All sittings← 2015-06-032015-06-05 →
Thursday, June 4, 2015 · sitting No. 224
House debates motion to overhaul Nutrition North subsidy program
The House spent most of the day on a motion by New Democrat MP Dennis Bevington that calls on the government to expand Nutrition North Canada to 50 additional fly-in communities, conduct a comprehensive review with northern partners, and improve support for traditional foods. Conservative MP Mark Strahl said the New Democrats had offered inconsistent numbers of communities and had opposed infrastructure projects that would lower costs. Bevington replied that criteria for eligibility had left communities such as Nahanni Butte with high food prices despite winter-road access.
In Question Period the New Democrats pressed the government on Senate reform and the Mike Duffy trial. Conservative MP Paul Calandra said the Supreme Court of Canada had ruled that Senate reform requires unanimous provincial consent. The parties also clashed over the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report and action on missing and murdered indigenous women.
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 · 2015-06-04
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
Criminal Code
New Democrat MP Andrew Cash sought unanimous consent to instruct the finance committee to expand the scope of Bill C-59 to ban all pay-to-pay bank fees, but consent was denied.
Read the exchangeEthics
New Democrat MP Peter Julian asked why the Prime Minister had appointed 59 senators after promising none, and Conservative MP Paul Calandra said the NDP had refused to support earlier reform proposals.
Read the exchangeAboriginal Affairs
Liberal MP Carolyn Bennett asked the Prime Minister to confirm that the residential-school policy amounted to cultural genocide and to implement all Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations; Conservative MP Mark Strahl said the government was moving forward on reconciliation.
Read the exchangeThe Economy
Liberal MP John McCallum said private-sector economists had downgraded GDP growth to 1.5 per cent and asked for a new fiscal update; Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre said the opposition’s only plan was a new payroll tax.
Read the exchangePublic Safety
New Democrat MP Randall Garrison asked why the government was seeking to have a class-action lawsuit by women in the RCMP thrown out of court; Conservative MP Roxanne James said the matter was before the courts.
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 Mr. Paul Calandra (Conservative). loaded question.The answer discusses attempted reforms and court rulings instead of addressing why the Senate has not been cleaned up.
as members know, this government brought forward a number of potential reforms for the Senate.
- deflectedEthicsMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Mr. Paul Calandra (Conservative). loaded question.The answer repeats constitutional barriers and NDP opposition but does not address taking responsibility for the Senate mess.
We are focused on the economy.
- misdirectedEthicsMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Mr. Paul Calandra (Conservative). loaded question.The answer pivots to attacking the NDP on unrelated expenses rather than addressing the Senate cover-up questions.
We have 68 members of the NDP caucus who have taken $2.7 million from the Canadian taxpayer illegally.
- partly answeredAboriginal AffairsMs. Niki Ashton (NDP) asked K. Kellie Leitch (Conservative). loaded question.The answer addresses the call for action on missing and murdered women but deflects the inquiry request with sarcasm.
last I checked, I am female myself.
- partly answeredAboriginal AffairsMs. Niki Ashton (NDP) asked Mr. Mark Strahl (Conservative). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the TRC and explains eligibility rules but does not commit to negotiating an agreement.
We will review this court decision before determining the next steps.
- deflectedAboriginal AffairsCarolyn Bennett (Liberal) asked Mr. Mark Strahl (Conservative). loaded question.The answer thanks the commission and references the apology but avoids confirming cultural genocide or committing to all recommendations.
While we cannot change it, we must move forward in the spirit of reconciliation.
- deflectedAboriginal AffairsMr. Emmanuel Dubourg (Liberal) asked Mr. Mark Strahl (Conservative). loaded question.The answer notes it will consider recommendations responsibly but sidesteps acknowledging cultural genocide.
we have said that we would wait for the full report to come out before considering those recommendations
- misdirectedThe EconomyMr. Emmanuel Dubourg (Liberal) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks Liberal tax plans instead of addressing economic forecasts or a job creation plan.
the Liberals have just one plan for the economy, and that is to raise taxes.
- deflectedNorthern DevelopmentMr. Dennis Bevington (NDP) asked Mr. Mark Strahl (Conservative). substantive question.The answer provides program stats then pivots to attacking the member's stance on a highway instead of addressing the subsidy request.
