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Monday, November 30, 2020 · sitting No. 39

House debates assisted-dying safeguards as economic statement tabled

Government orders on Bill C-7, which amends the Criminal Code on medical assistance in dying, consumed the largest share of the sitting. Conservative MP Garnett Genuis argued the bill enshrines discrimination against persons with disabilities by removing suicide-prevention standards and urged retention of a reflection period. Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux countered that health professionals would provide consistent advice and questioned the member's portrayal of risks.

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland tabled the fall economic statement, outlining further supports for households and businesses during the pandemic. Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre said the update offered more debt without a vaccine-delivery or recovery plan, while Bloc Québécois MP Alain Therrien pressed for increased health transfers to Quebec and the provinces.

In question period, Conservative MP Gérard Deltell asked for the government's vaccination budget plan and was told by Health Minister Patty Hajdu that Canada holds options on seven vaccines. Bloc Québécois MP Mario Simard introduced a private member's bill on provincial law application to federal projects and was told by Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Pablo Rodriguez that the government works collaboratively with Quebec.

From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard

Question Period – November 30, 2020. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube

Who held the floor · 2020-11-30

Government (Liberal)OppositionOver the day: government 30%, opposition 70% of the words spokenPrivate membersGovernment businessGovernment businessRoutine proceedings▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 11:0512:0013:0014:0015:0016:0017:0018:00Last speech 19:20Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 8 h 15 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
46Two Bills Introduced, Answers Mostly AvoidedThe sitting devoted over half its words to substantive topics such as the Criminal Code and the Fall Economic Statement, yet produced no recorded votes. Only two bills were introduced while Question Period yielded mostly deflected replies and four calls to order.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

Criminal Code

Conservative MP Dane Lloyd asked about risks of removing the reflection period for persons with mental challenges under Bill C-7, and Conservative MP Garnett Genuis replied that the period already can be waived but creates a useful default against same-day death.

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Health

Conservative MP Gérard Deltell said the government partnered with a Chinese company whose project failed and was late on other vaccines; Minister of Innovation Navdeep Bains listed domestic investments including AbCellera and Medicago.

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Foreign Affairs

Liberal MP Maninder Sidhu asked about violence against Indian farmers protesting new laws; Foreign Affairs Minister François-Philippe Champagne said Canada had made diplomatic representations at senior levels in Ottawa and Delhi.

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Telecommunications

Conservative MP Rob Morrison asked the government to fund immediate rural broadband solutions in Kootenay—Columbia; Minister for Women and Gender Equality Maryam Monsef said a call for applications was open under the largest federal broadband investment in history.

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Taxation

New Democratic MP Alexandre Boulerice urged a wealth tax and excess-profits tax; Parliamentary Secretary Sean Fraser said the government would support households and businesses and noted the NDP had opposed the Canada child benefit.

