcement resources.
Government House leader Peter Van Loan moved time allocation on the Digital Privacy Act during the fisheries debate, limiting further report stage and third reading debate. Green Party MP Elizabeth May objected on relevance grounds while NDP MP Charmaine Borg called the 97th such motion an insult to democracy. Industry minister James Moore defended the limits as necessary before the session ends.
Question period featured exchanges on Senate expense reports, first nations housing shortfalls and labour law comments by the finance minister.
Decided that day
- Bill S-4 passed a stage
- Bill C-682 introduced
- Bill S-3 moved in 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 · 2015-05-28
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
Ethics
NDP MP Peter Julian asked why the Prime Minister's Office altered passages in the Deloitte audit of Senator Mike Duffy's expenses; Prime Minister Stephen Harper replied that Duffy faces court proceedings on his own actions.
Read the exchangeAboriginal Affairs
NDP MP Niki Ashton pressed Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt to redirect the market housing fund after it produced only 99 units; Valcourt cited construction of 12,000 new homes and renovations to 22,000 others since 2006.
Read the exchangeEmployment
Liberal MP Scott Brison questioned whether the finance minister believes easing layoffs would aid growth; Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the remarks referred to Greece and contrasted Canada's balanced budget and job creation record.
Read the exchangeSeniors
NDP MP Isabelle Morin criticized a proposed voluntary savings plan after earlier rejection; Minister of State Kevin Sorenson countered that the Liberal leader's CPP expansion would impose a $1,000 annual tax increase on workers earning $60,000.
Read the exchangeNational Defence
NDP MP Mylène Freeman raised a new sexual assault allegation at the Royal Military College; Defence Minister Jason Kenney said the National Investigation Service is handling the case and all ten recommendations from the Deschamps report have been accepted.
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. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Answer ignores the specific claim about altering the report and pivots to Duffy's court case.
The reality is that Mr. Duffy is before the courts for his own actions and he will be judged on those actions.
- misdirectedEthicsMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Answer attacks the NDP on unrelated spending instead of addressing the PMO tampering allegation.
It is really rich to hear the House leader of the NDP slight certain Conservatives when we have over 60 NDP members of Parliament improperly taking parliamentary funds
- misdirectedEthicsMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Answer again shifts to NDP funding issues and denies charges against Conservatives rather than addressing the audit or privilege question.
Whereas the reality is that we have 5 dozen, close to 70, NDP members of Parliament who have taken money, explicitly contrary to the rules of the House
- partly answeredAboriginal AffairsMs. Niki Ashton (NDP) asked Bernard Valcourt (Conservative). substantive question.Answer provides statistics on homes built but does not admit failure or commit to redirecting the specific fund mentioned.
Since 2006, close to 12,000 new homes have been built and there have been renovations to 22,000 existing homes in first nations.
- answeredAboriginal AffairsMs. Niki Ashton (NDP) asked Bernard Valcourt (Conservative). substantive question.Answer directly states the government's representation at the events without evasion.
The government will be represented at all of the events held here in Ottawa.
- deflectedEmploymentScott Brison (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Answer reframes the minister's comments as being only about Greece and attacks Liberal history instead of confirming or denying the Canadian policy implication.
Of course, Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance was saying no such thing.
- deflectedEmploymentScott Brison (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Answer again denies the statement and pivots to attacking Liberal CPP proposals rather than addressing the growth claim.
the Minister of Finance said no such thing, but it is interesting to hear a member defending the Liberal economic record that he actually got elected to the House opposing.
- deflectedEmploymentMr. Marc Garneau (Liberal) asked Stephen Harper (Conservative). loaded question.Answer insists the minister said the contrary and shifts to Greek policy and Liberal tax proposals without engaging the Canadian labour law question.
- misdirectedSeniorsMs. Isabelle Morin (NDP) asked Kevin Sorenson (Conservative). loaded question.Answer ignores the question on the savings plan and instead attacks opposition parties on taxes.
both the New Democratic Party and the Liberal Party would dramatically hike payroll taxes.
- misdirectedSeniorsMs. Irene Mathyssen (NDP) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.Answer shifts to tax increases by Liberals and NDP without addressing the OAS or savings plan question.
