All sittings← 2019-02-282019-03-18 →
Friday, March 1, 2019 · sitting No. 390
Conservatives press Liberals on SNC-Lavalin as justice committee hearings continue
Oral questions on justice occupied the largest share of the sitting as Conservative MP Candice Bergen repeatedly called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to testify under oath before the justice committee. Liberal MP Bardish Chagger replied that the committee was functioning independently and that every witness request had been met. Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale told the House that the RCMP operates without ministerial direction on any investigation.
Earlier the House spent the next largest block of time at third reading of Bill C-83, an act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act. Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said the bill would create structured intervention units, improve staff and inmate safety and respond to witness concerns raised at committee. NDP MP Randall Garrison said the legislation merely rebranded segregation and failed to address resource shortages for rehabilitation programs.
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 · 2019-03-01
43Justice talk fills the day, nothing decidedThe sitting devoted most time to justice and corrections debate yet recorded no votes and advanced only two bills at introduction. Question period produced almost no direct answers.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
Carbon Pricing
Conservative MP Dane Lloyd said the carbon tax would raise fuel, heating and grocery costs while Conservative MP Randy Hoback warned that farm representatives could not absorb the added expense on crop inputs.
Read the exchangeEmployment
NDP MP Karine Trudel said the government had failed to protect jobs at Sears, Aveos, Rona and the Davie shipyard, while Employment Minister Patty Hajdu said Canada summer jobs had created more than 70,000 positions for students.
Read the exchangeHousing
NDP MP Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet asked whether federal funds for urban indigenous housing were reaching the intended recipients, and Housing Minister Adam Vaughan said the government was working with municipalities to ensure dollars served the correct communities.
Read the exchangeParks Canada
NDP MP Wayne Stetski said Phoenix pay problems continued to affect Parks Canada employees and called for budget funding to clear the backlog, while Environment Minister Catherine McKenna said the government was working weekly on the issue.
Read the exchangeNational Defence
NDP MP Randall Garrison asked the government to extend the medical-evacuation mission in Mali beyond the August 1 withdrawal date, while Liberal MP Serge Cormier said Romania would assume the role and Canada remained committed to UN peacekeeping.
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
- deflectedJusticeCandice Bergen (Conservative) asked Bardish Chagger (Liberal). substantive question.Answer avoids the request to have the PM testify by pivoting to committee process and past Conservative positions.
It was the Conservatives who said that the former attorney general would not have a chance to appear.
- deflectedJusticeCandice Bergen (Conservative) asked Bardish Chagger (Liberal). loaded question.Answer sidesteps the smear-campaign accusation by attacking Conservatives and restating support for committees.
The contrast is the Conservatives, the party of Stephen Harper, with a new leader now but still the party of Stephen Harper, which likes to divide, which likes to mischaracterize.
- misdirectedJusticeCandice Bergen (Conservative) asked Ralph Goodale (Liberal). substantive question.Answer addresses only the RCMP independence point and ignores the call for the PM to testify.
with respect to the RCMP, the opposition House leader should know that the force is entirely independent.
- partly answeredJusticeMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Mr. Arif Virani (Liberal). substantive question.Answer addresses the briefing process but does not name any PMO staff.
upon his appointment, the minister was briefed on numerous files that relate to his portfolio.
- deflectedJusticeMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Mr. Arif Virani (Liberal). substantive question.Answer again explains standard briefing practice without naming individuals or addressing the specific question.
let us contemplate the reverse scenario.
- deflectedJusticeMr. Daniel Blaikie (NDP) asked Ralph Goodale (Liberal). substantive question.Answer focuses solely on RCMP independence and ignores the request for a public inquiry.
once again, I would make the point that the RCMP in this country is completely independent.
- deflectedJusticeMr. Daniel Blaikie (NDP) asked Bardish Chagger (Liberal). substantive question.Answer praises the justice committee and privilege waiver while avoiding any commitment to a public inquiry.
What is fascinating is that the member, who talks about the length of a member's service in this place, has also been here.
- misdirectedEmploymentMs. Karine Trudel (NDP) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks Conservatives for not asking about workers instead of addressing the SNC-Lavalin versus other workers comparison.