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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
    HealthMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.Answer lists vaccine portfolio details but never addresses any budget or economic plan.Canada has one of the best portfolios in the world.
  2. partly answered
    HealthMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Navdeep Bains (Liberal). substantive question.Answer describes a vaccine procurement plan and domestic investments but omits any budget or economic-update specifics.I would like to highlight the fact that we have a plan.
  3. misdirected
    HealthMrs. Marilène Gill (Bloc) asked Navdeep Bains (Liberal). substantive question.Point of order about interpretation is ignored; answer repeats vaccine-investment talking points instead.we have a plan to support Canadians.
  4. deflected
    HealthMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.Answer again emphasizes vaccine supply and UK cooperation but supplies no budget plan.Canadians are well situated to get vaccines.
  5. deflected
    The EconomyPeter Kent (Conservative) asked Mr. Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.Answer defends deficit spending choices but never provides an economic-recovery plan.we had a choice to have the federal government incur the costs associated with the pandemic
  6. deflected
    The EconomyPeter Kent (Conservative) asked Mr. Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.Answer cites IMF testimony on public investment but avoids any timeline or comprehensive fiscal-recovery plan.the wise thing to do at this point in time is to make public investments.
  7. deflected
    HealthMr. Alain Therrien (Bloc) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.Answer repeats vaccine-portfolio claims without offering any vaccination or budget plan.we are well situated in Canada, with more doses per capita than any other country in the world
  8. deflected
    HealthMr. Alain Therrien (Bloc) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.Answer promises future access to vaccines but again withholds any concrete vaccination or budget plan.we are ensuring that Canadians will be able to be vaccinated when the time comes.
  9. deflected
    HealthMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.The answer discusses vaccine procurement efforts but avoids providing any plan or timeline.We are working with seven different manufacturers, with promising results.
  10. deflected
    HealthMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.The answer highlights influenza vaccinations instead of outlining a COVID-19 vaccine plan.over the last several weeks, we have immunized 16 million people for influenza
  11. deflected
    HealthMichelle Rempel Garner (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.The answer emphasizes doses per capita and past successes without addressing the requested timeline.Canada is well situated, with more doses per capita than any other country in the world.
  12. misdirected
    HealthMichelle Rempel Garner (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to public health measures and provincial actions rather than the vaccine access question.public health measures are important even while we wait for vaccines.
  13. deflected
    HealthMichelle Rempel Garner (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). loaded question.The answer notes provincial roles and conversations but sidesteps both the timeline and scandal accusations.provinces and territories have an even more important role.
  14. deflected
    HealthMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.The answer references the task force and portfolio without delivering a clear plan or details.we have had the vaccine task force guide us to put our bets here in Canada on the most promising candidates.
  15. deflected
    HealthMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.The answer praises the vaccine portfolio without providing a plan or addressing the September claim.we have one of the best vaccine portfolios in the world.
  16. deflected
    HealthMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Navdeep Bains (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts to future production investments instead of explaining the CanSino deal or timelines.we are going to invest in flexible production here in Canada so we can increase—
  17. misdirected
    HealthMrs. Marilène Gill (Bloc) asked Navdeep Bains (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer addresses vaccine production instead of the interpretation issue raised.Mr. Speaker, we immediately realized that we had to invest in flexible production in the country and increase our facilities, which we did.
  18. deflected
    Intergovernmental RelationsMr. Mario Simard (Bloc) asked Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal). substantive question.The answer dismisses the bill as nonsense and attacks the Bloc rather than addressing the vote question.with all due respect to the hon. member, that is nonsense.
  19. deflected
    Intergovernmental RelationsMs. Monique Pauzé (Bloc) asked Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal). substantive question.The answer praises collaboration but avoids committing to a vote on respecting Quebec's laws.we will always applaud the Quebec government's environmental efforts.
  20. answered
    SeniorsMrs. Marilène Gill (Bloc) asked Deb Schulte (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly assures seniors will not lose benefits and explains the extension and reminders.Because of our temporary extension, over 200,000 seniors continue receive their GIS and allowance payments, even though they have not been able to submit their 2019 tax information.
  21. partly answered
    HealthMr. James Bezan (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.The answer discusses military involvement but does not provide a timeline for a full vaccination plan.We are so grateful to Major-General Dany Fortin for being embedded in the Public Health Agency of Canada to help with the logistics of deploying vaccines across the country
