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Wednesday, February 28, 2018 · sitting No. 268

Conservatives press Trudeau on India trip over Atwal invitation

Oral questions on the Prime Minister's trip to India dominated the sitting and consumed 22 per cent of the day. Conservative MP Andrew Scheer challenged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the invitation extended to convicted terrorist Jaspal Atwal and on a disputed claim that Indian officials bore responsibility for the episode. Trudeau defended the professionalism of the public service and said the invitation had been rescinded once the error was discovered.

Question period also featured exchanges on budget 2018, with Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre asking when the deficit would be eliminated and NDP MP Guy Caron pressing for immediate action on pharmacare rather than further study. Trudeau pointed to job creation and economic growth under the government's fiscal plan.

Government orders later took up debate on the budget, with Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer criticizing the lack of measures to improve competitiveness and return to balanced books.

Decided that day

  • S-2 received royal assent
  • C-311 received royal assent
  • S-246 introduced
  • Opposition motion on Phoenix pay system failed
  • Private member’s motion on homelessness committee failed

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 · 2018-02-28

Government (Liberal)OppositionOver the day: government 45%, opposition 55% of the words spokenQuestion PeriodGovernment businessPrivate Members’ Business▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 14:0515:0016:0017:0018:00Last speech 18:55Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 4 h 50 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
63Bills Pass Amid India Trip SquabblesThe House granted royal assent to two bills and introduced a third while opposition motions on the Phoenix pay system and homelessness both failed. Question period produced few direct answers and the prime minister’s India trip consumed substantial time alongside budget debate.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

Canada Summer Jobs Program

Conservative MP Alexander Nuttall said thousands of faith-based organizations were denied funding because of the values test attached to the Canada summer jobs program.

Read the exchange

Status of Women

NDP MP Sheila Malcolmson said the budget contained no money for pay equity despite repeated Liberal promises, leaving women to wait again for equal pay.

Read the exchange

Public Services and Procurement

NDP MP Rachel Blaney said employees in her riding are still waiting for severance pay two years after the Phoenix system failed and asked when workers would be compensated.

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Housing

NDP MP Peter Julian said the budget leaves homeless Canadians waiting years for adequate funding while the government focuses on tax loopholes for the wealthy.

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Indigenous Affairs

Liberal MP Vance Badawey asked about new funding for the Métis Nation and Trudeau said budget 2018 proposes $516 million over 10 years for housing, education and health.

