All sittings← 2018-10-042018-10-15 →
Friday, October 5, 2018 · sitting No. 333
Commons debates trans-Pacific trade pact under time allocation
The House spent the largest share of its sitting on government orders for the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership Implementation Act. Liberal MP Omar Alghabra said the deal would expand trade across sectors and support the middle class while Conservative and New Democrat members questioned its effects on workers and supply-managed farmers. A time allocation motion had been moved on Bill C-79.
In question period the main exchanges concerned the new NAFTA agreement. Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre said the government had capitulated to United States demands on dairy exports drug prices and a veto over future Canadian trade deals while Liberal MP Andrew Leslie said the revised agreement removed investor-state dispute provisions and strengthened labour and environmental chapters.
Further questions addressed the Trans Mountain pipeline and carbon pricing with New Democrat MP Nathan Cullen and Conservative MP Mike Lake pressing the government on consultation and emissions targets.
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 · 2018-10-05
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
Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership Implementation Act
Bloc Québécois MP Gabriel Ste-Marie asked why the government had offered only $250 million in compensation to dairy farmers after conceding supply management in the CPTPP when the previous Conservative government had pledged $4.3 billion.
Read the exchangeNatural Resources
Liberal MP Paul Lefebvre said the government would not appeal the Federal Court of Appeal ruling would re-engage phase-three consultations with Indigenous groups and had appointed former justice Frank Iacobucci to oversee the process.
Read the exchangeCarbon Pricing
Liberal MP Sean Fraser said the government remains confident it will meet its Paris agreement targets through a price on pollution public transit investments and clean technology funding.
Read the exchangeCopyright
New Democrat MP Karine Trudel said extending copyright from 50 to 70 years after the author's death under USMCA pressure would harm educational collections such as the 7000-work archive assembled by Jean-Marie Tremblay.
Read the exchangeVeterans Affairs
Conservative MP Robert Kitchen said Veterans Affairs could not say how many family members receive services and asked whether inmates such as Chris Garnier continue to receive benefits intended for veterans.
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
- deflectedInternational TradePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Andrew Leslie (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks Conservatives and quotes Harper instead of addressing the listed capitulations.
The Conservative post-battle courage is ironic, given that last year, Stephen Harper and the Conservatives were imploring us to capitulate and accept any deal at any price.
- partly answeredInternational TradePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Andrew Leslie (Liberal). loaded question.Answer lists specific improvements to the deal but ignores the repeated claims of capitulation on drugs, veto, and dairy.
This deal improves on the initial NAFTA in the following ways.
- deflectedInternational TradePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Andrew Leslie (Liberal). loaded question.Answer continues listing progressive elements without engaging the challenge that those were Trump demands or irrelevant.
This agreement is a massive step forward for progressive trade.
- deflectedInternational TradeMr. Joël Godin (Conservative) asked Andrew Leslie (Liberal). loaded question.Answer repeats prior list of wins and ignores the question about specific concessions with no offsetting gains.
The most important thing is that Canada has maintained its access to the American market, and we have done away with the dispute settlement system
- deflectedInternational TradeMr. Joël Godin (Conservative) asked Andrew Leslie (Liberal). substantive question.Answer again attacks Conservatives for past advice rather than addressing the ongoing surtax burden on businesses.
it is fascinating to watch the Conservatives find their backbone again, especially given that last year, as my colleague is well aware, Stephen Harper and the Conservatives begged us to give in
- partly answeredInternational TradeMs. Ruth Ellen Brosseau (NDP) asked Mr. Jean-Claude Poissant (Liberal). loaded question.Answer acknowledges impacts and promises compensation but does not address the claim of poor listening to Quebec dairy farmers.
We appreciate that there will be impacts on our farmers, and we are committed to providing them with fair and full compensation to help them succeed.
- answeredInternational TradeMs. Ruth Ellen Brosseau (NDP) asked Mr. Jean-Claude Poissant (Liberal). loaded question.Answer directly defends the level of market access granted and restates commitment to compensation.
we defended our supply management system against the Americans' aggressive attempts at dismantling it.
- answeredNatural ResourcesMr. Nathan Cullen (NDP) asked Mr. Paul Lefebvre (Liberal). loaded question.Answer outlines the three concrete steps from the court ruling to address consultation concerns.
on indigenous consultations, we have a clear path forward provided to us by the Federal Court of Appeal.
