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Tuesday, February 2, 2021 · sitting No. 55

Commons debates economic statement act for most of sitting

The House of Commons spent the largest portion of its sitting debating the Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2020 at second reading. Liberal MP Soraya Martinez Ferrada said the government had supplied provinces and territories with prevention and screening support for their health care systems. Conservative MP Ted Falk asked how many of 10,000 ventilators bought for Quebec were in use.

In Question Period, Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole asked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau why Line 5 had not been raised in three calls with senior U.S. officials. Trudeau said the government had protected Canadian interests in past trade negotiations and would continue to do so on Line 5. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh urged Trudeau to fix paid sick leave so it covered all essential workers who needed it.

From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard

Question Period – February 2, 2021. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube

Who held the floor · 2021-02-02

Government (Liberal)OppositionOver the day: government 31%, opposition 69% of the words spokenGovernment businessGovernment business▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 10:0011:0012:0013:0014:0015:0016:0017:00Last speech 18:15Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 8 h 15 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
37Another sitting that went nowhereThe House spent nearly all its time debating the Economic Statement Implementation Act and health matters without advancing any legislation or holding votes. Question period produced mostly deflected or partial answers amid minimal procedural interruptions.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

Health

Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole said Northern Ireland had obtained written exemptions from the European Union on vaccine exports in hours while Canada had only verbal assurances.

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Airline Industry

Conservative MP Stephanie Kusie said U.S. carriers continued to fly Canadians to sun destinations while Canadian carriers were grounded.

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International Trade

Conservative MP James Cumming asked why the government had not yet secured an agreement to protect Canadian firms from new U.S. procurement rules.

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Public Safety

Conservative MP Shannon Stubbs said the Prime Minister had defeated a bill to crack down on illegal gun smuggling the previous week.

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Carbon Pricing

Conservative MP Rosemarie Falk asked the Prime Minister to cancel the carbon tax that she said would raise costs for seniors.

