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Tuesday, February 4, 2020 · sitting No. 14
Commons debates motion to probe parole board after inmate murder
The House spent most of the day on a Conservative opposition motion that condemns the Parole Board of Canada for a decision that led to the January death of a young woman by an inmate on day parole. Conservative MP Pierre Paul-Hus moved the motion and said Quebec residents were demanding action to prevent further tragedies. The motion also calls on the public safety committee to review 2017 changes to the board's nomination process.
In Question Period, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer pressed Public Safety Minister Bill Blair on whether officials who approved the release plan remain involved in cases. Blair said the board had issued explicit instructions against the visits in question and that the individual responsible is no longer making decisions. Scheer also asked about expanding sexual assault training to parole board members.
From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard
Question Period – February 4, 2020 (with English interpretation) #QP #cdnpoli. Video from CPAC, with interpretation. Watch on YouTube
Who held the floor · 2020-02-04
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 Gérard Deltell welcomed the Court of Appeal decision on the Trans Mountain expansion and asked what ministers would do with the resulting tax revenue. Natural Resources Minister Seamus O'Regan said work is already under way at multiple sites.
Read the exchangeHealth
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh urged the government to fund a universal national pharmacare program instead of a tax cut for high earners. Health Minister Patty Hajdu said the government has taken strong steps toward such a program.
Read the exchangeAgriculture and Agri-Food
Conservative MP Warren Steinley called on the government to exempt agriculture from the carbon tax. Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said exemptions already exist for on-farm fuel use.
Read the exchangeInternational Trade
Bloc Québécois MP Richard Lehoux asked why impact studies on previous trade concessions to dairy producers have not been released. International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland said the new agreement secures the future of supply management.
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
- deflectedPublic SafetyAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Bill Blair (Liberal). substantive question.Avoids committing to the motion by emphasizing their own investigation instead.
We encourage a thorough examination of all aspects of this, but it is very important to focus on what actually happened rather than make presumptions based on misinformation.
- partly answeredPublic SafetyAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Bill Blair (Liberal). substantive question.Acknowledges training importance and links it to the ongoing review but does not commit to expanding the bill.
We believe that training is very important.
- answeredPublic SafetyAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Bill Blair (Liberal). substantive question.Directly states the individuals are not currently involved in decision-making.
Also, that individual is not currently involved in any decision-making with respect to any prisoner.
- partly answeredPublic SafetyMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Bill Blair (Liberal). substantive question.Discusses review of training and openness to changes but does not explain why it was omitted from the bill.
We are very open to making changes to ensure that people have the appropriate training so the right decisions can be made.
- deflectedPublic SafetyMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Bill Blair (Liberal). substantive question.Supports the committee examination but rejects the premise about board members without addressing firing them.
in the first part of the motion brought forward by the member opposite, unfortunately he makes an assumption that is not supported by the facts.
- deflectedCanada Revenue AgencyMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Diane Lebouthillier (Liberal). substantive question.Rejects the single tax return outright without engaging the comparison to Quebec's request on the trade deal.
There will be no single tax return.
- deflectedJusticeMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked David Lametti (Liberal). substantive question.Declines to acknowledge legitimacy and redirects to ongoing court challenges instead.
There are Quebeckers who are currently challenging the bill in court, and that is the right forum.
- partly answeredIndigenous AffairsMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Marc Miller (Liberal). substantive question.Explains the compensation process and timeline but does not address why they continue fighting in court.
Our target date for presenting an initial compensation model is February 21.
- partly answeredHealthMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.Addresses pharmacare progress but omits dental care entirely.
That is why our government took such strong action in our last mandate to actually move forward on the development of a national universal pharmacare program.
- partly answeredHealthMr. Todd Doherty (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.Confirms droplet transmission but evades plane location details.
I would like to assure Canadians that in fact it is correct that the virus is spread through droplets, and the plane will be completely clean upon arrival to transport Canadians.
- answeredHealthMr. Alain Rayes (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.Directly clarifies screening of the 27 passengers and cleaning protocols.
The member is referring to the plane that one passenger who was symptomatic came off. As I mentioned in the House yesterday, all 27 passengers in his vicinity were screened and found to be negative, not carriers of the virus.
- misdirectedHealthMr. Matt Jeneroux (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.Ignores plane query and instead attacks opposition for sensationalism.
One way might be if the opposition does not sensationalize the risk to Canadians and allows Canadians to understand where they can find a wealth of information.
- deflectedNatural ResourcesMs. Jag Sahota (Conservative) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). substantive question.Defends the Impact Assessment Act without addressing scrapping Bill C-69.
the Impact Assessment Act was developed to ensure that good projects would move forward in the right way.
- deflectedNatural ResourcesMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Seamus O'Regan (Liberal). rhetorical question.Pivots to TMX consultation instead of specifying use of tax revenues.
we remain steadfast in our commitment to TMX and to seeing that it moves forward in the right way by rolling up our sleeves and by doing the hard work.
- partly answeredNatural ResourcesMrs. Shannon Stubbs (Conservative) asked Seamus O'Regan (Liberal). substantive question.Lists current construction sites but provides no in-service date or threat response plan.
- deflectedImmigrationMs. Christine Normandin (Bloc) asked Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal). substantive question.Shifts topic to CUSMA aluminum support instead of Quebec immigration demands.
The fact that the aluminum industry, chambers of commerce, various stakeholders in Quebec, the Government of Quebec and Premier Legault all support it shows that there is consensus.
