All sittings← 2021-03-252021-04-12 →
Friday, March 26, 2021 · sitting No. 77
Commons spends most time on digital privacy bill
The House devoted the largest share of its sitting to second reading of Bill C-11, the digital charter implementation act. Minister François-Philippe Champagne told members the legislation would deliver strong privacy protections for Canadians while giving businesses clear rules to foster innovation. Conservative MP Earl Dreeshen cited Jim Balsillie in arguing that the bill fails to curb the surveillance economy, and New Democrat MP Jenny Kwan pressed the minister on consent rules that could allow new commercial uses of personal data without consent.
Question period featured repeated exchanges on vaccine supply. Conservative MP Gérard Deltell questioned the government on delivery delays from Europe and the absence of firm assurances from suppliers. Parliamentary secretary Steven MacKinnon replied that three million doses are expected next week and that the government has moved up nearly two million AstraZeneca doses through its agreement with the United States.
From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard
Question Period – March 26, 2021. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube
Who held the floor · 2021-03-26
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Other moments
Canada Elections Act
New Democrat MP Daniel Blaikie urged quick referral of Bill C-19 to committee and rejected Liberal criticism of procedural instructions to committees. Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux countered that opposition tactics had been destructive and defended the minority Parliament's readiness.
Read the exchangeForeign Affairs
Conservative MP Michael Chong asked why the government transferred $40 million to the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank while Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig faced trial. Minister Marc Garneau said securing the two Canadians' release remains the top priority and that Canada will continue multilateral pressure on arbitrary detention.
Read the exchangeNational Defence
Conservative MP Alex Ruff questioned inconsistencies in the defence minister's handling of investigations into sexual misconduct allegations. Parliamentary secretary Anita Vandenbeld replied that the minister followed proper processes by referring the matter to the Privy Council Office.
Read the exchangeInfrastructure
Conservative MP Andrew Scheer cited the Auditor General's finding that $9 billion in infrastructure funds lapsed. Minister Catherine McKenna said the government has approved nearly 2,000 projects in the past year through the investing in Canada plan.
Read the exchangeQuestion Period, exchange by exchange
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- partly answeredHealthMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Mr. Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). substantive question.Mentions specific doses arriving but provides no plan or expected delays for Canadians.
we expect another three million doses to arrive next week.
- answeredHealthMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Mr. Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). substantive question.Directly clarifies the latest ministerial statement on the delay.
the minister did in fact issue a press release yesterday saying that she had just been informed that the company in question was experiencing quality control issues.
- deflectedHealthMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Mr. Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.Avoids any admission of failure and pivots to unrelated positive actions.
I can assure my hon. colleague by saying that the government monitors vaccine supply and the arrival of vaccine doses.
- deflectedForeign AffairsMichael Chong (Conservative) asked Marc Garneau (Liberal). substantive question.States priority on release but ignores the question about suspending the AIIB payment.
our number one priority at the moment is to secure the release of two Canadians
- deflectedForeign AffairsMichael Chong (Conservative) asked Marc Garneau (Liberal). loaded question.Focuses on multilateral work instead of addressing suspension or withdrawal from the bank.
we do indeed work with our allies when we want to bring up extremely serious problems that are occurring with China
- deflectedHealthMr. Gabriel Ste-Marie (Bloc) asked Mr. Stéphane Lauzon (Liberal). substantive question.Lists other investments but never addresses increasing health transfers.
The federal government has invested half a billion dollars to help seniors and other Canadians get the essential services they need
- deflectedHealthMr. Gabriel Ste-Marie (Bloc) asked Mr. Stéphane Lauzon (Liberal). substantive question.Repeats communication with premiers and other spending without addressing health transfers.
The Prime Minister has made a commitment to work on this file.
- partly answeredHealthMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.Details added resources and funding but conditions further action on bill support.
There is $690.7 million invested in PHAC over two years in the fall 2020 economic statement.
- deflectedHealthMs. Jenny Kwan (NDP) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.Answer pivots to future spending and bill support without addressing past failures or justification.