The real issue, for Canadians watching us today, is that the Conservatives have not asked a single question about standing up for workers across the country.
- misdirectedJusticeMs. Karine Trudel (NDP) asked Mr. Arif Virani (Liberal). loaded question.Answer shifts to Criminal Code amendments instead of addressing the requested independent inquiry on pressure or Phoenix.
The purpose of these amendments to the Criminal Code and all measures we introduce is to protect workers and to convict and make liable the executives of any company.
- deflectedJusticePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Bardish Chagger (Liberal). substantive question.Answer avoids the request for testimony by attacking the asker and restating committee independence and Ethics Commissioner review.
the member is intentionally mixing different things up, and he can do what he pleases.
- deflectedJusticePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Bardish Chagger (Liberal). substantive question.Answer sidesteps the call for the minister to appear by accusing the asker of division and tattling rather than engaging the issue.
Rather than work with his colleagues and try to find a way forward, he does what Conservatives do.
- deflectedJusticeMr. Alain Rayes (Conservative) asked Bardish Chagger (Liberal). loaded question.Answer evades the resignation demand by pivoting to committee work and attacking Conservatives' plan and bilingual consistency.
Canadians will have a choice to make between our plan to invest in our communities, grow our economy and support middle-class jobs or the party of Stephen Harper that wants to divide Canadians and has no plan for the economy or jobs.
- partly answeredJusticeMr. Alain Rayes (Conservative) asked Bardish Chagger (Liberal). loaded question.Answer directly counters some claims about pressure and decision-making but still pivots to attacking Conservatives at the end.
the former attorney general stated that the Prime Minister told her it was her decision to make.
- deflectedJusticeMrs. Shannon Stubbs (Conservative) asked Mr. Arif Virani (Liberal). loaded question.Answer addresses the waiver of privilege but avoids the yes/no question on removing restrictions by redirecting to ongoing court matters and committee work.
- deflectedJusticeMrs. Shannon Stubbs (Conservative) asked Mr. Arif Virani (Liberal). loaded question.Answer explains the scope of the waiver but does not answer the yes/no request to let the former AG speak freely, instead emphasizing judicial independence.
When matters are before the courts, they are not to be influenced by members of Parliament, members of government or cabinet, because they are under judicial consideration.
- partly answeredHousingMs. Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet (NDP) asked Mr. Adam Vaughan (Liberal). substantive question.Answer engages the specific funding target concern and offers to discuss details while broadening to program changes.
I would be happy to discuss the issue with her afterwards to understand exactly how federal funding and the tenant list is constructed in that situation to ensure that dollars assigned to urban indigenous housing programs serve people from that particular community.
- deflectedIndigenous AffairsMs. Georgina Jolibois (NDP) asked Mr. Gary Anandasangaree (Liberal). loaded question.The answer discusses the bill's intent but ignores the funding question entirely.
That is why our government introduced Bill C-91 , with support from all parties.
- misdirectedJusticeErin O'Toole (Conservative) asked Bardish Chagger (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks Conservatives and pivots to unrelated policy instead of addressing resignation.
What Canadians also know is that this week we saw the statistics that 300,000 children have been lifted out of poverty because of the Canada child benefit.
- deflectedJusticeMr. Jacques Gourde (Conservative) asked Bardish Chagger (Liberal). loaded question.The answer avoids the yes-or-no question by praising the committee process and attacking Conservatives.
It is obvious that the Conservatives have never had any respect for committees and that, today, nothing has changed.
- misdirectedJusticeMrs. Kelly Block (Conservative) asked Bardish Chagger (Liberal). loaded question.The answer accuses the asker of misrepresentation and selectively quotes testimony rather than addressing resignation.
That member seems to have observed the committee appearance but does not seem to remember that the former attorney general stated that the Prime Minister told her it was her decision to make.
- deflectedJusticeMr. Todd Doherty (Conservative) asked Bardish Chagger (Liberal). loaded question.The answer expresses confidence in institutions but sidesteps the direct call for resignation.
The justice committee is looking at this matter.