I quote the Liberal leader, who said that he supports "a mandatory expansion of the CPP of the type that Kathleen Wynne put forward in Ontario".
- misdirectedSeniorsMs. Irene Mathyssen (NDP) asked Kevin Sorenson (Conservative). loaded question.Response evades the CPP benefits question by pivoting to attacks on opposition tax policies.
Canadians know that the New Democratic Party and the Liberal Party stand for higher taxes.
- partly answeredNational DefenceMs. Mylène Freeman (NDP) asked Jason Kenney (Conservative). substantive question.Answer addresses the allegation with details on investigation and acceptance of report recommendations but does not fully cover leadership on culture change.
- partly answeredNational DefenceMs. Mylène Freeman (NDP) asked Jason Kenney (Conservative). substantive question.Response covers the military strategy and investigation but ignores the national action plan and broader violence against women.
the strategy is in Ms. Deschamps's report, which was ordered by the Chief of the Defence Staff.
- partly answeredNational DefenceMs. Élaine Michaud (NDP) asked Jason Kenney (Conservative). substantive question.Answer discusses the investigation and report implementation but includes a rhetorical jab at the asker instead of immediate practical measures.
Does the member think we should not conduct a criminal investigation into these serious allegations?
- deflectedNational DefenceMs. Élaine Michaud (NDP) asked Jason Kenney (Conservative). substantive question.Answer avoids the supply ships and red tape question by attacking NDP voting record on military funding.
For as long as it has been around, the NDP has voted against additional resources for the Canadian military.
- misdirectedNational DefenceMr. Jack Harris (NDP) asked Jason Kenney (Conservative). substantive question.Response changes subject to criticize NDP overall military stance rather than explaining the new committee or procurement fixes.
the NDP is the worst supporter of the Canadian military's interests.
- misdirectedNational DefenceMr. Jack Harris (NDP) asked Jason Kenney (Conservative). substantive question.Answer lists past procurements and attacks NDP voting record instead of addressing ship delays.
On every one of those measures in our budgets, the NDP has voted against that new equipment for our men and women in uniform. Shame on them.
- partly answeredAboriginal AffairsCarolyn Bennett (Liberal) asked Bernard Valcourt (Conservative). substantive question.Answer cites housing statistics but does not address the specific fund shortfall or diverted funds.
Since 2006, the government investment for on-reserve housing has resulted in the construction of 12,000 new homes, and more than 22,000 homes have been renovated.
- deflectedCitizenship and ImmigrationStéphane Dion (Liberal) asked Chris Alexander (Conservative). substantive question.Answer blames Liberal legacy and cites new targets without confirming or denying the wait-time increases.
everyone knows that the backlogs we have been fighting for nine years are a Liberal legacy.
- misdirectedCitizenship and ImmigrationJohn McCallum (Liberal) asked Chris Alexander (Conservative). substantive question.Answer pivots to Liberal record on defence and immigration instead of explaining how backlogs created under Conservatives will be fixed.
we on this side have to remind Canadians now about decades of Liberal mismanagement of our immigration system.
- deflectedInfrastructureMr. Kennedy Stewart (NDP) asked Mr. Peter Braid (Conservative). substantive question.Answer restates program goals without addressing the rushed timeline or partisan concerns raised.
this Conservative government will achieve a number of important objectives with the Canada 150 infrastructure program.
- deflectedInfrastructureMs. Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet (NDP) asked Mr. Peter Braid (Conservative). substantive question.Answer repeats program objectives but ignores the eligibility issue for Quebec municipalities.
We, of course, in Quebec and across this country, want to celebrate our nation's 150th birthday.
- misdirectedCBC/Radio-CanadaMr. Pierre Nantel (NDP) asked Shelly Glover (Conservative). loaded question.Answer defends the appointee's credentials and demands an apology instead of addressing the patronage process.
what I find despicable, frankly, is when any member in this House attacks a Canadian with a record like what Mr. Jeffery has.
- deflectedCBC/Radio-CanadaMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked Shelly Glover (Conservative). loaded question.Answer emphasizes appointee qualifications and transparent process without engaging the patronage accusation.
the appointments process is done in a transparent way that, frankly, relies on the competencies and skills of those names put forward.
