All sittings← 2019-06-072019-06-11 →
Monday, June 10, 2019 · sitting No. 430
NDP motion on telecom affordability leads supply day debate
New Democrat MP Peter Julian moved a supply motion calling on the government to impose a price cap on telecommunications services, abolish data caps for broadband and mandate unlimited wireless plans at affordable rates. The motion, which also seeks to end aggressive sales practices and expand rural access, occupied the largest share of the sitting as members from the Conservative, Liberal and New Democrat benches debated its provisions.
Conservative MP Dan Albas said price caps would deter investment in 5G infrastructure while Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux questioned whether the NDP had compared Canadian costs with disposable income and housing expenses in other countries. New Democrat MP Peter Julian replied that Canadian households pay far more than consumers in Australia for comparable service.
Question period featured repeated exchanges on the carbon tax, with Conservative MP Candice Bergen charging that rebates fall short of Liberal promises and Minister Amarjeet Sohi replying that eight of ten families receive more back than they pay.
Decided that day
- Closure motion passed
- Bill C-88 concurred in at report stage
- Bill C-101 defeated at second reading
- Bill C-455 introduced
- Bill S-203 moved in second 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 · 2019-06-10
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
Natural Resources
Conservative MP Jamie Schmale asked when construction would begin in Burnaby after repeated Liberal delays; Minister Amarjeet Sohi said the government is completing consultations with Indigenous communities.
Read the exchangeAuditor General of Canada
Conservative MP Pat Kelly said the Auditor General lacks funds to complete planned audits; Minister Joyce Murray replied that the previous Conservative government had cut the office's budget by 10 per cent.
Read the exchangeForeign Affairs
Conservative MP Michael Chong urged the government to address proposed changes that could affect 300,000 Canadians in Hong Kong; Parliamentary Secretary Robert Oliphant said concerns had been raised directly with Hong Kong authorities.
Read the exchangePublic Safety
New Democrat MP Matthew Dubé said Bill C-98 is too little too late to create an external complaints body for the Canada Border Services Agency; Minister Karen McCrimmon said the government has allocated funds for a civilian review commission.
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
- deflectedCarbon PricingCandice Bergen (Conservative) asked Amarjeet Sohi (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the rebate claim and pivots to attacking Conservatives.
when it comes to climate change, the Conservatives have no plan whatsoever.
- deflectedCarbon PricingCandice Bergen (Conservative) asked Amarjeet Sohi (Liberal). loaded question.The answer mentions PBO briefly then shifts to criticizing Conservatives for lacking a plan.
It has been more than 400 days, actually 407 days to be exact, that the Conservatives promised to introduce a climate change plan, which they have not done yet
- deflectedCarbon PricingCandice Bergen (Conservative) asked Amarjeet Sohi (Liberal). loaded question.The answer provides some facts on rebates but ends by attacking the opposition's lack of a plan.
It is very interesting that the official opposition talks a good talk but has no plan when it comes to making life affordable for Canadians and also taking action on climate change
- misdirectedFinanceMr. Alain Rayes (Conservative) asked David Lametti (Liberal). loaded question.The answer addresses economic growth instead of deficits and tax increases, while attacking prior Conservative record.
We are undoing the damage that the Conservatives created in their 10 years in office.
- partly answeredFinanceMr. Alain Rayes (Conservative) asked David Lametti (Liberal). loaded question.The answer corrects assumptions on costs and provides data on child benefit and debt ratio.
A typical middle-class family of four is receiving an average of $2,000 more a year thanks to the Canada child benefit.
- partly answeredFinanceMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer addresses affordability with specific program benefits but does not directly tackle housing or cell costs.
Since July 2016, nine out of 10 families are receiving the Canada child benefit, which makes a huge difference in their lives.
- answeredTelecommunicationsMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly addresses telecom affordability steps, competition, and CRTC actions.
We have seen some encouraging steps in the right direction.