If the member wants to do something for the people of the Northwest Territories, he should stop opposing our investments in the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk highway, which would lower the cost of goods and services for his constituents.
- deflectedNorthern DevelopmentMr. Jonathan Genest-Jourdain (NDP) asked Mr. Mark Strahl (Conservative). substantive question.The answer mocks inconsistencies in community numbers and restates general commitments without confirming action on the motion or excluded communities.
when the NDP brought this issue up in April, it said that it was 55 communities. A month later, it said that it was 46. Today, it says that it is 50.
- deflectedConsumer ProtectionMs. Annick Papillon (NDP) asked Kevin Sorenson (Conservative). substantive question.The answer claims a bank commitment and lists past measures while attacking opposition parties instead of explaining why legislation was blocked.
Shamefully, the Liberals and the NDP vote against all of those measures.
- deflectedConsumer ProtectionMr. Andrew Cash (NDP) asked Kevin Sorenson (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks the member's voting record and repeats tax and banking claims without addressing the blocked budget amendment or agreement details.
obviously, he does not get it. He votes against consumers every time.
- partly answeredTaxationMs. Jinny Jogindera Sims (NDP) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.The answer explains outreach efforts for the benefit but does not provide the requested number of families that missed the deadline.
Therefore, I have been reaching out. I have been travelling across the country. I even produced some popular YouTube videos in order to inform Canadians of these benefits.
- deflectedTaxationMs. Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet (NDP) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.The answer repeats program details and urges NDP help with outreach but ignores the question about families missing the deadline and access issues.
The New Democrats should start helping us inform their own constituents about these benefits, so that everyone is able to take advantage of them.
- misdirectedEmploymentMr. Guy Caron (NDP) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.The answer pivots to attacking NDP tax plans and touting the child benefit instead of addressing job creation measures or economic decline.
The only plan the NDP has for the economy is to raise taxes for families and businesses. That will kill jobs and hurt families.
- misdirectedEmploymentMs. Peggy Nash (NDP) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks NDP and Liberal tax plans and cites job numbers instead of responding to concerns about recession, unemployment, and support for the jobless.
the NDP and the Liberals have one plan for the economy, that is to raise taxes.
- deflectedEmploymentMs. Peggy Nash (NDP) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). loaded question.The answer pivots to attacking opposition tax proposals rather than addressing the request for growth and jobs action.
in this fragile global economy, the last thing we need is a tax increase, but that is exactly what the Liberals and the NDP propose.
- deflectedThe EconomyJohn McCallum (Liberal) asked Pierre Poilievre (Conservative). substantive question.The answer ignores the call for a fiscal update and jobs plan by instead attacking Liberal payroll tax ideas.
the Liberals want the government to bring in Kathleen Wynne's new payroll tax.
- partly answeredPublic Service of CanadaMr. Rodger Cuzner (Liberal) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses the bargaining process and sick leave system but does not confirm respect for collective bargaining outcomes.
I would like to assure the hon. member that indeed we are continuing to bargain with the bargaining agent representing the public sector
- misdirectedPublic Service of CanadaMr. Rodger Cuzner (Liberal) asked Tony Clement (Conservative). loaded question.The answer attacks the asker as a shill instead of addressing the multiple fairness and bargaining questions.
The hon. member is clearly on the side of being the shill for the bargaining agents we are bargaining with.
- deflectedPublic SafetyMr. Randall Garrison (NDP) asked Ms. Roxanne James (Conservative). substantive question.The answer states the matter is before the courts and declines further comment rather than addressing government responsibility.
As this matter is currently before the courts, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on this case.
- deflectedPublic SafetyMs. Rosane Doré Lefebvre (NDP) asked Ms. Roxanne James (Conservative). loaded question.The answer repeats that the matter is before the courts and avoids explaining the decision to oppose the lawsuit.
As I just said, this matter is before the courts, and it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on this case.
- misdirectedPrivacy ProtectionMs. Rosane Doré Lefebvre (NDP) asked Chris Alexander (Conservative). substantive question.The answer attacks NDP positions on terrorism instead of addressing privacy protection measures for biometric data.
- partly answeredPrivacy ProtectionMr. Randall Garrison (NDP) asked Chris Alexander (Conservative). substantive question.The answer addresses consultation with the Privacy Commissioner but deflects on data sharing and community consultation by attacking NDP policy.
once again, we consulted the Privacy Commissioner, and we accepted all of the recommendations that came.