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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. answered
    Prime Minister's Trip to IndiaMr. Jim Eglinski (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly explains the mistaken invitation and its rescission.the invitation never should have been extended to this individual. As soon as we found out about it, we rescinded the invitation.
  2. deflected
    Prime Minister's Trip to IndiaAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer avoids the contradiction claim by shifting to praise for the public service.I am sure no one will be surprised to hear that I will continue to defend and believe in our professional, non-partisan public service.
  3. deflected
    Prime Minister's Trip to IndiaAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the request for proof and instead attacks the previous government's record.it seems these Harper Conservatives never learn.
  4. deflected
    Prime Minister's Trip to IndiaAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer cuts off but pivots to criticizing the opposition's past actions rather than addressing the briefing claim.the allegations and insinuations made by the members opposite are based on their own experience of torquing our professional—
  5. deflected
    Prime Minister's Trip to IndiaAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer evades confirming details about the briefing by attacking the Conservatives' history with the public service.It is only the Conservatives opposite, who consistently for 10 years torqued the public service to their own partisan ends, who see anything nefarious in it.
  6. partly answered
    The BudgetMr. Guy Caron (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer defends the budget's actions but does not specify timing for immediate help.with budget 2018, we are taking the next steps to improve equality, competitiveness, sustainability, and equity in Canada.
  7. answered
    HealthMr. Guy Caron (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer explains the advisory council as the step toward pharmacare.As part of budget 2018, we are creating an advisory council on the implementation of national pharmacare, which will recommend options on how best to move forward together on this important issue
  8. deflected
    Prime Minister's Trip to IndiaMs. Hélène Laverdière (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer sidesteps the diplomatic crisis question by reiterating support for security agencies.on this side of the House we have full confidence in the work that our national security agencies and professionals do, and we support them in their professional, non-partisan work.
  9. deflected
    Prime Minister's Trip to IndiaMs. Hélène Laverdière (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer promotes economic deals without addressing the diplomatic tension or world stage criticism.We secured more than $1 billion in investments from deals between Canadian and Indian companies, which will help create more than 5,800 quality jobs for Canadians.
  10. misdirected
    Prime Minister's Trip to IndiaAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer defends officials and attacks the prior government instead of reconciling the two conflicting versions presented.unlike the member opposite, we will always defend the integrity of our senior security and intelligence officials and the excellent work that they do.
  11. partly answered
    Prime Minister's Trip to IndiaAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer notes the member took responsibility but still does not fully reconcile the two accounts of blame.At the same time, the member for Surrey Centre has taken responsibility for his role in the invitation extended to this individual and has apologized.
  12. deflected
    Prime Minister's Trip to IndiaAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer repeats support for officials and the member's apology without addressing the logical inconsistency raised.We support our professional public services and accept the information and recommendations they give to us.
  13. misdirected
    Prime Minister's Trip to IndiaAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer attacks the prior government's behaviour and questions the opposition's belief in officials rather than confirming or denying orchestration.Professional public servants, particularly those in the national security and information areas, do extraordinary work based on their professional qualifications and based on their analyses.
  14. misdirected
    Prime Minister's Trip to IndiaAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer challenges the opposition's belief in public servants instead of identifying who briefed the media.This is the issue that the member opposite seems to be getting at, that he does not believe our professional public servants in what they tell Canadians.
  15. deflected
    Prime Minister's Trip to IndiaAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer begins to restate the prior point and cuts off without addressing the request for identification or proof.once again, the member opposite is not being clear.
  16. answered
    Status of WomenMs. Sheila Malcolmson (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly lists actions taken on wage gap issues and confirms the new legislation announcement.yesterday we announced that we would introduce pay equity legislation as part of the budget implementation act.
  17. answered
    Status of WomenMs. Anne Minh-Thu Quach (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Lists specific investments addressing the call for funding on child care, housing and pay equity.We announced $7 billion to address early learning and child care needs.
  18. deflected
    Prime Minister's Trip to IndiaMr. Alain Rayes (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Avoids evidence request by pivoting to praise budget 2018 and workers benefit.the opposition would rather talk about anything but budget 2018
  19. deflected
    Prime Minister's Trip to IndiaMr. Alain Rayes (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Ignores evidence demand and shifts to Status of Women department upgrade.while the opposition chooses to focus on me, we remain focused on Canadians.
  20. deflected
    Prime Minister's Trip to IndiaMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Repeats that questions were answered then pivots to seasonal worker supports.What the opposition fails to understand is that it should be focusing on Canadians.
  21. deflected
    Prime Minister's Trip to IndiaMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Declares questions answered and turns to pay equity legislation instead.What we are focusing on is ensuring a better future for Canadians on the labour market.
  22. answered
    HousingMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Directly cites child benefit, workers benefit and $40 billion housing strategy.we are moving forward with a national housing strategy of $40 billion overall
  23. misdirected
    HealthMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answers about housing investments rather than the pharmacare question asked.it is disappointing to hear the member opposite disparage a national housing strategy
  24. deflected
    Prime Minister's Trip to IndiaPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.States question was answered then pivots to Canada workers benefit in budget 2018.I have already answered that question. However, I understand that the opposition members want to keep to this line of questioning because they prefer talking about anything other than budget 2018
  25. deflected
    The BudgetPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The response highlights economic stats and past choices without naming any year for balancing.Over the last two years, the Canadian economy has created more than half a million jobs.
  26. deflected
    The BudgetPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The response attacks the prior government and repeats growth claims but supplies no balancing year.The worst growth rates since the Great Depression were under Stephen Harper.
  27. deflected
    The BudgetPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The response emphasizes debt-to-GDP ratios and investment without stating any year the budget will balance.We have the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7, better than the U.S., better than the U.K., better than Germany, and it is decreasing every single year.
  28. partly answered
    Public Services and ProcurementMs. Rachel Blaney (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The response commits to fixing the system and lists funding but gives no date when affected workers will be paid.In budget 2018, we announced an investment of over $430 million over six years to continue addressing existing pay challenges.
  29. deflected
    Public Services and ProcurementMs. Karine Trudel (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The response repeats the stabilization plan but never addresses compensation for harm suffered by employees.We announced more than $430 million over six years to continue addressing existing pay problems.
  30. deflected
    Prime Minister’s Trip to IndiaErin O'Toole (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The response pivots to seasonal-industry supports instead of clarifying the contradictory statements about the Atwal invitation.For those working in seasonal industries, we announced $10 million in immediate income support, and over $200 million over the next two years through federal-provincial labour market development agreements.
  31. deflected
    Prime Minister’s Trip to IndiaErin O'Toole (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The response criticizes the opposition for distrusting public servants rather than reporting on the counter-extremism agreement.To hear members opposite trying to score cheap political points by politicizing them is really disappointing.
  32. deflected
    Prime Minister’s Trip to IndiaErin O'Toole (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The response discusses Canada-India relations and democratic values without tabling any evidence or addressing the conspiracy-theory claim.Canada and India have a long tradition of bilateral relations, built on the traditions of democracy, pluralism, and strong people-to-people ties.
  33. deflected
    Prime Minister’s Trip to IndiaLisa Raitt (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer defends the public servant and attacks Conservatives instead of stating any diplomatic response to India.Canadians rejected the Conservatives' approach of disrespecting and bashing the hard-working men and women of our non-partisan public service.
  34. partly answered
    The BudgetMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The response covers tax evasion measures but omits specifics on Quebec infrastructure, Davie shipyard, or web giant taxation.As for tax evasion, we invested over $1 billion within the first two years, and there are now more than 1,000 offshore audits and more than 40 criminal investigations with links to offshore transactions under way.
  35. deflected
    Prime Minister’s Trip to IndiaLisa Raitt (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer again praises the public service and criticizes Conservatives rather than addressing any reply to the Indian high commissioner.It is a shame that they do not.
  36. partly answered
    The BudgetMr. Michel Boudrias (Québec debout) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer notes Davie talks and rejects higher taxes but does not refute the premise of favoring tax havens.With respect to Internet giants, we will not make taxpayers pay more tax no matter what the opposition wants.