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Tuesday, April 11, 2017 · sitting No. 164

Privilege motion on MP movement referred to procedure committee

The House referred a question of privilege on the free movement of members within the parliamentary precinct to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs after the Speaker ruled the matter in order. Conservative MP John Nater moved the referral and said the interruption of the debate set a new precedent. NDP MP Pierre-Luc Dusseault called the government's action a historic first.

In Question Period, Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose pressed the Prime Minister on his use of a private helicopter for a family trip to the Aga Khan's island and on the accuracy of his earlier statements that no other travel option existed. The Prime Minister said the trip was personal and that the RCMP determines security arrangements. Ambrose also questioned the government's approach to sanctions on Iran and Russia in relation to Syria.

Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux and Conservative MP Garnett Genuis clashed over concurrence in a status of women committee report on gender-based analysis, with Malcolmson noting stalled progress and Lamoureux defending government measures.

Decided that day

  • Ways and Means motion to implement budget provisions passed
  • Bill C-4 advanced in second chamber
  • Bills C-44 and C-351 introduced

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 · 2017-04-11

Government (Liberal)OppositionOver the day: government 36%, opposition 64% of the words spokenRoutine proceedingsQuestion PeriodGovernment business▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 10:0511:0012:0013:0014:0015:0016:0017:00Last speech 18:05Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 8 h 0 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
63Privilege Points Crowd Out Bill ProgressThe sitting devoted most time to committees, privilege and ethics amid 64 points of order, while substantive business accounted for only half the words spoken. One budget motion passed and three bills advanced, yet Question Period answers were largely deflected.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

Instruction to Committee on Bill C-243

Conservative MP Mark Warawa moved an instruction to allow the HUMA committee to travel across Canada on Bill C-243 and said committees face top-down direction from the Prime Minister's Office.

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Justice

NDP MP Karine Trudel asked why the justice minister was proud of a process that left judicial vacancies and allowed a man accused of slitting his wife's throat to go free.

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Human Rights

NDP MP Randall Garrison asked the government to condemn mass arrests of gay men in Chechnya and call for an international investigation.

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Status of Women

NDP MP Sheri Benson noted Canada has the eighth-largest gender pay gap in the OECD and asked when the government would introduce pay equity legislation.

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Question 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