That is why we are committing over $690 million in the fall economic statement.
- partly answeredNational DefenceMr. Alex Ruff (Conservative) asked Ms. Anita Vandenbeld (Liberal). substantive question.Answer clarifies the minister did not direct an investigation but does not address the perceived hypocrisy.
Let me be clear, the minister has not directed any investigation.
- deflectedNational DefenceMr. Alex Ruff (Conservative) asked Ms. Anita Vandenbeld (Liberal). substantive question.Answer restates processes followed and blames opposition reading of email rather than addressing lessons learned.
as we have said, the minister followed the proper processes.
- partly answeredPublic SafetyMrs. Shannon Stubbs (Conservative) asked Mr. Joël Lightbound (Liberal). substantive question.Answer accepts recommendations and notes mechanisms but does not address border chaos or training delivery.
The Canada Border Services Agency, or CBSA, accepts the Auditor General's recommendations and will take concerted action to implement them.
- deflectedPublic SafetyMrs. Shannon Stubbs (Conservative) asked Mr. Joël Lightbound (Liberal). substantive question.Answer discusses support services and information sessions without addressing plan for reopening or inconsistencies.
Officers now have direct access to support services 24 hours a day.
- deflectedInfrastructureAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Catherine McKenna (Liberal). substantive question.Answer highlights total investments and projects but avoids lapsed funds or accountability issues.
Five years into the plan, we have already invested $81 billion in over 67,000 projects, with 90% of them completed or under way.
- misdirectedInfrastructureAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Catherine McKenna (Liberal). substantive question.Answer shifts to approved projects and attacks Conservatives on past election promises instead of explaining lapsed funds.
During the last election the Conservative Party said it was going to cut infrastructure spending.
- partly answeredCanadian HeritageMrs. Caroline Desbiens (Bloc) asked Ms. Julie Dabrusin (Liberal). substantive question.Answer notes recent funding for performing arts but does not address the six specific proposals.
We recently provided an additional $181 million in ongoing support.
- partly answeredCanadian HeritageMrs. Caroline Desbiens (Bloc) asked Ms. Julie Dabrusin (Liberal). substantive question.Addresses funding support but ignores specific asks on tax credits, flexibility and festivals.
We have $181.5 million in funding.
- partly answeredCOVID-19 Emergency ResponseMr. Tony Baldinelli (Conservative) asked Mr. Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.Mentions extension only to June rather than committing to calendar year end.
We recently announced that we were extending some of these emergency support programs, such as the wage subsidy, to the end of June
- partly answeredEmploymentMr. Richard Lehoux (Conservative) asked Mr. Irek Kusmierczyk (Liberal). substantive question.Discusses foreign worker processing but omits Beauce specifics and inter-regional mobility.
We have streamlined requirements and introduced priority processing for applications and work permits in these sectors.
- deflectedTelecommunicationsMr. Michael Kram (Conservative) asked Mr. William Amos (Liberal). substantive question.Refuses to address Huawei directly and pivots to general process.
while we are never going to comment on specific companies, an examination of the emerging 5G technology and associated security and economic considerations is under way.
- partly answeredSportMr. Tom Kmiec (Conservative) asked Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Liberal). substantive question.Notes measures taken and future mechanism but gives no concrete ministerial action.
we understand that Artistic Swimming has taken measures to address these complaints.
- deflectedInternational DevelopmentMs. Heather McPherson (NDP) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). loaded question.Highlights aid increases while avoiding any mention of arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
Canada actually increased its humanitarian assistance.
- partly answeredCOVID-19 Emergency ResponseMs. Lindsay Mathyssen (NDP) asked Mr. Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.Explains non-discrimination policy but offers no commitment on revoking funds.
we did not discriminate as to which kind of employer the employees worked for.
- partly answeredHealthMrs. Tracy Gray (Conservative) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). substantive question.States no shipments blocked so far but does not guarantee future exemption.
not a single one of our vaccine shipments from the European Union has been blocked or delayed because of these new EU export measures.