  22. deflected
    HealthMr. James Bezan (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts to praising orders and candidates instead of addressing the missed 250,000 doses promise.clearly the member opposite does not want to listen to me, but maybe he will listen to the CEO of Moderna who said Canada's early orders meant it was well positioned to receive early doses.
  23. deflected
    HealthMrs. Rosemarie Falk (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). loaded question.The answer accuses misrepresentation and clarifies the September statement but avoids confirming a plan for seniors.now who is misrepresenting information to Canadians?
  24. partly answered
    Canada Revenue AgencyMr. Matthew Green (NDP) asked Diane Lebouthillier (Liberal). substantive question.The answer details CRA audits but does not address the lack of convictions or the rejected wealth tax proposal.Last year, the CRA performed 1,463 audits related to international tax evasion, which represents 1,679 taxpayers, compared to the 43 audits conducted in 2013-14.
  25. misdirected
    TaxationMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked Mr. Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.The answer turns to criticizing the NDP's past votes instead of addressing the proposed tax measures.I would return the question to him as to why he and his NDP colleagues opposed the Canada child benefit, which stops any child care cheques to millionaires and puts more money in the pockets of nine out of 10 Canadian families.
  26. deflected
    JusticeRob Moore (Conservative) asked David Lametti (Liberal). substantive question.The answer discusses consultations and consensus but avoids committing to the requested amendment.We reintroduced this legislation because it does represent a consensus in Canadian society.
  27. deflected
    JusticeRob Moore (Conservative) asked David Lametti (Liberal). substantive question.The answer highlights consultations and pride in the bill without addressing the call for a free vote.The safeguards that are in place in the non-end-of-life scenario are precisely a result of the consultations that took place with representatives of groups living with disabilities.
  28. answered
    Foreign AffairsMs. Jag Sahota (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly comments on the protests and states that representations were made at senior levels.Freedom to protest peacefully is a fundamental right that must be respected.
  29. answered
    Foreign AffairsMr. Jasraj Singh Hallan (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.The answer reiterates concerns about violence and affirms support for the right to protest.We believe in the freedom of protest. This is a fundamental right in a democracy.
  30. partly answered
    International TradeMr. Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay (Bloc) asked Mary Ng (Liberal). substantive question.The answer indicates work is underway to share the text but provides no timeline or firm commitment.our officials are working very hard to get the legal text finalized so we can indeed share it.
  31. deflected
    International TradeMr. Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay (Bloc) asked Mary Ng (Liberal). substantive question.The answer emphasizes benefits of the agreement without addressing the demand for immediate access to the text.The continuity trade agreement with Canada and the U.K. does this: It provides predictability and stability, and this is what businesses are looking for, particularly during this time.
  32. answered
    HealthMr. Todd Doherty (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.The answer affirms support for the hotline and offers to collaborate on implementation.I fully support the premise, and I think we can work together to make it happen more quickly.
  33. deflected
    Official LanguagesSteven Blaney (Conservative) asked Mélanie Joly (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the Conservatives' motives instead of addressing the request for a bill before Christmas.Whenever he asks me questions about modernizing the Official Languages Act, the Conservatives' sudden interest in official languages surprises me, especially now that they are courting Bloc Québécois votes.
  34. partly answered
    TransportationMr. Tom Kmiec (Conservative) asked Marc Garneau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the issue and promises to look into it but provides no timeline or specific action.I will look into the point the member has just raised.
  35. answered
    TelecommunicationsMr. Rob Morrison (Conservative) asked Maryam Monsef (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly commits to immediate funding action and invites contact for the specific communities mentioned.
  36. partly answered
    TelecommunicationsMr. John Williamson (Conservative) asked Maryam Monsef (Liberal). substantive question.The answer addresses map accuracy but does not explain why the parameters disqualify communities or commit to changes.Those maps he referred to have been updated.
  37. deflected
    Government ProgramsMr. Richard Lehoux (Conservative) asked Diane Lebouthillier (Liberal). substantive question.The answer notes remote work constraints but offers no plan for added resources or timeline.I would remind my colleague that, during the pandemic, all CRA employees have had to work from home.
  38. misdirected
    Child CareMs. Leah Gazan (NDP) asked Ahmed Hussen (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists past spending and attacks the NDP rather than addressing the delay in new pandemic funding.This time, I hope the NDP does not join the Conservatives and derail something we should have done a long time ago.
  39. partly answered
    The EnvironmentMs. Elizabeth May (Green) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). substantive question.The answer affirms commitment to a plan but gives no update on the required 2020 target improvement.I look forward to bringing forward a plan to exceed our 2030 targets in the very near term.