Parliament AIIndependent · non-official

All sittings← 2019-05-272019-05-29 →

Tuesday, May 28, 2019 · sitting No. 421

Commons debates senate amendments to accessibility legislation

The House spent the largest portion of its sitting on government orders for Bill C-81, the Accessible Canada Act. Minister of Accessibility Carla Qualtrough moved concurrence in Senate amendments and said the legislation would create mechanisms to address daily barriers for Canadians with disabilities. Conservative MP Garnett Genuis and NDP MP Cheryl Hardcastle pressed the minister on funding safeguards and a single point of contact for complaints.

Question period featured clashes over the appointment of Unifor to a media-fund panel. Conservative MP Lisa Raitt said the choice undermined journalistic independence while Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended the inclusion of both employers and employees. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Conservative MP Gérard Deltell also challenged the government on pharmacare costs, carbon emissions and the new NAFTA.

Decided that day

  • Sitting hours extended
  • Closure motion passed
  • Ways and Means motion No. 32 passed
  • Bill C-99 introduced

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 · 2019-05-28

Government (Liberal)OppositionOver the day: government 39%, opposition 61% of the words spokenGovernment businessGovernment businessPrivate membersGovernment business▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 10:0512:0013:0014:0015:0016:0017:0018:0019:0020:0021:00Last speech 23:15Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 13 h 10 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
64House passes sitting extension after procedural votesThe sitting devoted most time to the Accessible Canada Act and a successful push to extend hours, with four recorded votes and one bill introduced. Question Period produced mostly deflected answers and seven Speaker interventions despite high overall focus on substantive business.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

Committees of the House

Conservative MP Luc Berthold said the agriculture committee's report on farmers' mental health should have addressed government decisions that increase stress and called for stronger action on social media attacks.

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International Trade

NDP MP Karine Trudel warned that the new NAFTA would expose Canadian dairy and poultry markets and raise medication costs, urging the government not to rush ratification.

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The Environment

Conservative MP John Barlow cited the environment minister's remark that repeating a claim loudly makes people believe it and said the carbon tax has not reduced emissions.

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Public Safety

Conservative MP Leona Alleslev asked Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale to verify reports that hundreds of Latin American criminals had entered Canada on fake Mexican passports.

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Veterans

Conservative MP Alupa Clarke said the government failed to invite families of fallen soldiers to an Afghanistan memorial ceremony and called the omission disrespectful.

