Parliament AIIndependent · non-official

All sittings← 2017-10-192017-10-23 →

Friday, October 20, 2017 · sitting No. 219

House debates Green amendments to impaired driving bill

The House spent the largest share of its time on Government Orders considering Bill C-46, an act to amend the Criminal Code on impaired driving. Green Party MP Elizabeth May moved two amendments, one deleting clause 15 and another requiring a report on differential impacts of the provisions. Debate centred on mandatory minimum sentences, with Conservative MP Mark Warawa criticizing the existing $1,000 fine for impaired driving causing death and May arguing that mandatory minimums distort judicial discretion.

Question Period was dominated by ethics concerns over Finance Minister Bill Morneau. Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre asked why the minister had not recused himself from discussions on target benefit pension plans and tax measures that could benefit Morneau Shepell, while Liberal MP Joël Lightbound said the minister had followed all advice from the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner and would place his assets in a blind trust.

Decided that day

  • C-60 advanced through first chamber and second reading
  • C-377 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 · 2017-10-20

Government (Liberal)OppositionOver the day: government 48%, opposition 52% of the words spokenGovernment businessQuestion PeriodGovernment business▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 10:0511:0012:0013:00Last speech 13:25Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 3 h 20 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
56Bills creep ahead while answers dodgeThe sitting saw modest legislative movement on two bills amid heavy focus on criminal code and ethics topics. Question period produced mostly deflected replies and no recorded votes occurred.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

Pensions

NDP MP Scott Duvall said Liberal claims that Sears Canada pensions are protected in trust are false because administration fees from Morneau Shepell will further reduce benefits, and he called for a plan to assist workers and retirees.

Read the exchange

Veterans Affairs

Conservative MP John Brassard said the family of Lionel Desmond, on Parliament Hill, was upset that Veterans Affairs Minister Seamus O'Regan had not met them, and he asked the minister to walk across the street after question period.

Read the exchange

The Environment

NDP MP Georgina Jolibois said indigenous leaders were excluded from developing new environmental legislation and asked when the government would work in partnership with indigenous people on the file.

Read the exchange

Taxation

Conservative MP Pat Kelly said the revenue minister blamed CRA bureaucrats after a document on taxing employee discounts became public, and he asked when ministers would take responsibility instead of shifting blame.

Read the exchange

Justice

Conservative MP Michael Cooper said Liberal members defeated an amendment to Bill C-46 that would have imposed a five-year mandatory sentence for impaired drivers who kill, and he asked why the minister accepts fines as low as $1,500.