- deflectedAgricultureMr. Malcolm Allen (NDP) asked Gerry Ritz (Conservative). substantive question.Answer cites positive stats on bee colonies and honey but does not address existence or details of a plan.
We have actually financed some major significant investments in bee health going forward, but here are a few stats he may have missed.
- deflectedAgricultureMs. Ruth Ellen Brosseau (NDP) asked Gerry Ritz (Conservative). substantive question.Answer disputes opposition claims and repeats colony stats without outlining any government plan.
the opposition could not be more wrong.
- answeredInternational TradeMs. Francine Raynault (NDP) asked Maxime Bernier (Conservative). substantive question.Answer directly states that supply management will be protected in TPP negotiations.
we will be signing a free trade agreement very soon, I hope, with the Asia-Pacific countries, as we have done with other countries such as South Korea, while protecting and promoting supply management.
- deflectedAgricultureMs. Anne Minh-Thu Quach (NDP) asked Gerry Ritz (Conservative). substantive question.Answer defends family farms and mentions programming but pivots to attack NDP carbon tax instead of addressing budget cuts.
which of course, would be decimated by a carbon tax that the NDP would put in.
- misdirectedCitizenship and ImmigrationMr. Kevin Lamoureux (Liberal) asked Chris Alexander (Conservative). substantive question.Answer attacks Liberal legacy instead of addressing current refusal rates or program benefits.
the member opposite has just given us another example of the Liberal legacy of decades of darkness on immigration.
- misdirectedCitizenship and ImmigrationMr. Nathan Cullen (NDP) asked Chris Alexander (Conservative). rhetorical question.Interjection is rhetorical heckling; answer continues attacking Liberals and dismisses cited statistics.
The statistics they cite are completely wrong.
- partly answeredCitizenship and ImmigrationMauril Bélanger (Liberal) asked Chris Alexander (Conservative). substantive question.Answer notes awareness and refugee programs but does not address speeding up family reunification or halting deportations.
we are working to enhance our refugee repatriation programs and monitoring the situation closely.
- misdirectedFinanceMr. Nathan Cullen (NDP) asked Kevin Sorenson (Conservative). loaded question.Question builds on premise of insulting comments; answer pivots to attack NDP and defend record instead of addressing minister's remarks.
it is the NDP members who would kill jobs and take Canada down the path of Greece with their high-debt, high-tax plan.
- misdirectedFinanceMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked Kevin Sorenson (Conservative). substantive question.The answer ignores the request for an apology and instead promotes government record while attacking the NDP.
It is the New Democrats who would mislead Canadians and the New Democrats who would take us down the path of Greece.
- misdirectedCitizenship and ImmigrationMr. Emmanuel Dubourg (Liberal) asked Chris Alexander (Conservative). substantive question.The response fails to address inquiries about discussions or consultations and instead questions opposition consistency while shifting topics.
Why do the members opposite say one thing in private and another in public? I do not understand that.
- partly answeredCanadian Coast GuardMr. Fin Donnelly (NDP) asked Mr. Randy Kamp (Conservative). substantive question.The answer defends the technological changes and claims improved service but does not address reversing cuts.
None of that is changing, and we are confident that we are going to be able to provide even better service to mariners with this new program.
- deflectedPublic SafetyMs. Elizabeth May (Green) asked Ms. Roxanne James (Conservative). rhetorical question.The question poses a hypothetical without seeking factual information, and the response defends the long-gun registry repeal instead.
Our Conservative government fulfilled its commitment to end the wasteful and ineffective long-gun registry for all, and we will make no apologies in the House for ensuring that the will of Parliament is followed.
- deflectedNatural ResourcesMr. André Bellavance (Independent) asked Mrs. Kelly Block (Conservative). substantive question.The answer emphasizes NEB responsibility without addressing whether the minister will require hydrostatic testing.
This project will only move forward once the proponent satisfies the NEB's conditions and demonstrates that the pipeline can be operated safely.
- misdirectedBusiness of the HouseMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). loaded question.The response claims tax cuts as Conservative ideas, criticizes NDP voting record, and announces its own bill rather than addressing the question.
From these proposals, the opposition are clearly signalling that they do not support this Conservative government's efforts to send a strong message to those in Canada, and those who wish to come to Canada, that we will not tolerate cultural traditions that deprive individuals of their human