- misdirectedGovernment PrioritiesMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Diane Lebouthillier (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts to tax evasion and criticizes NDP inconsistency instead of addressing telecom or other companies.
The NDP changed its mind at the last minute, as its leader is wont to do.
- deflectedTelecommunicationsMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). loaded question.The answer promotes government actions without addressing the specific question about voting with NDP or protecting telecom friends.
Consumers are our top concern.
- misdirectedFinanceMr. Richard Martel (Conservative) asked Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the Conservatives' record instead of addressing the plan to balance the budget.
Frankly, it was 10 years of economic darkness under the Conservatives which saw the lowest growth since the Great Depression.
- misdirectedFinanceMr. Richard Martel (Conservative) asked Mr. Joël Lightbound (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks Conservatives and cites unrelated data instead of addressing future tax increases.
Conservative governments have been responsible for 72% of all the debt Canada has ever incurred.
- answeredCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Mr. Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly rebuts the claim about rebate amounts with specific figures for a typical family.
a typical family of four in the province that he represents will receive an incentive of $307.
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Mr. Sean Fraser (Liberal). loaded question.The answer avoids the question by inviting the member to read documents and ends with a campaign attack.
I look forward to seeing this member in the next campaign, going door to door with a promise to take money from his constituents.
- misdirectedFinancePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the prior Conservative government and shifts to unrelated economic claims instead of addressing future taxes.
the worst already came. It was the 10 years of the Harper Conservative government.
- misdirectedFinancePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks Conservatives' record and defends Liberal policies without admitting to future tax plans.
lessons from the government that added $150 billion to the debt.
- partly answeredTelecommunicationsMs. Karine Trudel (NDP) asked Mr. Rémi Massé (Liberal). substantive question.The answer addresses investments in connectivity but ignores the request for measures to increase market competition.
Our government has invested more than $900 million in 190 projects to ensure that communities across Canada can connect to high-speed Internet and have access to cellular service.
- deflectedTelecommunicationsMr. Brian Masse (NDP) asked Bernadette Jordan (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists general telecom policies without addressing the CRTC rural speeds or equal service timeline.
all Canadians need access to high-speed Internet, as well as mobile wireless networks, and our government has taken a number of steps to support affordability, competition, consumer interests and innovation in telecommunications.
- deflectedNatural ResourcesMr. Jamie Schmale (Conservative) asked Amarjeet Sohi (Liberal). loaded question.The answer blames the opposition and restates consultation needs instead of giving a construction timeline for Burnaby.
if the hon. member and his party are really serious about this project moving forward in the right way, they would not have voted to kill the process we have put in place.
- misdirectedNatural ResourcesMr. John Barlow (Conservative) asked Amarjeet Sohi (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists unrelated projects and corrects the member rather than addressing the Burnaby construction plan.
first of all, let me correct the hon. member.
- deflectedNatural ResourcesMrs. Shannon Stubbs (Conservative) asked Amarjeet Sohi (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the prior government's record on markets instead of outlining a plan or start date for Burnaby.
under Stephen Harper, 99% of the oil that we sold to the outside world went to one single customer: the United States.
- deflectedNatural ResourcesMrs. Shannon Stubbs (Conservative) asked Amarjeet Sohi (Liberal). loaded question.The answer blames past Conservative legislation on environmental assessments rather than providing the requested construction plan.
if the member opposite, her party and everyone else in the Conservative caucus are really serious about the energy sector and really serious about getting pipelines built in this country, they would not have gutted the environmental assessment plan in 2012
- partly answeredThe EnvironmentMr. Pierre-Luc Dusseault (NDP) asked Mr. Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the NDP's intent but critiques their plan and states the government's dual economic-environmental approach.
We are moving forward with a plan that is going to protect our environment and grow our economy at the same time.
- misdirectedGovernment PrioritiesMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the NDP's voting record and past positions instead of addressing corporate tax cuts versus family debt.
