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Thursday, April 21, 2016 · sitting No. 44
NDP dairy motion leads lengthy supply day in Commons
The House devoted more than half the sitting to an NDP opposition motion on the dairy industry. NDP MP Ruth Ellen Brosseau moved the motion, which calls on the government to enforce existing laws against diafiltered milk imports, compensate producers for losses and maintain supply management. Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux replied that the government recognizes the importance of supply management to the economy.
Question period featured exchanges on foreign affairs and the children's fitness tax credit. Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose asked why the government would not reinstate the credit. Finance Minister Bill Morneau said the Canada child benefit would deliver more support to families. Conservative MP Ed Fast pressed the government on carbon pricing and the Pacific NorthWest LNG project.
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 · 2016-04-21
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
Foreign Affairs
Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose asked why the government rejected a motion recognizing ISIL atrocities as genocide. Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion said recognition should follow a proper international investigation.
Read the exchangeForeign Affairs
NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair asked why Export permits were signed for Saudi Arabia given its human rights record. Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion said the NDP had supported not cancelling commercial accords retroactively.
Read the exchangeAir Canada
NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair urged Transport Minister Marc Garneau to drop Bill C-10 and respect Quebec government negotiations with Air Canada. Garneau said time allocation was needed because the NDP had tried to kill the bill.
Read the exchangeMarijuana
Conservative MP Colin Carrie asked why the health minister would promote recreational marijuana when it carries the same risks as tobacco. Health Minister Jane Philpott said a new regulatory regime would keep the product out of the hands of children and criminals.
Read the exchangeEcuador
Liberal MP Marc Miller asked what aid Canada could provide after the earthquake in Ecuador. National Defence Minister John McKay said Canada had sent $1.1 million and a disaster assessment team that could recommend deployment of the DART.
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
- deflectedTaxationRona Ambrose (Conservative) asked Bill Morneau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer promotes the Canada child benefit without addressing reinstatement of the fitness tax credit.
The imposition of the Canada child benefit will help nine out of ten families with children, with $2,300 more on average per year.
- deflectedTaxationRona Ambrose (Conservative) asked Bill Morneau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer promotes the Canada child benefit without addressing the fitness tax credit.
With this measure, nine out of 10 families with children will be in a better position this year, with an average of $2,300 more per family.
- answeredForeign AffairsRona Ambrose (Conservative) asked Stéphane Dion (Liberal). loaded question.The answer directly explains the position that official recognition requires an international investigation.
However, the official recognition of genocide is so serious that it should only happen following a proper international investigation.
- partly answeredInternational TradeDenis Lebel (Conservative) asked Mr. David Lametti (Liberal). loaded question.The answer addresses trade issues broadly but does not engage with the specific tariff or PM's actions.
Canada and the U.S. must resolve the overcapacity issue in a strategic, comprehensive manner in the interest of all our workers.
- partly answeredDairy IndustryDenis Lebel (Conservative) asked Mr. Jean-Claude Poissant (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the issue and states work on a long-term solution without specifics.
We are working with the industry to come up with a long-term solution, not a short-term one.
- misdirectedAir CanadaThomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Marc Garneau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts to parliamentary process details instead of addressing the Quebec economy or bill concerns.
The good news is that several steps remain in the parliamentary process.
- answeredIndigenous AffairsThomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Carolyn Bennett (Liberal). loaded question.The answer corrects the timeline and explains the prior government's role in the agreement.
The agreement of release was signed October 30, five days before the new government took office.
- misdirectedForeign AffairsThomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Stéphane Dion (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the NDP's consistency rather than addressing the Saudi arms deal or human rights.
The New Democrats say something during the election to get their seats and afterward they something else.
- deflectedForeign AffairsThomas Mulcair (NDP) asked Stéphane Dion (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the NDP for double-talk instead of addressing the export permits or human rights policy.
the leader of the NDP is mad because, in fact, he knows that he has double-talk on this issue.
- misdirectedMinisterial ExpensesMr. Blaine Calkins (Conservative) asked Mr. Rodger Cuzner (Liberal). substantive question.The answer is a joke that avoids the question about the minister's trip entirely.
