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Monday, January 28, 2019 · sitting No. 372

House debates federal sustainable development act changes

The House spent the largest share of its time debating government amendments to the Federal Sustainable Development Act under Government Orders. Conservative MP Garnett Genuis criticized the government's record on sustainability across multiple policy areas while Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux objected that the remarks strayed from Bill C-57.

Question Period featured repeated Conservative attacks on the Prime Minister's foreign policy record, with Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer accusing the government of weakness toward China and other partners. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended the government's handling of detained Canadians and its support for the rule of law.

Further exchanges in Question Period saw Conservative MPs press the government on deficits, carbon pricing costs and housing shortages, with replies from the Prime Minister, Finance Minister Bill Morneau and Environment Minister Catherine McKenna emphasizing middle-class supports and climate incentives.

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 · 2019-01-28

Government (Liberal)OppositionOver the day: government 32%, opposition 68% of the words spokenPrivate membersQuestion PeriodRoutine proceedingsGovernment business▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 11:0512:0013:0014:0015:0016:0017:00Last speech 18:15Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 7 h 10 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
34Questions Fill Day, One Bill IntroducedThe sitting devoted most time to procedural questions and returns rather than debate or decisions. Only a single bill was introduced, with no votes taken and many answers in Question Period 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

Dutch Heritage Day

Conservative MP Dave Van Kesteren moved a private member's motion to designate May 5 as Dutch Heritage Day, citing Canadian sacrifices in the liberation of the Netherlands and contributions by Dutch immigrants.

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Housing

NDP MP Guy Caron asked whether the next budget would address urgent housing needs, noting tent cities in British Columbia and calling for immediate measures such as GST relief on affordable units.

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Indigenous Affairs

NDP MP Charlie Angus pressed Indigenous Services Minister Seamus O'Regan to send an emergency response team to Cat Lake rather than bureaucrats, citing temperatures of -55° and squalid conditions.

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Small Business

Liberal MP Raj Saini asked Small Business Minister Mary Ng what steps the government had taken to reduce the small business tax rate and cut red tape.

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Public Transportation

NDP MP Wayne Stetski asked Transport Minister Marc Garneau when the government would replace Greyhound routes in western Canada to ensure access to health care and shelters.

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Intergovernmental Relations

Bloc Québécois MP Xavier Barsalou-Duval challenged the government's refusal to allow a single Quebec tax return, accusing Ottawa of mounting a campaign of fear.