- deflectedPublic Services and ProcurementSteven Blaney (Conservative) asked Mr. Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). substantive question.The answer avoids naming any timeline and pivots to past government actions and a vague promise of future news.
We will have news later about this.
- deflectedSmall BusinessKerry-Lynne Findlay (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). loaded question.The question embeds the unsupported premise that the government is hostile to small business; the reply restates general COVID priorities without addressing a reopening plan.
We cannot have a healthy, strong economy if people are too sick to go to work.
- partly answeredThe EconomyMr. Chris Lewis (Conservative) asked Mr. Joël Lightbound (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges border-related supply-chain issues and describes ongoing work on consistent decision-making but supplies no concrete timeline or new directive.
- partly answeredFisheries and OceansMr. Maxime Blanchette-Joncas (Bloc) asked Ms. Soraya Martinez Ferrada (Liberal). substantive question.The reply confirms discussions and safety-driven decisions yet offers no specific repair schedule or funding commitment.
we are actively working on solutions.
- deflectedFisheries and OceansMr. Maxime Blanchette-Joncas (Bloc) asked Diane Lebouthillier (Liberal). substantive question.The answer simply reassures that the fishing season is unaffected and sidesteps all questions about repairs, monitoring and compensation.
I want to reassure my colleague that the Îles-de-la-Madeleine fishing season is not being compromised in any way.
- misdirectedEthicsMrs. Karen Vecchio (Conservative) asked Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal). substantive question.The reply accuses the opposition of games rather than addressing the claim of Liberal obstruction on committee work.
I would like the Conservatives to stop playing these games.
- answeredJusticeMrs. Cathay Wagantall (Conservative) asked Mr. Arif Virani (Liberal). loaded question.The question rests on the premise that victims’ rights are not a priority; the minister directly states that a parliamentary review will occur and rejects the premise.
We are indeed ensuring that victims' rights are treated with dignity, compassion and respect.
- partly answeredJusticeMr. Michael Cooper (Conservative) asked Mr. Arif Virani (Liberal). substantive question.The answer confirms the case is under review but gives no indication of whether the government will join Quebec’s attorney general in defending consecutive sentencing.
We will make our position known when it is necessary to do so.
- deflectedImmigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Jasraj Singh Hallan (Conservative) asked Marco Mendicino (Liberal). loaded question.The answer gives general policy statements without addressing the specific joint letter or special program request.
Canada has one of the most robust asylum systems in the world, and we will always uphold human rights.
- answeredFisheries and OceansMr. Chris d'Entremont (Conservative) asked Mr. Terry Beech (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly clarifies the new rules on family members and offers further assistance.
It does not have to record individual family members who are not active in fishing.
- partly answeredFisheries and OceansMr. Mel Arnold (Conservative) asked Mr. Terry Beech (Liberal). loaded question.The response explains enforcement changes and future talks but does not reverse the policy.
This season, conservation and protection's enforcement posture toward the practice of tubbing will be one of outreach and education, which means tubbing will occur this season.
- answeredVeterans AffairsMs. Yasmin Ratansi (Independent) asked Mr. Darrell Samson (Liberal). substantive question.The answer updates the status of the funding request and prior support given.
In 2019, we proudly supported Helmets to Hardhats through this fund to help veterans seeking careers in construction and maintenance.
- answeredPoints of OrderMr. Alistair MacGregor (NDP) asked Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Liberal). substantive question.The response explains the technical issue and proposes a solution to provide the answer.
If we could get the leave of the House, maybe the member could repose his question and we would be more than happy to ensure there is an answer.
- partly answeredPoints of OrderMr. Alistair MacGregor (NDP) asked Ms. Soraya Martinez Ferrada (Liberal). substantive question.The answer apologizes and begins outlining the strategy on anchorages but is incomplete.
The government's long-term strategy regarding British Columbia anchorages is aimed at improving the management of anchorages and—