It is hard for Canadians to take the NDP seriously, when it took on the Conservatives' economic plan to balance the budget at all costs.
- misdirectedDemocratic InstitutionsMrs. Stephanie Kusie (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). substantive question.The answer accuses the Conservatives of suppressing votes rather than addressing transparency on the influencers' identities.
there is only one party in the House that tries to suppress the vote.
- deflectedDemocratic InstitutionsMr. Jacques Gourde (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). substantive question.The answer attacks Conservatives on voting rights instead of addressing sharing influencer names.
only the Conservatives do not want Canadians to vote.
- deflectedDemocratic InstitutionsPeter Kent (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). loaded question.The answer dismisses the question as a wild extrapolation without engaging the substance.
That is a wild extrapolation on comments that were made.
- deflectedDemocratic InstitutionsPeter Kent (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts to attacking Conservatives on past elections violations rather than addressing the question.
there is one party in this House that continues to mislead Canadians, and that is the Conservative Party of Canada.
- partly answeredHuman RightsMs. Cheryl Hardcastle (NDP) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the importance and ongoing consultations but does not clarify the bill's status or timeline.
We continue to have those conversations and look at ways that we could move forward to ensure that everything that we purchase in this country is free of the use of slave labour.
- partly answeredEmployment InsuranceMs. Ruth Ellen Brosseau (NDP) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer highlights new benefits for gender equality but does not address the 35% statistic or systemic sexism.
We have not only created more jobs, reduced poverty and helped middle-class families, but we have also enhanced gender equality by improving maternity, parental, compassionate care and caregiving benefits and making them more generous and flexible.
- answeredThe EnvironmentMr. Joël Godin (Conservative) asked Mr. Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly states the government will meet targets and outlines specific measures.
Our government will meet its Paris Agreement targets and we do not have a choice because failure is not an option.
- deflectedAuditor General of CanadaMr. Pat Kelly (Conservative) asked Joyce Murray (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to past Conservative budget cuts instead of addressing current funding for the Auditor General.
Actually, what they are really doing is reminding Canadians of the fact that the Conservatives are the ones who cut the Auditor General's budget by 10%.
- deflectedAuditor General of CanadaMr. Pat Kelly (Conservative) asked Joyce Murray (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks Conservatives on other officers and past actions rather than addressing current Auditor General funding.
I know we are coming through that era.
- answeredForeign AffairsMichael Chong (Conservative) asked Mr. Robert Oliphant (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly confirms raising concerns and joint actions on the extradition law changes.
We have, indeed, raised very serious concerns with the Government of Hong Kong regarding these proposed changes.
- deflectedPublic SafetyMr. Matthew Dubé (NDP) asked Mrs. Karen McCrimmon (Liberal). substantive question.The answer avoids explaining the delay in tabling legislation and instead highlights current commitments.
We have put $24 million into a civilian review and complaints commission to handle these kinds of specific complaints and there is legislation.
- answeredNatural ResourcesMr. James Bezan (Conservative) asked Amarjeet Sohi (Liberal). loaded question.The answer addresses the project status and reasons for delay despite the loaded premise in the question.
There is an outstanding issue that was caused by the withdrawal of Manitoba Hydro's proposed financial and economic benefits to indigenous communities.
- partly answeredCanadian HeritageMr. Rhéal Fortin (Bloc) asked Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal). substantive question.The answer outlines the process for legislation but provides no specific timeline for forcing web giants to pay taxes.
We set up a panel of experts that is currently reviewing this issue and will be submitting recommendations, which will enable us to legislate quickly based on a set of principles
- misdirectedCanadian HeritageMs. Monique Pauzé (Bloc) asked Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal). substantive question.The answer shifts focus to government spending on culture rather than addressing measures against web giants.
we have contributed to our culture in record amounts.
- answeredDemocratic InstitutionsMaxime Bernier (Independent) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). loaded question.The answer gives a direct yes or no response to the specific demand despite the loaded framing.