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Thursday, June 13, 2019 · sitting No. 433
Time allocation imposed on fisheries act amid opposition protests
The House spent the largest share of the sitting on government orders for Bill C-68, the fisheries act amendments. Government House leader Bardish Chagger moved a motion limiting debate to one further sitting day at the Senate amendments stage. Conservative MP Todd Doherty asked the government to table evidence that 2012 changes had harmed fish habitat. Minister Jonathan Wilkinson replied that broad consultations showed the need to restore protections removed in 2012.
New Democrat MP Jenny Kwan questioned the use of closure by a government that promised to differ from the Harper Conservatives. Wilkinson cited nearly 39 days of debate across both chambers. Conservative MP Robert Sopuck said no opponent of the 2012 changes had proven effects on fish populations and noted record Pacific salmon runs under the previous government.
In question period the main exchanges concerned carbon pricing and pharmacare. Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre pressed Environment Minister Catherine McKenna on a Parliamentary Budget Officer report projecting a 25-cent-per-litre gasoline tax increase. New Democrat leader Jagmeet Singh asked Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor when the government would introduce a single-payer pharmacare plan.
Decided that day
- Senate amendments to Bill C-69 approved
- Time allocation granted for Bill C-100
- Bills C-48, C-91 and C-75 sent to Senate
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 · 2019-06-13
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
Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement Implementation Act
Government House leader Bardish Chagger moved a motion allotting five further hours to second reading of Bill C-100. Conservative MP Dean Allison said the Liberals were breaking a promise not to rush debate.
Read the exchangeMackenzie Valley Resource Management Act
Liberal MP Yvonne Jones defended Bill C-88 as fulfilling long-awaited changes requested by Northwest Territories governments. Conservative MP Cathy McLeod said inadequate Liberal planning had created an unnecessary rush.
Read the exchangeCarbon Pricing
Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre asked whether the government planned a 25-cent-per-litre gasoline tax increase. Environment Minister Catherine McKenna replied that the answer was no and accused the member of misleading Canadians.
Read the exchangePharmacare
New Democrat leader Jagmeet Singh said the government preferred to help big pharma rather than introduce universal pharmacare. Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor said work on a national plan was under way with provinces and territories.
Read the exchangeAccess to Information Act
Treasury Board Parliamentary Secretary Greg Fergus defended the government response to Senate amendments on Bill C-58. Conservative MP Gérard Deltell congratulated Fergus on his new role and began debate on the message.
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 PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Catherine McKenna (Liberal). loaded question.Answer avoids the yes/no question on future tax plans and instead promotes rebates while attacking opponents.
once again, the party opposite continues to mislead Canadians.
- answeredCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Catherine McKenna (Liberal). loaded question.Answer directly gives a no to the specific question about planning the tax increase.
the answer is no, and the member is misleading Canadians.
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Catherine McKenna (Liberal). substantive question.Answer lists unrelated climate measures instead of addressing the projected gas price increase at $100/tonne.
We are taking ambitious action on climate change in everything from pricing pollution to phasing out renewables.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Catherine McKenna (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks the questioner personally for being from Quebec rather than addressing the cost question.
that member should be ashamed of his comments, given that he is from Quebec, where there is a price on pollution that works.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Catherine McKenna (Liberal). loaded question.Answer shifts to questioning the asker's support for Quebec's system instead of answering the gas price question.
Is he telling Quebeckers that he no longer supports Quebec's carbon exchange?
- partly answeredThe SenateMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Carolyn Bennett (Liberal). substantive question.Answer addresses some government actions on UNDRIP but deflects blame onto Conservatives for Senate delays.
We too are deeply disappointed to see that the Conservative leader continues to allow his caucus members in the other place to use partisan delay tactics
- partly answeredPharmacareMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Liberal). substantive question.Answer affirms commitment to pharmacare but provides no timeline or details on implementation.
our government is committed to ensuring that all Canadians have access to a national pharmacare plan.
- partly answeredPharmacareMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Liberal). substantive question.Answer outlines some drug pricing measures but does not address why a full public pharmacare plan has not been delivered.
Over the past two years, we have been working to make sure we lower the price of drugs.
- partly answeredGovernment PrioritiesMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Marc Garneau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer lists middle-class tax and benefit measures but ignores specific accusations on pharma, telecom and polluters.