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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
    Foreign AffairsAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer completely avoids the question by pivoting to praise for chamber builders.I look forward to answering the member's question shortly, but I think before we do, we need to take a moment to recognize and applaud the extraordinary women and men who worked so hard to build this beautiful chamber for us to serve in
  2. partly answered
    Foreign AffairsAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer addresses the China crisis but ignores the other listed foreign policy issues and reframes around integrity.we want to keep Canadians safe, secure the release of the two Canadians arbitrarily detained in China and push for clemency for the third
  3. deflected
    FinanceAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the debt and tax questions to restate economic record and attack Conservatives.on the contrary, our plan was to invest in people, the middle class, and our communities
  4. deflected
    FinanceAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer sidesteps the debt and tax questions by attacking Harper-era policies and repeating economic stats.it is no surprise that all we get from the Conservatives are warmed over Stephen Harper attacks and the economic plan that failed Canadians for 10 years
  5. deflected
    Carbon PricingAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer evades the carbon tax cost question by pivoting to the child benefit and attacking the opposition's lack of a climate plan.When it comes to climate change, it has been 274 days since the member opposite promised a climate plan for Canadians
  6. answered
    HousingMr. Guy Caron (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly addresses the housing crisis question by citing the national housing strategy and its impact.we created the first national housing strategy, which is making unprecedented investments in housing
  7. partly answered
    HousingMr. Guy Caron (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the need for more action but focuses on past investments rather than committing to immediate new ones.the historic investments we have made in housing in recent years have helped more than one million Canadians find affordable housing
  8. partly answered
    HousingMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer highlights the national housing strategy but does not commit to new immediate budget priorities as asked.we moved forward with a historic national housing strategy that re-engages the federal government in housing right across the country
  9. deflected
    HousingMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer praises past investments without addressing the accusation of siding with corporations or the immediate housing need.We are making a real impact in the lives of Canadians as we invest in housing that is making a significant difference in people's lives.
  10. deflected
    FinanceMr. Alain Rayes (Conservative) asked Bill Morneau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer highlights economic positives instead of naming who will pay for the deficits.We have invested in the middle class and delivered significant results.
  11. deflected
    FinanceMr. Alain Rayes (Conservative) asked Bill Morneau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer repeats claims of middle-class benefits without addressing who pays for deficits.Our investments have created more jobs across the country.
  12. deflected
    FinanceLisa Raitt (Conservative) asked Bill Morneau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer contrasts past election options rather than admitting to higher taxes from deficits.What we have been able to show is that our approach works.
  13. deflected
    FinanceLisa Raitt (Conservative) asked Bill Morneau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists tax reductions and benefits without addressing fears of new taxes or insolvency.That is why we reduced taxes on middle-class Canadians, a policy that the Conservatives voted against.
  14. deflected
    FinanceMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Bill Morneau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer promotes the investment plan without confirming whether deficits will lead to tax hikes.Our approach involves lowering taxes for the middle class, and Canada is better off because of it.
  15. deflected
    FinanceMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Bill Morneau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer again emphasizes middle-class gains without addressing the direct link to future tax hikes.We know there are inequalities within the middle class, and that is why we lowered their taxes.
  16. partly answered
    HousingMs. Sheri Benson (NDP) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer affirms belief in the right to housing and details investments but does not give a yes-or-no on legislating the right to housing.our government believes very strongly in the right of every Canadian to have a safe, affordable and accessible home.
  17. answered
    Indigenous AffairsMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked Seamus O'Regan (Liberal). substantive question.The answer commits to specific next steps with leadership and an action plan.Officials will be meeting with the leadership there tomorrow to work on an action plan to help them work on the serious challenges that they confront.
  18. deflected
    FinancePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Bill Morneau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the deficit and future tax question to restate prior tax cuts.We lowered taxes for the middle class.
  19. deflected
    FinancePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Bill Morneau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer again sidesteps the deficit-to-tax-hikes claim by repeating benefit numbers.The fact of the matter is that the introduction of the Canada child benefit together with the reduction in taxes means that people are better off.
  20. misdirected
    FinancePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Bill Morneau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer turns to attacking the Conservatives' hypothetical plan instead of addressing the tax-increase question.The question is: What would be the Conservative plan?
  21. deflected
    FinancePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Bill Morneau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer dismisses the premise as fictional and restates tax and benefit figures without addressing future tax hikes.
  22. partly answered
    Indigenous AffairsMr. Romeo Saganash (NDP) asked Carolyn Bennett (Liberal). substantive question.The answer addresses gender discrimination via Bill S-3 but cuts off before fully covering repeal of all unilateral legislation.Bill S-3 eliminates gender discrimination arising from the Indian Act.
  23. deflected
    Foreign AffairsMs. Hélène Laverdière (NDP) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). loaded question.The answer avoids the timing and preparation question to list allied support.We now have the support of many of our allies, such as Australia, the European Union, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Netherlands, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Spain.
  24. deflected
    Foreign AffairsMs. Leona Alleslev (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the plan-for-China question to restate the priority on detained Canadians.our top priority is the safety and well-being of the Canadians detained in China.
  25. deflected
    Foreign AffairsMs. Leona Alleslev (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer dismisses the question as false claims and pivots to unrelated trade achievements instead of addressing any China plan.there are so many false claims in that question that it is hard to even know where to start.
  26. deflected
    Foreign AffairsErin O'Toole (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). substantive question.The answer restates legal principles and avoids naming any briefing date or person.There has been, as is correct, no political involvement in the process.
  27. misdirected
    Foreign AffairsErin O'Toole (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the opposition for playing games rather than addressing the demotion question.the only people playing political games when two Canadians are in a difficult situation are the members opposite, and that is truly reprehensible.
  28. partly answered
    Public TransportationMr. Wayne Stetski (NDP) asked Marc Garneau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer commits to cost-sharing help with provinces but gives no timeline or confirmation of funding delivery.We will be there if they request us to help them on a cost-sharing basis.
  29. deflected
    InfrastructureMs. Brigitte Sansoucy (NDP) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists past approvals and spending totals without addressing when or whether remaining municipal promises will be met.Over 70% of those projects, representing more than $18 billion, are under construction.
  30. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. Tom Kmiec (Conservative) asked Catherine McKenna (Liberal). loaded question.The answer promotes the climate incentive and attacks the prior government instead of addressing the claimed tax costs or rationale.a family of four in Ontario will get $307 back.
  31. deflected
    Carbon PricingMrs. Rosemarie Falk (Conservative) asked Catherine McKenna (Liberal). loaded question.The answer repeats the incentive payments and climate costs without engaging the specific household cost figures or timeline question.A family of four in Saskatchewan will get $609 back.
  32. misdirected
    Carbon PricingMr. Michael Barrett (Conservative) asked Catherine McKenna (Liberal). loaded question.The answer blames climate impacts on everyone and demands a Conservative plan instead of answering about carbon-tax effects on farmers.It has now been 274 days since the party opposite said that it would have a plan.
  33. deflected
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMichelle Rempel (Conservative) asked Ahmed Hussen (Liberal). loaded question.The answer highlights program expansions without addressing the illegal vs legal immigration comparison or the requested admission.We have increased that to 20,000.
  34. partly answered
    The EnvironmentMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). loaded question.The answer acknowledges killer whale issues and lists challenges but does not admit the economy-environment claim is false or that the government sided with business.We are working very hard through the whales initiative to ensure we put the killer whales back on an appropriate path to success, and ensure that the environment and economy go forward hand in hand.
  35. partly answered
    Public Services and ProcurementSteven Blaney (Conservative) asked Harjit S. Sajjan (Liberal). loaded question.The answer affirms commitment to tools for the forces and notes Davie work but does not address the Quebec motion, respect for workers, or delays.We have started steel cutting on the early blocks of the two permanent joint supply ships and look forward to having those in the water.
  36. deflected
    Intergovernmental RelationsMr. Xavier Barsalou-Duval (Bloc) asked Diane Lebouthillier (Liberal). loaded question.The answer defends CRA jobs and openness to cooperation but avoids explaining why two tax returns are needed or addressing the ridicule claim.Unlike the Bloc Québécois and the Conservatives, we are not jeopardizing those jobs.
  37. deflected
    Intergovernmental RelationsMr. Rhéal Fortin (Bloc) asked Diane Lebouthillier (Liberal). loaded question.The answer cites international obligations and evasion risks but does not address the poll, vote-seeking motive, or siding with Quebeckers.A single revenue administration managed by Quebec would make it harder for Canada to respect its international legal obligations.
  38. misdirected
    Foreign AffairsMr. Erin Weir (Independent) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer ignores the policy question entirely and instead attacks the NDP for defending a dictatorship.Canadians need an apology from the member for Churchill—Keewatinook Aski and the NDP candidate in York—Simcoe for their defence of a dictatorship that has killed hundreds and injured thousands of peaceful protesters.
  39. deflected
    Presence in GalleryMr. Pierre Nantel (NDP) asked Mr. James Maloney (Liberal). substantive question.The answer ignores the Netflix motion and Lac-Mégantic request, instead proposing unanimous consent for an unrelated hockey motion.That, given the enormous cultural significance of hockey in Canada, the House encourages the Hockey Hall of Fame to induct Paul Henderson in recognition of his incredible contribution to Canadian hockey and its history.