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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
    News Media IndustryLisa Raitt (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer avoids the Unifor appointment question entirely and pivots to praising their media policy while attacking Conservative plans.When it comes to the media, the Conservatives' only plan is to eliminate CBC/Radio-Canada, which would mean no local coverage in smaller communities and the end of an institution valued by Canadians for generations.
  2. deflected
    News Media IndustryLisa Raitt (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer ignores the request to remove Unifor and instead restates the panel's purpose while attacking Conservatives on labour issues.The Conservatives, however, continue to attack organized labour, including attacking the largest private sector union in the country, because their hate for labour does not know limits.
  3. misdirected
    News Media IndustryLisa Raitt (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the questioner's past record on unions rather than addressing the Unifor panel concern.I wonder where the member opposite's high dungeon was when her government was bringing in anti-union legislation, Bill C-525 and Bill C-377 , which were the very first things we eliminated when Canadians voted the Conservatives out and voted Liberals back in.
  4. deflected
    News Media IndustryMr. Alain Rayes (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer sidesteps removing Unifor and repeats talking points about media independence plus Conservative CBC plans.The only plan the Conservative opposition leader has for the media is to get rid of CBC/Radio-Canada.
  5. deflected
    News Media IndustryMr. Alain Rayes (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer evades the removal request and pivots to defending unions and restating panel composition.That is why we wanted employers and employees from the media to be represented on the panel to make it truly independent.
  6. misdirected
    Government PrioritiesMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer shifts to defending the Canada child benefit and attacking NDP voting record instead of addressing corporate tax breaks versus social spending.if the member opposite wants to talk about services that families count on, he might want to ask his colleagues in the NDP why they voted against the Canada child benefit
  7. misdirected
    Government PrioritiesMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer ignores the corporate spending question and instead highlights tax changes and poverty reduction while criticizing NDP votes.The NDP voted against these two measures, but we stood strong.
  8. partly answered
    International TradeMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly defends the NAFTA deal with union quotes but does not address the rush or Democrat alignment.Just ask Jerry Dias of Unifor, who called the agreement much better than the agreement signed 25 years ago.
  9. deflected
    International TradeMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Praises the deal and cites union leaders and an NDP MP instead of addressing working with progressives or stopping the rush.The reality is that if the New Democrats do not want to listen to union leaders, let them listen to their own MP for Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie , who said that this is the best deal possible and it protects workers all around this country.
  10. misdirected
    News Media IndustryCandice Bergen (Conservative) asked Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal). loaded question.Ignores the Unifor appointment and election-rigging claim by accusing Conservatives of attacking journalists.Instead of supporting professional journalism, they are attacking it.
  11. misdirected
    News Media IndustryCandice Bergen (Conservative) asked Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal). loaded question.Shifts to accusing the opposition leader of wanting to dictate CBC coverage rather than addressing Unifor on the panel.The Leader of the Opposition just said that he would like to dictate to the CBC how it covers its stories, how it tells its stories.
  12. misdirected
    News Media IndustrySteven Blaney (Conservative) asked Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal). loaded question.Attacks Conservatives for wanting to control or cut CBC instead of responding to the Unifor independence concern.it is quite something to hear that from a Conservative who wants to get rid of the CBC and control how it covers the news.
  13. deflected
    News Media IndustrySteven Blaney (Conservative) asked Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal). loaded question.Defends the panel's composition as representative but does not address removing Unifor or the rigged-election claim.Yes, it takes employers and people from newsrooms, but it also takes people who represent workers, people who represent journalists, people who represent minority communities and people who represent ethnic media.
  14. deflected
    News Media IndustryMr. Mark Strahl (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). loaded question.Pivots to Bill C-76 third-party rules instead of addressing Unifor on the media panel or election rigging.What our government did is bring in Bill C-76 , which actually strengthens the rules around advertising and activities for third parties in the lead-up to the election.
  15. misdirected
    News Media IndustryMr. Mark Strahl (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). loaded question.Accuses Conservatives of undermining institutions rather than addressing Unifor funding anti-Conservative groups or panel membership.They have gone after the CEO of Elections Canada, they have gone after the commissioner of Canada Elections, they have gone after the commissioner of the debates commission and now they are going after a free and independent press.
  16. deflected
    International TradeMs. Karine Trudel (NDP) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). substantive question.Warns against reopening the deal as risky without addressing specific shortcomings like dairy, jobs, meds or environment.Why is the NDP prepared to risk our economic stability?
  17. deflected
    International TradeMs. Tracey Ramsey (NDP) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the NDP's motives instead of addressing the timing of ratification.The NDP are naive at best and playing political games at worst to suggest that Canada would benefit from re-opening the deal.
  18. misdirected
    The EnvironmentMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to attacking Conservatives rather than addressing the minister's credibility or quote.We on this side of the House will take no lessons from the Conservatives.