- misdirectedMinisterial ExpensesMr. Blaine Calkins (Conservative) asked Mr. David Lametti (Liberal). substantive question.The answer pivots to attacking the Conservatives' past expenses rather than explaining the minister's trip.
it was their own leader who left taxpayers on the hook for a bill for $50,000
- deflectedMinisterial ExpensesMr. Blaine Calkins (Conservative) asked Mr. David Lametti (Liberal). substantive question.The answer defends the minister's reputation and media appearances but does not address why Time Warner booked the hotel.
Unlike previous Conservatives, the Minister of International Trade has a justly earned international reputation as a journalist and finance writer.
- deflectedMinisterial ExpensesMr. John Brassard (Conservative) asked Scott Brison (Liberal). substantive question.The answer praises the minister's stature but does not explain why taxpayers funded the trip or why trade was not mentioned.
It is good for Canada to have a trade minister with that kind of international stature.
- deflectedMinisterial ExpensesMr. John Brassard (Conservative) asked Scott Brison (Liberal). substantive question.The answer highlights past Liberal transparency efforts instead of explaining the missed posting deadlines.
it was a Liberal prime minister, Paul Martin, whose government was the first to proactively disclose cabinet ministers' expenses.
- deflectedMinisterial ExpensesMr. Jacques Gourde (Conservative) asked Scott Brison (Liberal). substantive question.The answer restates a commitment to transparency without addressing late or incomplete disclosures.
our government is completely open and transparent. We report our expenses and we will continue to do so.
- answeredAir CanadaMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Marc Garneau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer directly explains the procedural reason for time allocation on the bill.
The reason we imposed closure yesterday was very clear. Last Friday, the NDP tried to kill this bill.
- deflectedCanada Revenue AgencyMr. Pierre-Luc Dusseault (NDP) asked Bill Morneau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer defends the colleague and pivots to budget praise without addressing the specific amount transferred to Turks and Caicos.
There is absolutely nothing he has done that contravenes the law from an income tax standpoint.
- deflectedCanada Revenue AgencyMr. Murray Rankin (NDP) asked Bill Morneau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer rejects wrongdoing claims and lists government actions but does not address calling an investigation into KPMG.
to insinuate any sort of wrongdoing on the part of the parliamentary secretary to finance is categorically wrongheaded.
- misdirectedThe EnvironmentEd Fast (Conservative) asked Mr. Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts to provincial Conservative views instead of addressing the minister's reliance on China for carbon pricing inspiration.
the hon. member should actually have a conversation with some of the leading Conservative members around the country, including Patrick Brown
- partly answeredThe EnvironmentEd Fast (Conservative) asked Mr. Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). substantive question.The answer explains the delay due to new environmental information on salmon but ignores the carbon tax and resource shipment demands.
We are going through the process of assessing that information to ensure that we understand the environmental impacts.
- deflectedThe EnvironmentMr. David Yurdiga (Conservative) asked Mr. Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). substantive question.The answer discusses working with territories on emissions but does not address the carbon tax's impact on northern unemployment.
we are working actively with all of the provinces and territories across the country to develop a pan-Canadian approach to address carbon emissions
- deflectedThe EnvironmentMr. David Yurdiga (Conservative) asked Mr. Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). loaded question.The answer highlights budget innovation funding and industry support for carbon pricing without engaging the claim of harming northern jobs.
people like Pierre Gratton, the CEO of the Mining Association of Canada, last week came out and actively supported carbon pricing as part of the overall solution.
- deflectedBudget LegislationMs. Niki Ashton (NDP) asked Bill Morneau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer denies it is an omnibus bill by contrasting with past Conservative bills but avoids addressing scrutiny concerns.
Every measure in the budget implementation act is related to our budget, unlike previous omnibus bills from the members opposite
- deflectedBudget LegislationMr. Guy Caron (NDP) asked Bill Morneau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer reiterates that the bill contains only budget measures but does not address splitting the bill for separate study.
It is an act that shows Canadians in an open and transparent way the way that we are going to make a real difference in their lives both today and tomorrow.
- deflectedNational DefenceMr. James Bezan (Conservative) asked John McKay (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the specific budget cut claim and pivots to criticizing past Conservative procurement instead.