- partly answeredNatural ResourcesMr. Nathan Cullen (NDP) asked Mr. Paul Lefebvre (Liberal). substantive question.Answer addresses TMX consultations and rights recognition but does not directly explain how the chief's memory is honored.
That is why we will not appeal the court's decision.
- deflectedInternational TradeMichael Chong (Conservative) asked Jim Carr (Liberal). substantive question.Answer shifts to criticizing Conservative positions on China instead of addressing sovereignty concerns in the trade deal.
I am trying to understand the Conservatives' position on China.
- answeredInternational TradeMichael Chong (Conservative) asked Jim Carr (Liberal). substantive question.Answer directly rebuts the claim by stating Canada gave up none of its sovereignty and can negotiate with any country.
Canada gave up none of its sovereignty in this deal.
- partly answeredCarbon PricingMike Lake (Conservative) asked Mr. Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.Answer affirms confidence in meeting targets but provides no confirmation or data on whether they are on track.
we are confident that we can reach the Paris agreement without question.
- deflectedCarbon PricingMike Lake (Conservative) asked Mr. Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.Answer restates the plan and backstop without addressing projected costs of overseas carbon credits.
The plan we put in place specifically invites the provinces and territories to come up with a plan.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingMr. Jacques Gourde (Conservative) asked Mr. Sean Fraser (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks the member personally and mischaracterizes the question rather than addressing the carbon tax abolition request.
It is disappointing in the extreme that the hon. member will take money from his constituents to make pollution free again.
- deflectedCarbon PricingMr. Kevin Waugh (Conservative) asked Mr. Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.Answer pivots to attacking Conservatives' lack of plan instead of addressing provincial opposition or ending the tax.
we now know that the Conservatives have no plan.
- partly answeredForeign AffairsMs. Hélène Laverdière (NDP) asked Andrew Leslie (Liberal). substantive question.Answer lists accomplishments but does not address the gap in development assistance funding or overall strategy adequacy.
we have worked with North Korea and shown leadership on this critical issue by hosting a meeting with 20 countries in Vancouver.
- deflectedCopyrightMs. Karine Trudel (NDP) asked Navdeep Bains (Liberal). loaded question.Answer promotes IP strategy without addressing the specific question on education system impacts from copyright changes.
With regard to copyright, this is going to help artists.
- misdirectedNatural ResourcesMr. Jamie Schmale (Conservative) asked Mr. Paul Lefebvre (Liberal). substantive question.Answer attacks Conservatives and NDP instead of addressing why consultation and appeal cannot occur simultaneously.
We will take no lessons from the Conservatives, who cut corners at every turn.
- deflectedNatural ResourcesMrs. Stephanie Kusie (Conservative) asked Mr. Paul Lefebvre (Liberal). substantive question.Answer explains consultation rationale but avoids why both actions cannot proceed at once.
At the end of the day, we will take no lessons from the Conservatives, who have no credibility on this file
- partly answeredNatural ResourcesMr. Dane Lloyd (Conservative) asked Mr. Paul Lefebvre (Liberal). substantive question.Answer clarifies they are not starting over and references prior work but does not address timeline for shovels in ground.
We are building on the relationships we have, the information that has been gathered and the consultations done to date.
- misdirectedNatural ResourcesMr. Blake Richards (Conservative) asked Mr. Paul Lefebvre (Liberal). loaded question.Answer defends approach but pivots to attacking Conservatives rather than explaining actions for Alberta workers.
We will take no lessons from them.
- partly answeredNational DefenceMr. Randall Garrison (NDP) asked Mr. Serge Cormier (Liberal). substantive question.Answer describes Bill C-77 victims' rights but does not address removing self-harm as a disciplinary offence.
Bill C-77 ensures that victims rights are upheld and allows the victims to have the help of a liaison officer to navigate in the military justice system.
- deflectedNational DefenceMr. Randall Garrison (NDP) asked Mr. Serge Cormier (Liberal). substantive question.Answer discusses general defence policy investments without addressing the timeline or process for revising service records.
We have dedicated ourselves to the men and women of the armed forces, and that is what we will continue doing in the years ahead.
- partly answeredInternational TradeMr. Richard Martel (Conservative) asked Mr. Jean-Claude Poissant (Liberal). substantive question.Answer affirms commitment to compensation but provides no details or timeline for the package.