Read the exchange

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
    EthicsPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Mr. Joël Lightbound (Liberal). loaded question.The answer emphasizes compliance and additional measures without addressing the specific conflicts raised.The Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner recommended that he establish a conflict of interest screen, which he did.
  2. deflected
    EthicsPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Mr. Joël Lightbound (Liberal). loaded question.The answer repeats claims of compliance and extra steps but ignores the questions about past statements and numbered companies.In a letter to the minister made public yesterday, the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner made it clear that the minister is in compliance with the law
  3. deflected
    EthicsPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Mr. Joël Lightbound (Liberal). substantive question.The answer avoids answering the three specific recusal questions by restating general compliance and the blind trust announcement.Yesterday, the Minister of Finance announced that he would go even further in a show of transparency by indicating that he would put his holdings in a blind trust
  4. misdirected
    EthicsMr. Alain Rayes (Conservative) asked Mr. Joël Lightbound (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts to economic achievements instead of addressing the demand for an apology or the ethics screen issue.Fast forward two years, and the finance minister has steered the Canadian economy back in the right direction, the direction of growth, prosperity, but most importantly, prosperity for all Canadians.
  5. deflected
    EthicsMr. Alain Rayes (Conservative) asked Mr. Joël Lightbound (Liberal). loaded question.The answer reiterates following the Ethics Commissioner without addressing the specific conflict from the Bank of Canada contract or dividends.Yesterday, to avoid any distraction from the important work that he does for all Canadians, the minister decided to go beyond what the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner recommended
  6. deflected
    EthicsMr. Murray Rankin (NDP) asked Mr. Joël Lightbound (Liberal). substantive question.The answer defends actions via the Ethics Commissioner but does not address the request for an apology over apparent conflict.Yesterday, in a letter made public from the Ethics Commissioner to the Minister of Finance when he entered office, she said about that conflict of interest wall that it would ensure the integrity and impartiality
  7. deflected
    EthicsMr. Murray Rankin (NDP) asked Mr. Joël Lightbound (Liberal). loaded question.The answer again highlights compliance and middle-class policies without addressing the demand to apologize for maintaining investments.Yesterday he announced that he would go even further, that he would put his assets in a blind trust, that he would divest himself of shares in Morneau Shepell
  8. deflected
    EthicsMs. Hélène Laverdière (NDP) asked Mr. Joël Lightbound (Liberal). loaded question.The answer focuses on early compliance and extra steps but avoids the question about waiting for scandal before acting.What he did yesterday was announce that he was going to take the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner's recommendations one step further by putting his holdings in a blind trust
  9. answered
    International DevelopmentMs. Hélène Laverdière (NDP) asked Marie-Claude Bibeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer states the specific aid already given and openness to more.We have already contributed $2 million through the Red Cross to help those who were wounded in the attack.
  10. deflected
    EthicsMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Mr. Joël Lightbound (Liberal). substantive question.The answer shifts to a tax cut announcement instead of addressing the minister's participation in Bill C-27 decisions.this week, the minister announced a tax cut for small businesses.
  11. deflected
    EthicsMs. Sylvie Boucher (Conservative) asked Mr. Joël Lightbound (Liberal). substantive question.The answer complains about noise and pivots to tax fairness rather than giving a yes or no on Bill C-27.I find it hard to concentrate when members across the way are shouting like that.
  12. deflected
    EthicsMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Mr. Joël Lightbound (Liberal). loaded question.The answer emphasizes compliance with the Ethics Commissioner but avoids confirming recusal from Bill C-27 matters.he worked with the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner and acted on all of her recommendations.
  13. deflected
    EthicsMrs. Shannon Stubbs (Conservative) asked Mr. Joël Lightbound (Liberal). substantive question.The answer highlights following rules and extra steps but does not explain why recusal from Bill C-27 did not occur.from day one the Minister of Finance has been working with the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner in order to comply with all the rules
  14. deflected
    EthicsMrs. Shannon Stubbs (Conservative) asked Mr. Joël Lightbound (Liberal). substantive question.The answer repeats compliance claims and praises integrity without addressing the specific recusal question.at all times since his election the Minister of Finance has acted in compliance with the rules, the laws, and the recommendations of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner.
  15. partly answered
    EthicsErin O'Toole (Conservative) asked Mr. Joël Lightbound (Liberal). substantive question.The answer confirms the minister consulted the commissioner but does not address whether a notice of violation was received.the Minister of Finance spoke to the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner as soon as he was elected to ensure that he was following all of her recommendations.
  16. deflected
    EthicsErin O'Toole (Conservative) asked Mr. Joël Lightbound (Liberal). substantive question.The answer defends respect for the commissioner without confirming when the minister will take responsibility for ethics filing failures.He is actually respecting everything the Ethics Commissioner has told him to do and working with her to make sure that not only is he respecting the rules but he is going above and beyond the rules
  17. deflected
    PensionsMr. Scott Duvall (NDP) asked Navdeep Bains (Liberal). loaded question.Answer thanks asker and lists general assistance programs but ignores the specific accusation of misleading and demand for a pension plan.We have made every effort to connect Sears employees and pensioners with programs that will assist them.
  18. deflected
    PensionsMs. Sheri Benson (NDP) asked Navdeep Bains (Liberal). loaded question.Answer addresses pension trust status and court process but avoids any mention of fixing bankruptcy legislation as asked.As the member opposite well knows, the CCAA process with regard to Sears is before the courts, and we are monitoring that situation as well.
