All sittings← 2021-05-042021-05-06 →
Wednesday, May 5, 2021 · sitting No. 95
House holds emergency debate on Alberta COVID-19 crisis
The House devoted the largest share of its time to an emergency debate on the COVID-19 situation in Alberta. New Democrat MP Heather McPherson moved the adjournment motion, noting that Alberta reported nearly 2,000 new cases that day and that its per capita infection rate is the highest in Canada. Conservative MP Garnett Genuis and Liberal MP Mark Gerretsen also spoke during the debate.
In Question Period, Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole pressed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the handling of sexual misconduct allegations against former chief of the defence staff General Vance. O'Toole asked whether Katie Telford had informed the Prime Minister of the allegations. Trudeau said the government has strengthened laws and invested in measures to address gender-based violence.
O'Toole also challenged the government on Bill C-10, asking why it is moving ahead with legislation that he said threatens free expression online. Trudeau replied that the bill aims to ensure web giants support Canadian creators and does not restrict what individual Canadians post.
Decided that day
- Bill C-14 received royal assent
- Bill C-228 passed third reading and was adopted
- Opposition motion on military misconduct allegations failed
- Bill S-211 passed second reading
From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard
Question Period – May 5, 2021. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube
Who held the floor · 2021-05-05
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
Red Dress Day
Liberal MP Yvonne Jones said the 2021 budget proposes historic investments to support families and survivors of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. Conservative MP Bob Zimmer said red dresses on display at his constituency offices honour the victims and stand against racism.
Read the exchangeCanada Revenue Agency
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet asked whether a 74-year-old victim of $10,000 in CERB fraud should have to pay $3,000 to the Canada Revenue Agency. Trudeau said victims of fraud will not be held responsible for amounts paid to identity thieves.
Read the exchangeIndigenous Affairs
New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh said the government broke its 2015 promise to end long-term drinking water advisories in six years. Trudeau said an additional $1.6 billion has been provided and 106 advisories have been lifted since 2015.
Read the exchangeHealth
Liberal MP Sherry Romanado asked about access to mental health services during the pandemic. Trudeau said budget 2021 provides $62 million to extend the Wellness Together Canada portal until 2022.
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
- deflectedNational DefenceErin O'Toole (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists government spending and priorities on misconduct without addressing the question of terminating Katie Telford.
It is a priority for us to eliminate all forms of misconduct and create a safe workspace.
- deflectedNational DefenceErin O'Toole (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer recites past Liberal actions on gender-based violence and ignores the yes-or-no question about what Telford told the Prime Minister.
We have always taken this seriously.
- deflectedNational DefenceErin O'Toole (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to general needs for culture change and accountability without naming anyone in the PMO to be held responsible.
There needs to accountability and there need to be consequences.
- deflectedNational DefenceErin O'Toole (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer repeats budget announcements and support measures while avoiding any explanation for retaining the chief of staff.
We announced in budget 2021 over $236 million to eliminate sexual misconduct and gender-based violence in the Canadian Armed Forces.
- partly answeredNational DefenceErin O'Toole (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer names Justice Arbour and General Carignan as steps taken but does not identify a specific person held responsible for the Vance case.
That is why we asked Justice Arbour for help and promoted General Carignan—so we can change the culture once and for all.
- answeredCanada Revenue AgencyMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly states that victims of fraud will not be held responsible, addressing the specific case raised.
Victims of fraud will not be held responsible for amounts paid to people who have stolen their identity.
- answeredCanada Revenue AgencyMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer repeats the clear policy that victims are not held responsible, directly responding to the question.
once again, the victims of fraud are not held responsible for payments made to identity thieves.
- partly answeredNational DefenceMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer references budget funding and internal services but does not commit to the independent external complaints process recommended by Deschamps.
In order to implement new external oversight mechanisms, we are building on the work that we are already doing
- partly answeredNational DefenceMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Mentions new oversight mechanisms but does not explain the delay in implementing the specific 2015 recommendation.
we announced over $236 million to eliminate sexual misconduct and gender-based violence in the Canadian Armed Forces, including to enhance internal support services for survivors and implement new external oversight mechanisms.
- deflectedNational DefenceCandice Bergen (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Denies the premise outright then shifts to general government actions without addressing the specific Vance allegations or cover-up claim.
- deflectedNational DefenceCandice Bergen (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Ignores the direct question about complicity or incompetence and pivots to personal history of supporting survivors.
from the time I was in university to the time I became the leader of the Liberal Party, to the time I became the Prime Minister, I have always dedicated myself to supporting survivors of sexual violence
- misdirectedNational DefenceCandice Bergen (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Ignores the personal attacks and military question entirely to redefine feminism and list unrelated policies.
That is why we moved forward with feminist policies as a government on supporting survivors, on investing in things like child care and making sure that we are supporting women entrepreneurs
- misdirectedNational DefenceMs. Leona Alleslev (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answers by attacking the opposition's past actions instead of addressing current accountability for misconduct.
the process that was undergone in 2018 was exactly the same process embarked upon by the leader of the opposition back in 2015 when he was in government.
- partly answeredNational DefenceMs. Leona Alleslev (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). rhetorical question.Affirms service is honourable and notes ongoing work but does not directly answer whether he would encourage his own children to serve.
it is an extraordinarily honourable calling to serve in the Canadian Armed Forces, to serve one's country in any given way.