We made a commitment to compensate producers in a fair and effective manner.
- deflectedVeterans AffairsMrs. Cathay Wagantall (Conservative) asked Mr. Stéphane Lauzon (Liberal). loaded question.The answer provides general benefit statistics but avoids any assurance on murderers or inmates receiving benefits.
our priority is to provide veterans and their families with the benefits and support they need.
- deflectedVeterans AffairsMr. Robert Kitchen (Conservative) asked Mr. Stéphane Lauzon (Liberal). loaded question.The answer repeats statistics and priorities without addressing inmates or providing the requested assurance.
Any determination regarding the services available to the family members of veterans is made in consultation with case managers.
- deflectedVeterans AffairsMr. John Brassard (Conservative) asked Mr. Stéphane Lauzon (Liberal). loaded question.The answer supplies numbers and criticizes the opposition but does not confirm whether adult children or inmates receive benefits.
I am not sure that the intention of the members opposite is to say that it is a bad thing to—
- partly answeredHealthMs. Georgina Jolibois (NDP) asked Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Liberal). substantive question.The answer details national funding increases but does not confirm restoration of the specific Saskatchewan cuts mentioned.
This year, our government is investing $87 million across the country to tackle HIV and other sexually transmitted blood-borne diseases in Canada.
- deflectedPensionsMr. Scott Duvall (NDP) asked Filomena Tassi (Liberal). substantive question.The answer opens with an unrelated tribute and discusses past CPP changes and future consultations without committing to immediate action on bankruptcy laws.
Our government is committed to getting the right solution, which is why in our 2018 budget we have committed to consulting with stakeholders.
- partly answeredForeign AffairsRob Nicholson (Conservative) asked Andrew Leslie (Liberal). substantive question.The answer affirms a strong stance and allied coordination but offers no specifics on new sanctions or diplomatic expulsions.
We will always stand up to these cyber-threats and we will never let Russia threaten Canadian stability or security.
- deflectedPublic SafetyMr. Glen Motz (Conservative) asked Mrs. Karen McCrimmon (Liberal). substantive question.The answer shifts to background checks and a general review instead of addressing the marking regulation timeline or deferral.
We have a very comprehensive review being done by Minister Blair at the present time.
- deflectedPublic SafetyMr. Glen Motz (Conservative) asked Mrs. Karen McCrimmon (Liberal). substantive question.The answer discusses unrelated legislative measures on background checks without clarifying the regulation status or industry meetings.
we have legislation that is currently going through Parliament that addresses some gaps and weaknesses dealing with legal weapons.
- deflectedJusticeMr. Michael Cooper (Conservative) asked Jody Wilson-Raybould (Liberal). substantive question.The answer defends the bill and explains its provisions without addressing the request to remove provisions.
I will say, with respect to Bill C-75 , that it does not in any way, shape or form change the principles of sentencing, which are proportionate to the gravity of the offence and the grave responsibility of the offender.
- partly answeredThe EnvironmentMr. Alupa Clarke (Conservative) asked Mr. Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.Provides information on the assessment process but avoids giving specific time frames as requested.
I am certain that the agency will work in collaboration with the minister to make a recommendation, and a responsible decision will be taken in due course.
- deflectedRail TransportationMs. Monique Pauzé (Bloc) asked Mr. Terry Beech (Liberal). substantive question.Focuses on actions taken but sidesteps the call for a public inquiry.
We have investigated this issue thoroughly and taken unprecedented action.
- deflectedInternational TradeMr. Gabriel Ste-Marie (Bloc) asked Andrew Leslie (Liberal). substantive question.Discusses general efforts on drug costs without addressing compensation for provinces.
We will continue to work with the provinces, territories and our partners to reduce drug costs and provide timely access to drugs.
- misdirectedInternational TradeMr. Gabriel Ste-Marie (Bloc) asked Andrew Leslie (Liberal). substantive question.The response shifts to prescription drug costs instead of addressing dairy producer compensation.
our government is taking action to bring down the cost of prescription drugs for Canadians.
- partly answeredInternational TradeMr. Erin Weir (Independent) asked Navdeep Bains (Liberal). substantive question.Outlines support package and engagement but provides no specific timeline for tariff removal.
We are very confident that this plan in the short term will help them and we will continue to engage our American counterparts to find resolution on section 232 regarding steel and aluminum.