  1. deflected
    EthicsRona Ambrose (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer avoids addressing the specific claim about the helicopter option and redirects to the Ethics Commissioner.I am of course happy to work with the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner to answer any questions she may have.
  2. deflected
    EthicsRona Ambrose (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer repeats the same redirection without addressing the discrepancy in the stated travel options.this was a personal family vacation, and I am happy to work with the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner on any questions she may have.
  3. deflected
    EthicsRona Ambrose (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer again sidesteps the question about the RCMP and law-breaking by redirecting to the Ethics Commissioner.I am happy to work with the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner on the details of my personal family vacation.
  4. partly answered
    Foreign AffairsRona Ambrose (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer addresses the general approach to sanctions and engagement but does not directly respond to restoring sanctions or supporting legislation.Canada works with the international community to apply sanctions on a broad range of nations and ensures that we are holding governments and leaders to account on a broad range of issues.
  5. answered
    Foreign AffairsRona Ambrose (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly outlines recent diplomatic actions regarding Syria, Russia, and Iran.our Minister of Foreign Affairs was in Brussels last week talking with the international community about the path forward for Syria and is right now in Italy with G7 foreign ministers to discuss how we move forward on holding the Assad regime to account
  6. deflected
    EthicsMr. Nathan Cullen (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer avoids the direct question about changing the story and redirects to the Ethics Commissioner and RCMP.as I have said many times in the House, this was a personal family vacation, and I am more than happy to engage with the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner on exactly these issues and on any issues that she may raise.
  7. deflected
    EthicsMs. Karine Trudel (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer sidesteps the question about misleading Canadians by again pointing to the Ethics Commissioner.I am very pleased to answer any questions the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner might have about my family's personal vacation.
  8. partly answered
    JusticeMs. Karine Trudel (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer addresses judicial appointments and vacancies but does not engage with the specific court delay case or the minister's pride mentioned.we set up a new open and transparent appointment process, which ensures that appointments reflect the diversity and best qualities of all Canadians.
  9. deflected
    JusticeMr. Alistair MacGregor (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer restates legalization goals without addressing the request to halt charges in the interim.Until the House chooses to legalize and control marijuana, the law remains the law.
  10. partly answered
    JusticeDenis Lebel (Conservative) asked Jody Wilson-Raybould (Liberal). substantive question.The answer gives appointment numbers and mentions future meetings but does not resolve the vacancy count disagreement.There are six vacancies remaining in the province of Quebec.
  11. partly answered
    JusticeDenis Lebel (Conservative) asked Jody Wilson-Raybould (Liberal). substantive question.The answer repeats appointment totals and calls for a culture shift but offers no concrete plan for Quebec delays.It is going to require not only the federal government but the provinces and territories to come up with substantive solutions to resolve the delays.
  12. deflected
    EthicsMrs. Shannon Stubbs (Conservative) asked Bardish Chagger (Liberal). loaded question.The answer justifies travel resources without addressing the helicopter claim or cost disclosure.the RCMP determines the safest route for the Prime Minister to travel.
  13. deflected
    EthicsMr. Joël Godin (Conservative) asked Bardish Chagger (Liberal). loaded question.The answer repeats the same justification without addressing the contradiction about transportation options.The RCMP determines the safest route for the Prime Minister to travel.
  14. deflected
    EthicsCandice Bergen (Conservative) asked Bardish Chagger (Liberal). loaded question.The answer avoids the rule violation and disclosure issues by restating RCMP authority.The RCMP determines the securest way for the Prime Minister to travel, and I have to say this government is committed to working hard for Canadians, and that is where our focus is.
  15. misdirected
    EthicsCandice Bergen (Conservative) asked Bardish Chagger (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to unrelated policy achievements instead of addressing the vacation integrity questions.This Prime Minister made a campaign commitment to Canadians to lower taxes on middle-class Canadians by increasing taxes on the wealthiest one per cent of Canadians.
  16. partly answered
    Human RightsMr. Randall Garrison (NDP) asked Mr. Matt DeCourcey (Liberal). substantive question.The answer expresses concern and notes a special adviser but does not commit to condemnation or an investigation.The LGBTQ2 community in Russia, including Chechnya, can count on Canada's strong support.
  17. partly answered
    Human RightsMs. Hélène Laverdière (NDP) asked Mr. Matt DeCourcey (Liberal). substantive question.The answer states concern and general support but does not address the specific request to condemn the violations or join partners.we are very concerned by the allegations of human rights violations in Chechnya, Russia, including the human rights of the LGBTQ2 community.
  18. deflected
    EthicsMr. Blaine Calkins (Conservative) asked Kirsty Duncan (Liberal). loaded question.The answer avoids the core accusation of paying for access by restating that SSHRC is arm's-length without addressing the motive.SSHRC is an arm's-length organization that is able to issue contracts below a certain dollar amount.
  19. deflected
    EthicsMr. Blaine Calkins (Conservative) asked Kirsty Duncan (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the misuse claim and pivots to listing other conferences instead of defending the Canada 2020 decision.given my hon. colleague's newfound interest in science and social sciences, I can tell him that SSHRC supported other science-related conferences