- deflectedNational DefenceMs. Leona Alleslev (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Talks about general culture change efforts without addressing the call to freeze promotions or fire specific individuals.
We need to put an end to the culture of tolerance, misogyny and harassment that exists in our military and in far too many other institutions.
- answeredNational DefenceMr. Rhéal Fortin (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Directly explains the principle that politicians should not investigate and states the minister referred the matter to appropriate authorities.
as a matter of principle, politicians should not be the ones to investigate allegations of harassment, intimidation or assault.
- answeredNational DefenceMr. Rhéal Fortin (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer directly refutes the factual premise of the question with specific witness testimony.
- deflectedCanadian HeritageErin O'Toole (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the free expression question and pivots to talking points about creators and web giants.
This bill is about ensuring that we are no longer putting the interests of international companies ahead of Canadian creators.
- deflectedCanadian HeritageErin O'Toole (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer avoids the Hong Kong comparison and instead attacks the Conservatives while restating the bill's purpose.
The Conservatives are deliberately misleading Canadians once again, obstructing the study of this important bill and siding with web giants against Canadian creators.
- deflectedCanadian HeritageErin O'Toole (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer sidesteps the broken promise query and repeats assurances about not targeting users.
It is about what web giants do not do, which is to support Canadian-made stories and music.
- deflectedCanadian HeritageErin O'Toole (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer evades the free speech attack claim by shifting to pandemic impacts on creators.
Canadian artists and creators have been some of the hardest hit by the pandemic.
- partly answeredIndigenous AffairsMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer addresses the timeline and actions taken but does not explain the broken promise.
Since 2015, we have lifted 106 long-term drinking water advisories, and we remain aggressively committed to lifting all long-term advisories
- partly answeredIndigenous AffairsMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer acknowledges the day and describes ongoing work but provides no specifics on advancing the calls for justice.
We are actively working with provinces and territories, indigenous leaders, survivors and families to develop a national action plan
- deflectedCanadian HeritageMr. Alain Rayes (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the deletion of the clause and repeats the same non-user impact talking point.
Bill C-10 is not about what Canadians do online.
- deflectedCanadian HeritageMr. Alain Rayes (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks Conservatives and restates general positions instead of addressing the deletion of the clause or trust in the PM.
- deflectedCanadian HeritageMr. Alain Rayes (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer ignores the request for a new charter statement and instead attacks Conservatives while restating support for creators.
The Conservatives are deliberately misleading Canadians, obstructing the study of this important bill and siding with web giants against Canadian creators.
- deflectedCanadian HeritageMr. Alain Rayes (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks Conservatives for misleading and restates bill scope without addressing why the clause was deleted or ignoring experts.
the Conservatives are yet again deliberately misleading Canadians.
- answeredHealthMs. Kristina Michaud (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer directly details existing and additional border measures in response to the call for tighter screening.
- misdirectedHealthMs. Kristina Michaud (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer shifts to criticizing the Bloc and explaining March 2020 origins instead of addressing follow-up on contacts or tightening measures.
I expect the Conservatives to spread misinformation in the House, but I am surprised to hear it coming from the Bloc Québécois.
- deflectedCanadian HeritageMs. Rachael Harder (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer restates protections and attacks Conservatives for misleading rather than addressing the removal of online content protections.
The Conservatives are yet again deliberately misleading Canadians and obstructing the study of this important bill by siding with web giants against Canadian creators.
- partly answeredCanadian HeritageMs. Rachael Harder (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer explains bill focus and exemption but does not engage the contradiction about needing amendments for clarity.
We have and we will continue to improve this bill so it truly reflects its initial objective, which is to serve Canadian creators without hindering freedom of expression in this country.
- deflectedCanadian HeritageMs. Rachael Harder (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks Conservatives for desperate attacks and reframes amendments positively without resolving the crystal-clear versus amendments contradiction.
The reality is we are focused on supporting content creators.
- deflectedEthicsMr. Michael Barrett (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer sidesteps all ethics and Bill C-10 questions by pivoting to pandemic support and accusing opponents of attacks.
while the Conservatives again resort to personal attacks and mudslinging, we will stay focused on helping Canadians through this pandemic and into a build back better future.
- deflectedEthicsMr. Michael Barrett (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer dismisses the question with insults and restates pandemic focus without addressing democracy or Bill C-10 concerns.
the tinfoil hats on the other side of the aisle are really quite spectacular.
- answeredCanadian HeritageMr. Michael Barrett (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly rebuts the expert claim by explaining the bill's scope and exemptions for users.
this bill is not about what Canadians do online. It is about what web giants do not do, which is to support Canadian-made stories and music.
- partly answeredHealthMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the crisis and mentions WTO work on vaccines but does not address waiving patents.
With respect to the WTO, we are actively working with international partners to support the WTO's dialogue with the pharmaceutical sector and to accelerate equitable global vaccine production and distribution.
- answeredDigital Services TaxMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked Mr. Mark Gerretsen (Liberal). substantive question.The point of order directly clarifies that no company is excluded from the proposed tax.
On that last unanimous consent motion, I just wanted to clarify that no company is excluded from the proposed digital services tax.