All sittings← 2019-05-082019-05-10 →
Thursday, May 9, 2019 · sitting No. 413
Commons advances indigenous languages bill as opposition presses on Norman case
The House spent the largest share of its sitting on third reading debate of Bill C-91, the indigenous languages act. Members including Robert-Falcon Ouellette and Marilyn Gladu spoke in Cree while others such as Linda Duncan pressed for amendments drawn from committee evidence.
In question period Conservative MP Mark Strahl accused the government of interfering in the Mark Norman prosecution by withholding documents and coaching witnesses. Public Safety Minister Bill Blair replied that the director of public prosecutions had confirmed no outside influence on the decision to stay the charge.
New Democratic Leader Jagmeet Singh pressed Employment and Social Development Minister Jean-Yves Duclos to adopt a plan for 500000 new affordable homes while the minister pointed to the national housing strategy already under way.
Decided that day
- C-91 advanced in the first chamber
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 · 2019-05-09
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
Points of Order
Conservative MP Shannon Stubbs raised a point of order on her private member's motion to study rising rural crime rates after the public safety committee had taken no action despite unanimous passage.
Read the exchangePersons With Disabilities
Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu asked why Library and Archives Canada had ended a program employing people with developmental disabilities and Minister Carla Qualtrough said the contract had been extended while new roles were sought.
Read the exchangeInternational Trade
Conservative MP Earl Dreeshen asked when the government would resolve the canola dispute with China and Liberal MP Omar Alghabra said a support package and further diplomatic efforts had been announced the previous week.
Read the exchangeInfrastructure
Bloc Québécois MP Gabriel Ste-Marie urged the government to transfer infrastructure funds without conditions for the Quebec City tramway and Liberal MP Joël Lightbound said the federal share remained available once Quebec confirmed its plan.
Read the exchangeHealth
NDP MP Sheri Benson asked why the government had not enforced the Canada Health Act to ensure free antiretroviral drugs in Saskatchewan and Liberal MP Pam Damoff offered to take the matter to Health Canada.
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
- deflectedJusticeMr. Mark Strahl (Conservative) asked Bill Blair (Liberal). loaded question.The answer dismisses all claims as incorrect and emphasizes independence without addressing specific allegations like document withholding.
almost everything the member opposite just said is not correct.
- deflectedJusticeMr. Mark Strahl (Conservative) asked Bill Blair (Liberal). loaded question.The answer calls the question offensive and impugns the asker while reiterating independence without engaging the claims.
it is a little offensive to hear the member opposite impugn the integrity of the RCMP
- deflectedJusticeMr. Mark Strahl (Conservative) asked Bill Blair (Liberal). loaded question.The answer flatly denies the premise and stresses legal independence without addressing the specific accusations made.
once again, none of that is actually true.
- deflectedJusticeMr. Alain Rayes (Conservative) asked Bill Blair (Liberal). loaded question.The answer rejects innuendo and restates institutional independence without addressing the interference allegations.
Canadians deserve better than innuendo.
- partly answeredJusticeMr. Alain Rayes (Conservative) asked Bill Blair (Liberal). loaded question.The answer directly addresses the document production claim with specific numbers and process details.
The Government of Canada met all its obligations with respect to third party record applications.
- deflectedHousingMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer promotes the government's existing plan rather than addressing whether it will adopt the NDP proposal.
we also have put that plan into place since 2015.
- deflectedHousingMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer repeats the government's housing strategy without responding to the request to adopt the NDP plan.
In November 2017 we launched a national housing strategy
- deflectedJusticeMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Bill Blair (Liberal). loaded question.The answer expresses offense at the premise and reiterates independence without addressing cooperation with an independent prosecutor.
I quite frankly find it offensive when a member in the House rises and impugns the integrity
- answeredJusticeMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Bill Blair (Liberal). loaded question.Answer directly denies premise and states facts about document provision and lack of influence.
The government met all of its obligations with respect to third-party record applications.