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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
    Natural ResourcesErin O’Toole (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer lists past trade wins and general commitments without addressing whether or when Line 5 was raised in the three calls.We will always stand up for Canadian workers and Canadian energy and we will continue to engage actively with the United States administration.
  2. deflected
    Natural ResourcesErin O’Toole (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer attacks Conservatives as armchair quarterbacks and repeats past successes instead of confirming any action on Line 5.we have seen this consistently from Conservatives over the past many years: armchair quarterbacking; telling us what we had to do, should do, and would do.
  3. partly answered
    HealthErin O’Toole (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer provides verbal assurances from the EU but does not address obtaining written exemptions like Northern Ireland.
  4. answered
    HealthErin O’Toole (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly resolves the timeline discrepancy by stating the plant will be built over the summer with production by end of year.As I said, the plant should be built over the summer. Then there will be an approval process, and vaccine production will be up and running by the end of the year.
  5. deflected
    HealthErin O’Toole (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the Conservatives as out to lunch and repeats dose totals instead of addressing the lack of a clear manufacturing plan.once again, the Conservatives are completely out to lunch. They are just scaring Canadians.
  6. partly answered
    HealthMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the need for increased transfers and past spending but does not commit to the requested 35% federal share.we are going to increase health transfers. In fact, we demonstrated our willingness to do so with our unprecedented increase in investments in the provinces
  7. misdirected
    HealthMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer pivots to Canadian Armed Forces help in Quebec rather than addressing the jurisdictional question of national versus Quebec standards.Most Canadians and most Quebeckers, with the exception of the leader of the Bloc Québécois, know very well that doctors from the Canadian Armed Forces helped in Quebec's long-term care facilities
  8. partly answered
    COVID-19 Emergency ResponseMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer defends the existing federal sick-leave measure and notes provincial steps but does not commit to fixing gaps for all workers.That is why we moved forward with federal sick leave. It is also why we are so happy to see many provinces step up to improve the system
  9. answered
    HealthMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Directly affirms commitment to increase transfers as asked.yes, that is the commitment we have made to all the provincial and territorial premiers.
  10. deflected
    HealthMr. Richard Martel (Conservative) asked Bill Blair (Liberal). loaded question.Restates actions taken without addressing admission of wrongs.There was no delay, and we actually took very timely action in not only stopping all non-essential flights into Canada, but also in closing the largest undefended border, the border between ourselves and the United States.
  11. misdirected
    HealthMr. Richard Martel (Conservative) asked Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal). loaded question.Attacks the colleague rather than addressing the demand for apology.the accusations of my Conservative colleague are absolutely unfounded.
  12. partly answered
    HealthMrs. Tracy Gray (Conservative) asked Mary Ng (Liberal). substantive question.Discusses contacts and assurances but omits any written exemption.Over the past week I have reiterated to my counterparts that our expectation is that their mechanism will not affect vaccine shipments to Canada.
  13. partly answered
    HealthMrs. Tracy Gray (Conservative) asked Mary Ng (Liberal). substantive question.Repeats verbal assurances without addressing push for exemption list.We have been repeatedly assured, in my discussions with my counterparts and in the Prime Minister 's conversation with President von der Leyen, that the EU's measures will not affect our vaccine shipments.
  14. deflected
    HealthMichelle Rempel Garner (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.Avoids any specific vaccination threshold for lifting restrictions.Vaccines are an important tool in seeing the end of this pandemic, and I thank all Canadians for trying so hard together to protect each other.
  15. deflected
    HealthMichelle Rempel Garner (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.Avoids any specific vaccination threshold or end criteria for restrictions.Every step of the way, we have followed research and evidence, and we will continue to do that.
  16. partly answered
    HealthMrs. Julie Vignola (Bloc) asked Mr. William Amos (Liberal). substantive question.Restates overall objectives without detailing immediate procurement steps.from the very beginning, our government has had the following objectives: one, secure access to vaccines and to the best vaccine candidates in the world;
  17. deflected
    HealthMrs. Julie Vignola (Bloc) asked Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal). substantive question.The answer criticizes the Bloc's past statements instead of explaining the delay in vaccine manufacturing agreements.I remember that a couple of months ago, the Bloc Québécois was saying that we would never be able to vaccinate anyone and that it would not happen.
  18. partly answered
    Airline IndustryMrs. Stephanie Kusie (Conservative) asked Omar Alghabra (Liberal). substantive question.The answer addresses the claim about American carriers but notes ongoing work without full resolution.The government is working with foreign airlines on this issue.
  19. misdirected
    Airline IndustryMrs. Stephanie Kusie (Conservative) asked Omar Alghabra (Liberal). substantive question.The answer corrects a factual premise and pivots to urging Canadians to avoid travel rather than addressing the airline plan.She probably also knows that the Biden administration has already implemented new measures on all travellers coming to the U.S.
  20. partly answered