  19. misdirected
    The EnvironmentMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the Conservatives' lack of a plan instead of addressing the shortfall on Paris targets.The Conservatives have the nerve to criticize our plan for the environment when they have no plan of their own.
  20. deflected
    The EnvironmentPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.The answer dismisses the premise calmly without engaging the question on gas prices or Paris targets.I will say this very calmly. We will take no lessons from the Conservatives.
  21. deflected
    The EnvironmentPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the specific request for gas price figures and pivots to Conservative criticism.One thing is clear: Canadians who are watching us at home are listening, and they know one thing for sure.
  22. partly answered
    International TradeMr. Alistair MacGregor (NDP) asked Marie-Claude Bibeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer addresses compensation for dairy but not the question of delaying ratification for a better deal.I would like them to know that we are making progress.
  23. partly answered
    International TradeMs. Ruth Ellen Brosseau (NDP) asked Marie-Claude Bibeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer mentions working groups but provides no concrete plan for protecting cheese producers.We have created working groups, and we take these discussions very seriously.
  24. partly answered
    Public SafetyMs. Leona Alleslev (Conservative) asked Ralph Goodale (Liberal). substantive question.The answer provides some border statistics but dismisses the premise without confirming verification of the reported numbers.At the border, since January 2018, the CBSA has prepared inadmissibility reports for approximately 190 Mexican nationals on criminality grounds.
  25. deflected
    Public SafetyMs. Leona Alleslev (Conservative) asked Ralph Goodale (Liberal). loaded question.The answer supplies general enforcement statistics but avoids addressing verification of fake passports or a timeline for such verification.At the border, since January 2018, CBSA has prepared inadmissibility reports for approximately 190 Mexican nationals on criminality grounds.
  26. deflected
    Public SafetyMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Ralph Goodale (Liberal). loaded question.The answer dismisses the reported figure as unverified and pivots to general detention policy without confirming or refuting the specific claim.simply repeating unverified information does nothing for the security and the safety of Canadian borders.
  27. deflected
    Public SafetyMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Ralph Goodale (Liberal). loaded question.The answer restates general investigative authority without confirming any action on the reported cartel members or addressing the journalist's specific claims.when anyone is suspected of criminal activity in Canada, whether a Canadian citizen or a foreigner attempting to enter the country, the appropriate authorities, either CBSA at the border or the RCMP, pursue every measure under Canadian law to investigate these people
  28. partly answered
    Fisheries and OceansMr. Gord Johns (NDP) asked Mr. Sean Casey (Liberal). substantive question.The answer notes licence conditions for monitoring sea lice and reliance on science but does not address enforcement timing or the specific emergency in Clayoquot Sound.every single licensee has, as a condition of the licence, a requirement to monitor outbreaks of sea lice.
  29. partly answered
    PharmacareMr. Don Davies (NDP) asked Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists price-lowering measures taken but does not address the specific decisions to back down from PMPRB changes, NAFTA impacts, or the WHO resolution.If we want to move forward with the national pharmacare program, the first thing we have to do is lower drug prices.
  30. answered
    VeteransMr. Alupa Clarke (Conservative) asked Lawrence MacAulay (Liberal). loaded question.The answer directly admits a mistake occurred and states that the veteran will attend the Normandy event.yes, there was a mistake made.
  31. answered
    VeteransMr. Phil McColeman (Conservative) asked Harjit S. Sajjan (Liberal). loaded question.The answer offers an apology and promises a future ceremony for families while accusing the asker of playing politics.I offer my heartfelt apologies to the families of the fallen for this ceremony.
  32. deflected
    VeteransMr. James Bezan (Conservative) asked Harjit S. Sajjan (Liberal). loaded question.The answer repeats the apology and future ceremony promise while refusing to engage with the accusation of participating in a secret ceremony.I am not going to politicize or dignify the member's insinuations in this regard.
  33. answered
    HealthMr. Michael Barrett (Conservative) asked Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Liberal). substantive question.Answer directly denies the alleged plan after listing related policies.We have no plans on moving forward with the policy about which the member opposite is speaking.
  34. misdirected
    Air TransportationMr. Robert Aubin (NDP) asked Marc Garneau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks the questioner as unfamiliar and ridiculous instead of addressing the exemptions or timeline.I encourage my colleague, who is clearly unfamiliar with the content of the bill of rights, to go to the official Canadian Transportation Agency site and get the facts before saying such ridiculous things.
  35. partly answered
    Foreign AffairsMr. Richard Martel (Conservative) asked Ms. Pamela Goldsmith-Jones (Liberal). substantive question.Answer confirms monitoring and engagement but provides no timeline or concrete action on deportation.Our officials are closely monitoring the case and consular services are certainly being provided.
  36. deflected
    Natural ResourcesMs. Monique Pauzé (Bloc) asked Mr. Paul Lefebvre (Liberal). loaded question.Answer states no current project exists and thus no position can be taken, avoiding any promise.Until there is a project proposed to us, we cannot give our opinion or take a position.
  37. deflected
    Natural ResourcesMs. Monique Pauzé (Bloc) asked Mr. Paul Lefebvre (Liberal). loaded question.Answer shifts to unrelated investments and climate plan without addressing revival of Energy East.We are investing in clean technologies and renewable energy.
  38. partly answered
    Natural ResourcesMr. Darshan Singh Kang (Independent) asked Mr. Paul Lefebvre (Liberal). substantive question.Answer notes a possible decision window but does not confirm the June 18 date or immediate approval.Our goal is to make a decision toward the end of this period.