The Conservatives showed no leadership on the procurement file.
- answeredNational DefenceMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked John McKay (Liberal). loaded question.The answer directly denies any cutback and explains the funding approach to address the accusation.
There has been no cutback in the procurement funding.
- deflectedForeign AffairsTony Clement (Conservative) asked Stéphane Dion (Liberal). loaded question.The answer avoids addressing Canada's position directly and instead quotes the UK position as its own.
Right now, our priority is to prevent atrocities from taking place, and that is why we are playing a leading role in the global coalition against Daesh.
- answeredForeign AffairsPeter Kent (Conservative) asked Stéphane Dion (Liberal). loaded question.The answer addresses the call for genocide recognition by explaining Canada's push for an international process.
- partly answeredAgriculture and Agri-FoodMs. Ruth Ellen Brosseau (NDP) asked Mr. Jean-Claude Poissant (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the issue and past government responsibility but does not commit to immediate action.
We are working with the industry to create a sustainable solution.
- misdirectedAutomotive IndustryMr. Brian Masse (NDP) asked Marc Garneau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer shifts to Fiat Chrysler defects instead of addressing Volkswagen emissions or Canadian consumer remedies.
In fact, this past week, we told Fiat Chrysler that we considered four of its models were dangerous and had defects in them.
- deflectedMarijuanaMr. Colin Carrie (Conservative) asked Jane Philpott (Liberal). loaded question.The answer promotes the new policy without addressing the comparison to tobacco research or Health Canada's past stance.
We are concerned about access to marijuana for young people.
- answeredMarijuanaMr. Alain Rayes (Conservative) asked Ralph Goodale (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly addresses keeping marijuana from children and tools for police regarding impaired driving.
the public safety department is working very closely with the justice department and the health department to produce a regime for Canada with respect to marijuana that will, in fact, do a far better job in keeping our kids safe
- deflectedMarijuanaMs. Rachael Harder (Conservative) asked Jane Philpott (Liberal). loaded question.The answer promotes the government's legislation without addressing the causal link or protection concerns.
Because of the potential risks, our government is introducing new legislation which will legalize marijuana, regulate it, and will restrict access to keep Canadians safe and to keep them healthy.
- answeredEcuadorDeepak Obhrai (Conservative) asked Marie-Claude Bibeau (Liberal). loaded question.The response provides specific actions taken to assist Ecuador without engaging the accusation.
we have already allocated $1 million to help with the situation in Ecuador and help meet immediate humanitarian needs.
- partly answeredImmigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMs. Jenny Kwan (NDP) asked John McCallum (Liberal). substantive question.The answer gives an overall positive assessment but does not specify numbers of affected families or concrete corrective actions.
There are always bumps along the road. There are always problems of various kinds, but overall, I am satisfied.
- deflectedDemocratic ReformMr. Blake Richards (Conservative) asked Maryam Monsef (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts to describing the consultation process instead of addressing the referendum decision.
unlike the previous government, we intend to use evidence and a complete consultation process with Canadians across this great nation so that when we propose changes in this House, we bring our democratic institutions—
- deflectedAir CanadaMr. Louis Plamondon (Bloc) asked Marc Garneau (Liberal). rhetorical question.The response justifies the procedural move without addressing the potential negative impacts on the industry.
we decided to move a time allocation motion precisely because the NDP wanted to kill this bill last Friday.
- answeredAir CanadaMr. Gabriel Ste-Marie (Bloc) asked Marc Garneau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer directly explains the reason for amending the act based on the provinces' actions.
we decided to amend the Air Canada Public Participation Act precisely because the governments of Quebec and Manitoba decided to drop their lawsuits against Air Canada.
- answeredPoints of OrderRona Ambrose (Conservative) asked Mr. David Lametti (Liberal). substantive question.The response clarifies the exact wording used to address the concern.
I said the "former" leader of the opposition.
- answeredBusiness of the HouseMr. Andrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Dominic LeBlanc (Liberal). substantive question.The answer provides a clear outline of the upcoming parliamentary business.
today, we will complete the debate on the New Democratic Party's opposition day on the Canadian dairy industry.