  20. deflected
    EthicsMs. Marilyn Gladu (Conservative) asked Kirsty Duncan (Liberal). loaded question.The answer sidesteps the funneling accusation by reciting broad funding numbers rather than explaining the Canada 2020 contract.given my hon. colleague's new-found interest in science, let me give the House the facts: $2 billion on research and innovation infrastructure
  21. deflected
    EthicsMs. Marilyn Gladu (Conservative) asked Kirsty Duncan (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists general science investments and ignores the specific claim that funds were wasted on Liberal advertising.Let me go over our investments in science: $2 billion for research and innovation infrastructure; $900 million for the Canada first research excellence fund;
  22. partly answered
    ScienceMr. Kennedy Stewart (NDP) asked Kirsty Duncan (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the report and lists existing investments but does not commit to enacting all recommendations including gender quotas.the report will help our government continue to support fundamental science and to build on the investments we have already made
  23. answered
    Status of WomenMs. Sheri Benson (NDP) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly addresses the pay-equity timeline by confirming proactive legislation will be introduced by 2018 after consultations.That is why we are so proud to be bringing forward proactive pay equity legislation by 2018.
  24. deflected
    Standing Orders of the House of CommonsMr. Scott Reid (Conservative) asked Bardish Chagger (Liberal). substantive question.The answer calls for dialogue on modernization but does not address the specific claim that the government lacks a mandate for the proposed changes.I have been asking for a conversation and a dialogue this whole time.
  25. deflected
    Standing Orders of the House of CommonsMr. Blake Richards (Conservative) asked Bardish Chagger (Liberal). loaded question.The answer promotes modernization ideas without addressing the unanimous consent requirement raised.That is exactly why we would like to talk about some of these ideas, so that we can modernize the way this place works.
  26. deflected
    Standing Orders of the House of CommonsMr. Blake Richards (Conservative) asked Bardish Chagger (Liberal). loaded question.The answer repeats campaign promises and calls for conversation without addressing the unanimous consent inconsistency.It is an important conversation to have.
  27. deflected
    Standing Orders of the House of CommonsMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Bardish Chagger (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer encourages participation in discussion without engaging the specific demand to end the process.I encourage all members to take part in the conversation and to express their ideas.
  28. partly answered
    International TradeMs. Tracey Ramsey (NDP) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.The answer addresses the Asia-Pacific trade priority but does not directly respond to stopping TPP pursuit.We will continue to have an ambitious trade agenda when it comes to the Asia-Pacific region.
  29. partly answered
    International TradeMs. Ruth Ellen Brosseau (NDP) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges industry input and promises a decision but does not confirm tariff quotas.We are examining this issue with interest, and we will soon make a decision for Canadian dairy producers.
  30. answered
    International DevelopmentPeter Kent (Conservative) asked Marie-Claude Bibeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer directly addresses monitoring and allegations regarding UNRWA funding use.since we restored funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, we have been monitoring the organization's activities very closely, and we take all allegations very seriously.
  31. answered
    International DevelopmentMr. Dean Allison (Conservative) asked Marie-Claude Bibeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer directly addresses monitoring and review of UNRWA educational materials and staff issues.We are also reviewing the educational materials, and we are satisfied with the progress that is being made.
  32. deflected
    Human RightsPeter Kent (Conservative) asked Mr. Matt DeCourcey (Liberal). substantive question.The answer states Canada's position on Venezuela but does not address the specific request for a meeting with the Prime Minister.Canada co-sponsored an OAS resolution to reiterate just that.
  33. deflected
    Indigenous AffairsMrs. Cathy McLeod (Conservative) asked Carolyn Bennett (Liberal). loaded question.The answer discusses ongoing consultations and partnership but provides no timeline or commitment on restoring access to financial information.We will continue to work in full partnership with first nations to improve mutual accountability—
  34. partly answered
    Fisheries and OceansMr. Fin Donnelly (NDP) asked Dominic LeBlanc (Liberal). loaded question.The answer affirms commitment to enforcement and mentions investments but does not address why no action was taken against the specific parties or when enforcement will occur.This will allow us not only, in the case of an offence under the Fisheries Act, to prosecute those offenders, but also to prevent those incidents from happening.
  35. misdirected
    EthicsMrs. Sylvie Boucher (Conservative) asked Mélanie Joly (Liberal). loaded question.The answer avoids the allegation by redirecting the member to contact CBC/Radio-Canada instead of addressing the use of public funds.Since the member's question has to do with CBC/Radio-Canada programming, I would suggest that she contact the crown corporation directly.
  36. partly answered
    JusticeMr. Xavier Barsalou-Duval (Bloc) asked Jody Wilson-Raybould (Liberal). substantive question.The answer reports appointments made and vacancies to be filled but does not address the request for the 40 Quebec Liberal MPs to intervene or commit to a specific number.There are six vacancies in the province of Quebec, and I will be moving forward with filling those vacancies in the near future.
  37. deflected
    JusticeMr. Rhéal Fortin (Bloc) asked Jody Wilson-Raybould (Liberal). loaded question.The answer reiterates collaborative work and past appointments but sidesteps the accusation of procrastination endangering public safety.However, with respect to court delays, there is no one solution to this issue.