- deflectedPublic SafetyMs. Françoise Boivin (NDP) asked Ms. Roxanne James (Conservative). substantive question.The answer restates the government's position on the long gun registry without addressing the Information Commissioner's court order or warnings.
we reject any claim that the RCMP did anything wrong by following the express will of this House, of Parliament, to destroy the data from the long gun registry.
- deflectedPublic SafetyMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked Ms. Roxanne James (Conservative). substantive question.The answer rejects the claim about the RCMP but pivots to attacking the NDP's potential policy instead of addressing the court case or precedent.
it is interesting that the NDP continues to bring up this question, because the NDP, if ever given a chance, would bring that long gun registry back with everything else.
- misdirectedEthicsMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked Mr. Paul Calandra (Conservative). substantive question.The answer ignores the question on Senate accountability and instead attacks the NDP over unrelated expenses.
we know that the NDP owes $2.7 million to the Canadian taxpayers.
- misdirectedEthicsMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked Mr. Paul Calandra (Conservative). substantive question.The answer sidesteps the question on Conservative Senate accountability by attacking the NDP member's expenses.
there are 68 members of the NDP caucus who owe $2.7 million.
- deflectedPublic SafetyWayne Easter (Liberal) asked Ms. Roxanne James (Conservative). substantive question.The answer focuses on remembering the officers and rejects budget cut claims but does not address current equipment or training shortfalls for RCMP.
Opposition members claim that any type of budget cut to the RCMP was a factor in that incident, which is completely false.
- deflectedThe EnvironmentJohn McKay (Liberal) asked Leona Aglukkaq (Conservative). loaded question.The answer defends Canada's target and actions but avoids addressing the G7 meeting or the claim of failure on emissions.
The plan that Canada has put forward to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% below 2005 levels by 2030, a reduction of 225 megatonnes, is a fair and ambitious target for Canada
- answeredInternational TradeMs. Laurin Liu (NDP) asked Maxime Bernier (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly addresses the question by confirming supply management will not be touched in TPP negotiations, citing past practice.
We never tampered with the supply management system when we signed all of these agreements.
- answeredInternational TradeMs. Mylène Freeman (NDP) asked Maxime Bernier (Conservative). substantive question.The answer directly reassures that the government will protect supply management, consistent with past agreements.
farmers in Mirabel, Beauce and all across Canada, milk producers, cheese producers, and egg and poultry producers can count on this government to protect supply management, as it has done in the past when it signed other free trade agreements.
- partly answeredNorthern DevelopmentMs. Yvonne Jones (Liberal) asked Mr. Mark Strahl (Conservative). loaded question.The response claims steps were taken and recommendations accepted but pivots to partisan attack on Liberals instead of fully addressing the priority claim.
we have taken action. We have invested additional funds into nutrition north Canada.
- misdirectedCitizenship and ImmigrationMs. Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe (NDP) asked Chris Alexander (Conservative). substantive question.The answer explains the policy on one country then shifts to attacking the questioner's party on unrelated security measures.
Why are the hon. member and her party still opposed to biometrics, cancelling passports, revoking citizenship from terrorists and all the other measures we are taking to keep Canadians safe?
- partly answeredHealthMr. Jean-François Fortin (Forces et Démocratie) asked Rona Ambrose (Conservative). loaded question.The response outlines new legislation requiring neighborhood input but does not directly confirm or deny a guarantee against derailing the project.
we have put forward legislation that will be moving through the Senate very shortly to ensure that neighbourhoods, where the mayor of Montreal might like to put a heroin injection site, actually have a say on whether they want a heroin injection site.
- deflectedCanada Revenue AgencyMrs. Maria Mourani (Independent) asked Mr. Gerald Keddy (Conservative). substantive question.The answer offers general praise for the tax system and audit process without addressing the request to review the specific files.
When the auditors choose to audit any individuals or any company in Canada, that audit is carried out in a professional manner.
- answeredBusiness of the HouseMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Peter Van Loan (Conservative). rhetorical question.The response directly outlines the upcoming House schedule without engaging the preceding partisan statements.
This afternoon will be dedicated to today's NDP's opposition day motion.