  19. misdirected
    EthicsMrs. Cathy McLeod (Conservative) asked Ms. Kamal Khera (Liberal). loaded question.Answer pivots entirely to CRA investments and tax evasion results instead of addressing the recusal question about the Barbados treaty.In the first two budgets, we made historic investments of over $1 billion in the CRA so that it will have right tools to crack down on tax evaders.
  20. misdirected
    EthicsMr. Joël Godin (Conservative) asked Mr. Joël Lightbound (Liberal). loaded question.Answer mentions blind trust then shifts to attacking the prior government's record and praising current economic stats rather than answering the yes-or-no recusal question.Two years later, with this Minister of Finance at the helm, we have the fastest-growing economy in the G7, the lowest unemployment rate of the past 10 years, and a child poverty rate that is down 40%.
  21. misdirected
    EthicsMr. John Brassard (Conservative) asked Ms. Kamal Khera (Liberal). loaded question.Answer repeats tax evasion statistics and avoids any response to the recusal question on the Barbados treaty.We have had 627 cases transferred to criminal investigations. We have had 268 search warrants executed, and 78 convictions.
  22. deflected
    EthicsMr. Robert Kitchen (Conservative) asked Mr. Joël Lightbound (Liberal). loaded question.The answer promotes the minister's compliance steps without addressing whether ordinary Canadians could use the same excuse.the finance minister has worked from the beginning, right after the election, with the Ethics Commissioner to make sure that he is in full compliance with the rules governing us in this House
  23. deflected
    EthicsMr. Len Webber (Conservative) asked Mr. Joël Lightbound (Liberal). loaded question.The answer repeats trust in the commissioner and the minister's focus on the economy without addressing the deception claim.we have all the trust in the Ethics Commissioner to set the right path forward for parliamentarians and to provide good recommendations
  24. partly answered
    TaxationMr. Pat Kelly (Conservative) asked Ms. Kamal Khera (Liberal). loaded question.The answer states the document was removed and the government will not tax discounts but does not explain why the minister blamed bureaucrats.The document from the agency did not reflect the intentions of our government. It has been removed and is being reviewed.
  25. deflected
    TaxationMr. Pat Kelly (Conservative) asked Ms. Kamal Khera (Liberal). loaded question.The answer repeats the same statement about middle-class focus without addressing responsibility or blaming others.The document from the agency did not reflect the intentions of our government. It has been removed and is being reviewed.
  26. partly answered
    Government ServicesMs. Sheila Malcolmson (NDP) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer cites improved call-centre access but does not commit to hiring back cut workers.The rate at which Canadians are now able to connect through the call centre has increased from 29% to 82% in less than 18 months.
  27. partly answered
    Public Services and ProcurementMr. Gord Johns (NDP) asked Carla Qualtrough (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the problem and lists general steps but provides no timeline for clearing the backlog.Resolving this as quickly as possible is our priority.
  28. deflected
    JusticeRob Nicholson (Conservative) asked Mr. Bill Blair (Liberal). loaded question.The answer discusses new legislation and funding without addressing the rejected five-year minimum sentence proposal.our government is absolutely committed to improving road safety
  29. deflected
    JusticeMr. Michael Cooper (Conservative) asked Mr. Bill Blair (Liberal). loaded question.The answer emphasizes consequences in general without addressing the defeat of the mandatory five-year sentence amendment.The legislation we have introduced provides for strong consequences, and when the evidence warrants it, appropriate sentences will be afforded to those offenders.
  30. deflected
    TaxationMs. Marilyn Gladu (Conservative) asked Ms. Kamal Khera (Liberal). loaded question.The answer gives general assurances about the disability tax credit without addressing the specific 14-hour rule or diabetes rejections raised.our government has committed to ensuring that the agency delivers quality service to Canadians, and that all Canadians have access to the credits and benefits they deserve.
  31. partly answered
    Parks CanadaMr. Jim Eglinski (Conservative) asked Ms. Kim Rudd (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the pine beetle issue and mentions working with partners but provides no specific actions or funding commitments.I want to assure the member that we are seized with the issue and will continue to work with the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and the sector to come up with a solution to this challenging problem.
  32. answered
    Veterans AffairsMr. Alupa Clarke (Conservative) asked Seamus O'Regan (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly commits to meeting the family as requested.I will meet with the family at a convenient time today.
  33. deflected
    Foreign AffairsMr. Mario Beaulieu (Bloc) asked Mr. Matt DeCourcey (Liberal). substantive question.The answer urges a peaceful solution but does not address the call for Canada to confront Spain over Catalan issues.Canada values its relationship with Spain, and we are monitoring the situation in Spain very closely.
  34. partly answered
    Employment InsuranceMr. Mario Beaulieu (Bloc) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer notes prior EI changes but does not commit to reinstating pilot projects for Quebec seasonal workers.In April 2016, we implemented very important measures that reversed the previous government's ill-advised, inappropriate changes, which did not work for the community.
  35. deflected
    The EnvironmentMr. Mario Beaulieu (Bloc) asked Catherine McKenna (Liberal). loaded question.The answer emphasizes collaboration with provinces without addressing why federal measures override Quebec's caribou protections or impact on forestry jobs.we are committed to working with the provinces, Quebec, the municipalities in Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean, and municipalities across Canada to protect and restore Canada's species at risk, including the caribou.
  36. deflected
    The EnvironmentMs. Elizabeth May (Green) asked Catherine McKenna (Liberal). substantive question.The answer discusses rebuilding trust in environmental assessment broadly but does not confirm keeping offshore boards out of the process.That is why we are working extraordinarily hard with provinces, with indigenous peoples, with civil society, with business to ensure that we have a world-class environmental assessment system that protects the environment, supports reconciliation, and ensures that good projects go ahead in a timely way with regulatory certainty.