- deflectedJusticeErin O'Toole (Conservative) asked Mr. Arif Virani (Liberal). substantive question.Answer restates legal process independence without addressing the specific count of names provided to RCMP.
he should know that when we investigate a charge, that is done by law enforcement, and in this case the RCMP.
- misdirectedJusticeErin O'Toole (Conservative) asked Mr. Arif Virani (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks the question as impugning RCMP independence instead of addressing the apology request.
He is impugning the law enforcement officials and the independence of their work.
- deflectedJusticeMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Mr. Arif Virani (Liberal). loaded question.Answer repeats three points on process independence without addressing the Prime Minister's belief on interference.
First, the decision to investigate was made by the RCMP.
- deflectedJusticeMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Mr. Arif Virani (Liberal). loaded question.Answer cites director's comments on no interference but avoids the question on the initial cabinet decision and documents.
What I can say about the investigation and the legal process is that the government fulfilled all its obligations.
- deflectedJusticeMs. Leona Alleslev (Conservative) asked Mr. Arif Virani (Liberal). loaded question.Answer explains legal process independence without addressing when the Prime Minister will realize he cannot attack enemies.
Decisions as to what is redacted and what is covered by cabinet confidences are made independent of political actors, as they should be.
- deflectedJusticeMs. Leona Alleslev (Conservative) asked Mr. Arif Virani (Liberal). loaded question.Answer quotes director and criticizes the question as impugning integrity rather than admitting interference.
The reason the Minister of Border Security was so appalled by this line of questioning is that members should not impugn the integrity of the people who are leading the judicial system
- deflectedJusticeMr. Matthew Dubé (NDP) asked Mr. Arif Virani (Liberal). substantive question.Answer repeats points on independent decisions and quotes counsel but does not address call for independent inquiry.
The decision to stay the charges was made by the director herself.
- deflectedJusticeMr. Daniel Blaikie (NDP) asked Mr. Arif Virani (Liberal). substantive question.Answer blames the questions and highlights DPP statements instead of addressing interference allegations or investigation request.
The fact that she feels compelled to issue these kinds of statements, declaring in the loudest voice possible that no influence occurred, is actually a function of the type of question we are facing in this House.
- deflectedJusticeSteven Blaney (Conservative) asked Mr. Arif Virani (Liberal). substantive question.Answer states facts about non-involvement but ignores the demand for an apology and reinstatement.
Yesterday, the director of public prosecutions said there had been no contact or influence from outside the PPSC on either the initial decision or the decision to stay the charge.
- partly answeredJusticeMr. Richard Martel (Conservative) asked Harjit S. Sajjan (Liberal). substantive question.Answer addresses independence and legal fees but sidesteps the apology request.
Based on this decision, the deputy minister has revised the policy in place regarding Vice-Admiral Norman's original request to have the legal fees paid for.
- partly answeredJusticeMrs. Cheryl Gallant (Conservative) asked Harjit S. Sajjan (Liberal). substantive question.Answer confirms independence and quotes statement but does not address apology or reinstatement.
No other factors were considered in this decision, nor was there any contact or influence from outside the PPSC, including political influence in either the initial decision to prosecute Mr. Norman or in the decision to stay the charge today.
- deflectedJusticeMr. Glen Motz (Conservative) asked Harjit S. Sajjan (Liberal). loaded question.Answer repeats non-interference claim while ignoring corruption allegations and reinstatement demand.
as I stated, no other factors were considered in this case, and no influence was created.
- partly answeredHealthMs. Sheri Benson (NDP) asked Ms. Pam Damoff (Liberal). substantive question.Answer notes federal funding but offers to discuss rather than committing to enforce the Act.
If there is an issue in the province of Saskatchewan, as the member has indicated, I would be happy to have her come forward and speak to me, and I will take it forward to Health Canada.
- deflectedAir TransportationMr. Robert Aubin (NDP) asked Mr. Terry Beech (Liberal). substantive question.Answer discusses general airport improvements without addressing privatization or Trois-Rivières project.
Our government is committed to maintaining the highest levels of security for the travelling public while improving the passenger experience.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingMr. Dan Albas (Conservative) asked Catherine McKenna (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks the opposition for lying instead of addressing the carbon tax motion or affordability concerns.