- deflectedHealthMr. Luc Thériault (Bloc) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). substantive question.Answer shifts focus to NAFTA support instead of health transfers.
The fact that Quebec and Premier Legault do not always agree with us makes their strong support for the new NAFTA that much more significant.
- misdirectedOffice of the Auditor GeneralMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Catherine McKenna (Liberal). substantive question.Answer attacks Conservatives' past plans rather than addressing Auditor General request.
I remind all Canadians that, in the last election campaign, the Conservatives wanted to slash $18 billion from our infrastructure investments.
- deflectedOffice of the Auditor GeneralMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.Answer praises Auditor General's role but avoids committing to funding or investigation.
That is why the Auditor General's work is so important and why we invested so heavily in science and in government accountability, transparency and openness during our previous term
- answeredNews Media IndustryMichelle Rempel Garner (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). substantive question.Answer directly rejects licensing and affirms no regulation of news content.
Our government will not impose licensing requirements on news organizations, nor will we regulate news content.
- misdirectedNews Media IndustryMichelle Rempel Garner (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). substantive question.Answer highlights supposed Conservative confusion instead of addressing regulation concerns.
there seems to be quite a bit of confusion among members of the Conservative Party.
- partly answeredThe EnvironmentMs. Laurel Collins (NDP) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). substantive question.Answer describes climate plan and targets but omits fossil fuel subsidies.
During the recent campaign, we pledged to go beyond the 2030 targets established under the previous government.
- partly answeredPublic SafetyMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked Bill Blair (Liberal). substantive question.Answer affirms commitment to strategy and review but provides no specific practical measures.
I want to assure him we are equally committed to getting to the bottom of the facts in this case to make sure there is a full, frank, open and transparent examination of all the issues that gave rise to this tragedy so that action is taken to make sure it never occurs again.
- deflectedInternational TradeMr. Richard Lehoux (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). substantive question.Answer praises supply management preservation but ignores request for impact studies.
This agreement will provide access to markets, but also the assurance that the future of supply management is secure.
- deflectedInternational TradeMs. Leona Alleslev (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). loaded question.Denies hiding but provides no current analysis or explanation for withholding studies.
- answeredAgriculture and Agri-FoodMr. Warren Steinley (Conservative) asked Marie-Claude Bibeau (Liberal). substantive question.Directly notes existing exemptions and rebates for farmers.
There are exemptions for fuel use by farmers for agricultural activities and also rebates on commercial greenhouse gas operations.
- deflectedAgriculture and Agri-FoodMrs. Kelly Block (Conservative) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). loaded question.Acknowledges challenges but avoids addressing whether the tax unfairly targets farmers.
We have taken numerous steps to ensure that the realities of the agricultural sector are reflected in our pollution pricing policy, including by exempting fuels for on-farm use.
- deflectedIntergovernmental RelationsMs. Monique Pauzé (Bloc) asked Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal). substantive question.Pivots to unrelated achievements like culture and aluminum instead of addressing environmental sovereignty.
we agree with the Government of Quebec on a whole host of issues.
- deflectedIntergovernmental RelationsMr. Mario Beaulieu (Bloc) asked Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal). substantive question.Shifts focus to the trade agreement's cultural protections rather than Bill 101 compliance.
This agreement protects our ability to legislate to defend our culture.
- deflectedForeign AffairsMr. David Sweet (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.Offers a general values statement without clarifying the government's view on BDS.
we always stand up for Canadian values and Canadian principles and we will continue to do so
- partly answeredPublic SafetyMr. Garnett Genuis (Conservative) asked Bill Blair (Liberal). substantive question.Details sanctions and other listings but does not explain the specific decision against listing the IRGC.
The listing of entities is an ongoing process.
- deflectedPublic SafetyMr. Garnett Genuis (Conservative) asked Bill Blair (Liberal). substantive question.Repeats reference to an ongoing process without addressing the minister's choice or prior vote.
as I mentioned earlier, the listing of entities is an ongoing process.
- deflectedGovernment SpendingMr. Kelly McCauley (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.Answer ignores specific spending items and pivots to general UN benefits.
A seat on the UN Security Council would allow Canada to be a stronger voice on the international stage, fight for inclusion, fight for diversity and fight for Canadian values.
- deflectedGovernment SpendingMr. Scot Davidson (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.Answer sidesteps the trip costs by inviting the member to join UN efforts instead.
if my colleagues would like to listen, we are more than happy to invite the member if he wants to help us gain a seat on the UN Security Council.
- deflectedDemocratic InstitutionsMichael Chong (Conservative) asked Dominic LeBlanc (Liberal). loaded question.Answer offers only a vague commitment without addressing any listed actions.
Our government is committed to an open and transparent democratic system.
- answeredInternational TradeMs. Heather McPherson (NDP) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). substantive question.Answer directly explains the ombudsman's creation and purpose matching the request.
This is why we created the first-ever ombudsman for corporate social responsibility, to help reflect our core values in the world and to deliver on our trade agenda.
- answeredThe EnvironmentMrs. Jenica Atwin (Green) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). substantive question.Answer confirms the required standards for any emissions regime.
We were very clear at COP in Madrid that any international emissions trading regime would have to have integrity, would have to be transparent and would have to have no double counting.
- partly answeredPoints of OrderMr. Mark Strahl (Conservative) asked Mr. Adam Vaughan (Liberal). substantive question.Answer issues an apology but does not acknowledge the specific mocking described.
I apologize for whatever I did during question period to anger the opposite side.