- answeredHousingMs. Linda Duncan (NDP) asked Mr. Adam Vaughan (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly confirms funding release and provides specific program details matching the request.
yes, the dollars have been released now.
- deflectedEmploymentMr. Robert Aubin (NDP) asked Mr. Terry Beech (Liberal). substantive question.The answer notes airport independence and safety but does not address actions taken to protect the specific jobs.
The member knows that the governance of airports is independent and they operate quite well, including at the airports he mentioned.
- deflectedJusticeMr. Dan Albas (Conservative) asked Bardish Chagger (Liberal). loaded question.The answer points to ongoing reviews and ends by accusing Conservatives of divisive politics instead of addressing resignation.
The Conservatives will continue their politics of division.
- deflectedJusticeMr. Colin Carrie (Conservative) asked Bardish Chagger (Liberal). loaded question.Answer avoids resignation demand by redirecting to ongoing processes.
We on this side respect the independence of the judicial system and we think it should do its important work.
- deflectedJusticeMr. Bernard Généreux (Conservative) asked Bardish Chagger (Liberal). loaded question.Answer sidesteps resignation call and reframes around jobs and law compliance.
the former attorney general said that the Prime Minister told her that the decision was hers.
- deflectedJusticeMr. Jamie Schmale (Conservative) asked Bardish Chagger (Liberal). loaded question.Response ignores the question and emphasizes committee work instead.
The justice committee is doing its work.
- partly answeredParks CanadaMr. Wayne Stetski (NDP) asked Catherine McKenna (Liberal). substantive question.Answer acknowledges the issue and mentions investments but gives no budget commitment.
- deflectedNational DefenceMr. Randall Garrison (NDP) asked Mr. Serge Cormier (Liberal). substantive question.Answer discusses current actions but does not address extending the mission.
Our air task force is fully active and is conducting medical evacuations and tactical airlift operations for UN forces.
- deflectedJusticeMr. Harold Albrecht (Conservative) asked Bardish Chagger (Liberal). loaded question.Response evades resignation demand and attacks the asker on partisanship.
Rather than respecting the work of committees and the officer of Parliament, the member is focused on partisan politics rather than jobs in our communities.
- deflectedJusticeMr. Mel Arnold (Conservative) asked Bardish Chagger (Liberal). loaded question.Answer avoids the core question by listing ongoing reviews.
- deflectedJusticeMr. John Nater (Conservative) asked Bardish Chagger (Liberal). loaded question.Response changes subject to committee independence without addressing resignation.
- misdirectedJusticeMr. Dane Lloyd (Conservative) asked Bardish Chagger (Liberal). loaded question.Question assumes unproven interference and demands resignation; answer attacks Conservatives instead of addressing the query.
What is clear is that the Conservatives focus on partisan politics, rather than focusing on Canadians.
- deflectedJusticeMr. Randy Hoback (Conservative) asked Mr. Arif Virani (Liberal). loaded question.Question assumes corruption and demands resignation; answer restates testimony without engaging the demand.
I think it is important that we examine again the evidence that was received from the former attorney general who stated that the Prime Minister told her that it was her decision to take
- partly answeredLabourMr. Erin Weir (Independent) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.Question asks for enactment of policy before spring; answer notes ongoing consultations without a timeline.
I look forward to the results of the consultations and charting a path forward for Canada.
- deflectedInfrastructureMs. Monique Pauzé (Bloc) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.Question asks why government will not paint the bridge; answer discusses partners and negotiations without committing to action.
Of course we will continue to invest in Quebec City.
- deflectedInfrastructureMs. Monique Pauzé (Bloc) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.Question repeats demand for painting timeline; answer offers no timeline and makes sarcastic remark about helping paint.
She is so enthusiastic that perhaps she could help me paint the bridge.
- deflectedEmploymentMr. Simon Marcil (Bloc) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.Question asks if government will sign remediation agreement; answer affirms support for workers but avoids yes/no on agreement.
We will continue to stand up for SNC-Lavalin workers across the country, and we can absolutely do this in keeping with the rule of law and the appropriate ethics rules.