    Airline IndustryMr. Alain Rayes (Conservative) asked Omar Alghabra (Liberal). substantive question.The answer repeats the clarification on U.S. carriers and mentions a support package but does not address border management directly.Our government is currently working on a support package to help airline carriers and their workers.
  21. deflected
    Airline IndustryMr. Alain Rayes (Conservative) asked Omar Alghabra (Liberal). substantive question.The answer avoids addressing the quote or decision-making speed by emphasizing support and travel advice.I would ask my hon. colleague to join me in understanding the importance of these travel measures and in encouraging all Canadians to avoid non-essential travel.
  22. partly answered
    HealthMr. Jack Harris (NDP) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the issue and offers to review recommendations but does not commit to supporting the motion.I certainly would be more than happy to review any recommendations that might come from the health committee or the committees that study the issue.
  23. answered
    COVID-19 Emergency ResponseMs. Lindsay Mathyssen (NDP) asked Carla Qualtrough (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly addresses the repayment issue with details on flexibility and no penalties.No one is required to make repayments at this time and we are actively looking at options to support Canadians who may in fact be determined ineligible.
  24. partly answered
    International TradeMr. James Cumming (Conservative) asked Mary Ng (Liberal). substantive question.The answer describes engagement efforts but does not explain the limited progress compared to 2010.The Prime Minister raised this in his call to President Biden, that workers in both our countries benefit from the integrated resilient supply chains.
  25. deflected
    International TradeMr. James Cumming (Conservative) asked Mary Ng (Liberal). substantive question.The answer discusses general US consultations but provides no plan for Canadian contract participation.The Prime Minister and the President agreed to consult closely to avoid any measures that may constrain trade between our two countries.
  26. misdirected
    Public SafetyMrs. Shannon Stubbs (Conservative) asked Bill Blair (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks Conservatives and restates Liberal plans instead of addressing the border seizure question.We have promised Canadians that we will strengthen gun control, while the Conservatives have promised the gun lobby that they will weaken it.
  27. misdirected
    Public SafetyMr. Glen Motz (Conservative) asked Bill Blair (Liberal). loaded question.The answer repeats police chief quotes and Liberal commitments while ignoring the bill vote and smuggling focus.It is important for us to address all of the ways criminals can get access to guns, and that is the work we are doing.
  28. partly answered
    Natural ResourcesMs. Monique Pauzé (Bloc) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). substantive question.The answer states the permit is old and provincial but does not address whether drilling will be blocked.The permit in question was issued in the 1990s by the Government of Quebec.
  29. deflected
    Natural ResourcesMs. Monique Pauzé (Bloc) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). substantive question.The answer calls the premise false and reiterates provincial jurisdiction without committing to a decision.As I said, our government said that the permit in question was issued in the 1990s by the Government of Quebec and that this matter is under provincial jurisdiction.
  30. deflected
    Air TransportationMr. Michael Kram (Conservative) asked Omar Alghabra (Liberal). substantive question.The answer notes arm's-length status and safety reviews but does not disclose how federal board members voted on bonuses.Nav Canada operates at arm's length from the government and operates independently.
  31. partly answered
    Carbon PricingMrs. Rosemarie Falk (Conservative) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). loaded question.The answer defends carbon pricing and rebates but does not address seniors' specific tax burden or cancellation.if the hon. member would look at the plan and those who actually are in federal backstop jurisdictions, the vast majority of Canadian families get more money back than they pay in the context of the carbon price.
  32. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. Philip Lawrence (Conservative) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to climate policy and calls for non-partisanship without addressing the GST-on-carbon-tax claim.addressing and fighting climate change should not be a partisan issue.
  33. deflected
    HealthMr. Ron Liepert (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists unrelated border and support measures while ignoring the request for modeling on deaths from the vaccination gap.every step of the way, our government has worked to protect the lives of Canadians from COVID-19 from the beginning with, as my colleague has mentioned, some of the strictest measures on the border
  34. answered
    HealthMrs. Cathy McLeod (Conservative) asked Mr. William Amos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer directly counters the premise of delay by detailing early bio-manufacturing investments from the start of the pandemic.by no means did our government wait at all. Increasing our country's bio-manufacturing capacity has been part of our recovery plan since the very beginning.
  35. answered
    Public Services and ProcurementMr. Marty Morantz (Conservative) asked Anita Anand (Liberal). substantive question.The answer affirms the September timeline and procurement scale while ending with an attack on the opposition for playing politics.We will not play politics with vaccine procurement, unlike our colleagues on the other side of the House.
  36. deflected
    Government AppointmentsMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked Dominic LeBlanc (Liberal). substantive question.The answer discusses general workplace safety rights without addressing Payette's entitlements or due diligence failures.our government has, from the very beginning, made it clear that no Canadian should work in a place that is not respectful, safe and healthy.
  37. answered
    HealthJody Wilson-Raybould (Independent) asked Anita Anand (Liberal). substantive question.The answer specifies involvement in Gavi, WHO and COVAX plus plans to share doses after domestic needs are met.we are also very committed to multilateral alliances, including the Gavi alliance of the WHO and the COVAX facility, of which we are a part.