What are those members doing now? They are lying to Canadians.
- deflectedCarbon PricingMrs. Cathy McLeod (Conservative) asked Catherine McKenna (Liberal). loaded question.Answer ignores the request for a gas price plan and pivots to climate impacts instead.
Why will the party opposite not join us?
- deflectedCarbon PricingMrs. Cathy McLeod (Conservative) asked Catherine McKenna (Liberal). loaded question.Answer evades affordability question by attacking the opposition on climate concern.
why does the party opposite not care about climate change?
- deflectedCarbon PricingMrs. Shannon Stubbs (Conservative) asked Catherine McKenna (Liberal). loaded question.Answer shifts to unrelated tax and benefit measures without addressing gas prices or the vote.
We have increased taxes on the 1% so we can reduce them on the middle class.
- partly answeredTaxationMs. Cheryl Hardcastle (NDP) asked Diane Lebouthillier (Liberal). substantive question.Answer addresses accessibility improvements but does not commit to ending reapplication for lifelong conditions.
That is why we put in place measures to make the disability tax credit more accessible, especially by simplifying the form and allowing nurse practitioners to certify their patients' forms.
- answeredHousingMr. Don Davies (NDP) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.Answer directly counters the deception claim with specific federal spending figures and the national housing strategy.
That is why in November 2017, we announced the first-ever national housing strategy, a $40-billion strategy.
- answeredPersons With DisabilitiesMs. Marilyn Gladu (Conservative) asked Carla Qualtrough (Liberal). substantive question.Answer confirms contract extension and ongoing efforts to retain meaningful work for the employees.
With respect to this program, we have been working for a year with this organization.
- answeredPersons With DisabilitiesMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Carla Qualtrough (Liberal). substantive question.Answer explicitly states the workers are not being let go and meaningful roles are being sought.
we are not letting these people go.
- partly answeredPersons With DisabilitiesMr. John Barlow (Conservative) asked Carla Qualtrough (Liberal). loaded question.Answer corrects wage history and restates efforts but does not reverse the job cuts or apologize.
We are working tirelessly with this organization to find them work.
- partly answeredInternational TradeMr. Earl Dreeshen (Conservative) asked Mr. Omar Alghabra (Liberal). substantive question.Addresses actions taken but avoids specifying when the issue will be resolved.
last week was a good week for Canadian canola farmers.
- misdirectedCanadian HeritageMr. Pierre Nantel (NDP) asked Mr. Gary Anandasangaree (Liberal). substantive question.Promises announcements but then attacks the questioner for politicizing the issue.
Why is the member trying to politicize that?
- partly answeredForeign AffairsMr. David Anderson (Conservative) asked Mrs. Karen McCrimmon (Liberal). substantive question.Describes the listing process without committing to a timeline or action.
New entities are added once it has been determined that they meet the legal threshold.
- deflectedInfrastructureMr. Gabriel Ste-Marie (Bloc) asked Mr. Joël Lightbound (Liberal). substantive question.Reiterates federal funding commitment without addressing the request to remove conditions.
Everyone is clear on the fact that the federal government allocated $1.2 billion to the project from the start.
- deflectedInfrastructureMr. Gabriel Ste-Marie (Bloc) asked Mr. Joël Lightbound (Liberal). substantive question.Provides budget details but does not agree to transfer funds without conditions.
I would like to remind my colleague that a budget of $5.2 billion has been allocated for public transit in Quebec.
- deflectedPublic SafetyTony Clement (Independent) asked Bill Blair (Liberal). substantive question.Avoids confirming or denying the specific plan mentioned.
I want to assure the House that the government remains absolutely committed to undertaking all measures that are effective in keeping Canadians safe.
- answeredBusiness of the HouseCandice Bergen (Conservative) asked Bardish Chagger (Liberal). substantive question.Provides a detailed schedule of upcoming business as requested.
this afternoon we will complete debate at third reading of Bill C-91 , the indigenous languages act.