The very first thing we did was reduce taxes on the middle class, for nine million Canadians.
- deflectedNatural ResourcesCandice Bergen (Conservative) asked Catherine McKenna (Liberal). loaded question.Answer defends Bill C-69 with talking points on environment and Indigenous consultation instead of addressing national unity or premiers' concerns.
We are very proud of the better rules we brought in through Bill C-69
- deflectedNatural ResourcesCandice Bergen (Conservative) asked Catherine McKenna (Liberal). loaded question.Answer repeats praise for new rules and economic record while avoiding the request to withdraw the bill.
- misdirectedThe EnvironmentMr. Joël Godin (Conservative) asked Catherine McKenna (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks the Conservative Party's plans rather than addressing the Prime Minister's alleged monopoly on truth or provincial concerns.
The Conservative Party has no plan for the environment, no plan for the economy and no plan for Canadians.
- misdirectedThe EnvironmentMr. Joël Godin (Conservative) asked Catherine McKenna (Liberal). loaded question.Answer shifts to attacking Premier Ford and defending Quebec's pricing instead of addressing the Paris target shortfall or carbon-tax transparency.
Is my colleague opposed to pollution pricing in Quebec?
- deflectedCarbon PricingMr. John Brassard (Conservative) asked Catherine McKenna (Liberal). loaded question.Answer criticizes Doug Ford's plan and spending instead of addressing the carbon-tax rebate shortfall or future increases.
I am wondering if the member opposite noticed the report that showed that Doug Ford's climate plan is twice as expensive as our climate plan.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingMr. John Brassard (Conservative) asked Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Liberal). loaded question.Answer pivots to past Liberal tax cuts and Conservative deficits rather than responding to the carbon-tax affordability or Paris-target questions.
Let us also talk about the fact that taking into account Canada's total budget deficit, 72% came from Conservatives.
- partly answeredPovertyMs. Brigitte Sansoucy (NDP) asked Mr. Adam Vaughan (Liberal). substantive question.Answer affirms support for a school food program and cites child-poverty reduction but does not address timeline or funding commitments.
We stand firmly behind it, and we will meet those targets prescribed within the budget.
- partly answeredPharmacareMs. Rachel Blaney (NDP) asked Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Liberal). substantive question.The answer affirms commitment and mentions the report but supplies no timeline for pharmacare.
Our government is absolutely committed to making sure that all Canadians have access to a national pharmacare program, and the work is well under way.
- partly answeredNatural ResourcesMr. Larry Maguire (Conservative) asked Amarjeet Sohi (Liberal). loaded question.The answer explains the consultation dispute but does not address the approval timeline or ego claim.
We are working hard to make sure that we are respectfully discharging our duty to consult with indigenous communities before we approve this project.
- deflectedNatural ResourcesMr. Jamie Schmale (Conservative) asked Amarjeet Sohi (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to past export statistics instead of outlining any TMX construction plan.
When he left office in 2015, the same was the case; 99% of the oil was sold to the United States.
- deflectedNatural ResourcesMrs. Shannon Stubbs (Conservative) asked Amarjeet Sohi (Liberal). substantive question.The answer criticizes the prior process without answering ownership, timeline or cost questions.
it is very interesting, and actually unfortunate, that the Conservatives want us to follow the same process that failed to build a single pipeline to get our resources to non-U.S. markets.
- deflectedThe EnvironmentMrs. Shannon Stubbs (Conservative) asked Catherine McKenna (Liberal). loaded question.The answer recounts past consultations and attacks Harper rather than addressing the request to allow debate.
What did he do? Through an omnibus budget bill, with no consultation, he gutted environmental assessments, which meant that good projects could not go ahead in a timely way.
- partly answeredRail TransportationMr. Robert Aubin (NDP) asked Marc Garneau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the question and promises an announcement but gives no details on the finance minister's role or cost.
Our government, which is a responsible government, is giving very serious consideration to the high-frequency train proposal.
- deflectedThe EnvironmentMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked Catherine McKenna (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists unrelated environmental actions instead of addressing the definition of inefficient subsidies.
We are eliminating coal. We are investing in renewable energy, clean technology and public transit.
- misdirectedImmigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Mr. Peter Schiefke (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks Conservatives and cites past cuts rather than explaining why asylum seekers are presented as refugees.
every day is another opportunity for the Conservatives to scare Canadians.
- deflectedImmigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Mr. Peter Schiefke (Liberal). substantive question.Answer restates a statistic and pivots to past Conservative cuts instead of addressing renegotiation of the agreement.
There has been a 45% reduction since 2018.
- deflectedImmigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMichelle Rempel (Conservative) asked Mr. Peter Schiefke (Liberal). substantive question.Answer attacks past Conservative policy on health care and repeats the same statistic without addressing closing the loophole.
first, here is what is not compassionate: cutting health care for children who come into this country seeking our protection
- misdirectedImmigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMichelle Rempel (Conservative) asked Mr. Matt DeCourcey (Liberal). substantive question.Answer discusses refugee resettlement achievements instead of addressing prioritization or closing the loophole in the agreement.
one of the very first things the government did when it came to office was work with Canadians to help resettle now over 60,000 Syrian refugees
- answeredIndigenous AffairsMs. Niki Ashton (NDP) asked Carolyn Bennett (Liberal). substantive question.Answer directly explains the reason for delaying the agreement due to required consultations with rights holders.
Until I feel those consultations are met to my satisfaction, we will have to delay the initialling of that agreement.
- deflectedImmigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMs. Jenny Kwan (NDP) asked Maryam Monsef (Liberal). substantive question.Answer addresses gender-based violence strategy broadly but does not respond to stopping deportations or the legal aid crisis.
our government is working hard to end gender-based violence at home and all over the world.
- partly answeredForeign AffairsMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Mr. Robert Oliphant (Liberal). loaded question.Answer addresses engagement with China but avoids the specific question about a G20 meeting with the president.
China has heard our position very clearly, very loudly and at every level.
- deflectedForeign AffairsMr. Blake Richards (Conservative) asked Mélanie Joly (Liberal). substantive question.Answer notes Destination Canada is arm's-length and highlights tourism numbers instead of explaining how the gala addresses the issues.
Destination Canada, as my colleague knows, is an arm's-length corporation from the government.
- answeredForeign AffairsMs. Leona Alleslev (Conservative) asked Mr. Robert Oliphant (Liberal). substantive question.Answer confirms a public statement was issued and concerns were raised directly with Hong Kong officials.
Yesterday, we issued a public statement expressing these concerns and concerns about the impact they will have.
- deflectedJusticeMrs. Cheryl Gallant (Conservative) asked Harjit S. Sajjan (Liberal). loaded question.The answer addresses the allegation of political interference but avoids the question of reinstatement.
The chief of the defence staff, General Vance, is having those discussions, and more will be said once they have had the opportunity to have further discussions.
- deflectedTransportMr. Alistair MacGregor (NDP) asked Marc Garneau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer discusses the need for a long-term solution but does not commit to investigating infractions or making findings public.
We do recognize that we need to find a long-term solution to anchorages, and we are working on that.
- partly answeredCanada Summer Jobs ProgramMr. John Barlow (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). loaded question.The answer commits to a review and non-reimbursement if non-compliant but does not address revoking the grant or the values test.
I have asked the department to review this matter to ensure that the organization is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the program.
- deflectedDemocratic ReformMr. Xavier Barsalou-Duval (Bloc) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). substantive question.The answer emphasizes existing rules and new transparency measures but does not address restoring the per-vote subsidy.
We introduced Bill C-50 , which increases transparency in political fundraising.
- misdirectedDemocratic ReformMr. Xavier Barsalou-Duval (Bloc) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the question as absurd allegations rather than addressing the per-vote subsidy or corporate funding claims.
the member opposite is making unfounded and, quite frankly, absurd allegations in this House.
- partly answeredPharmacareMr. Erin Weir (Independent) asked Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Liberal). substantive question.The answer reiterates commitment and mentions funding amounts but does not specify transfer amounts or mechanisms to provinces.
in budget 2019 we received a funding commitment of $35 million to ensure the creation of a Canadian drug agency, which is the foundational piece for a national pharmacare program.
- answeredBusiness of the HouseCandice Bergen (Conservative) asked Bardish Chagger (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly lists the scheduled business for the week and next week as requested.
this afternoon we will begin debate on the Senate amendments to Bill C-58 , an act to amend the Access to Information Act.