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Tuesday, March 1, 2022 · sitting No. 38
Bloc motion on Quebec seats leads supply day debate
The House spent most of its sitting on a Bloc Québécois opposition day motion that calls for rejection of any federal electoral redistribution that would reduce Quebec's seats or political weight and urges amendment of the seat apportionment formula. Bloc leader Yves-François Blanchet moved the motion and said his party would introduce legislation to protect Quebec's weight in Canadian institutions. Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux questioned the timing of the motion amid events in Ukraine while Conservative MP Ron Liepert asked whether Blanchet would admit he was wrong to say oil is dead.
Question period featured exchanges on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Conservative leader Candice Bergen asked the government to expel the Russian ambassador while Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada would use all tools at its disposal. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh asked about sanctions on Belarus and Trudeau replied that sanctions against the Belarusian government and its oligarchs were already in place.
From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard
Question Period – March 1, 2022. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube
Who held the floor · 2022-03-01
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 Candice Bergen asked why the federal government had not followed provinces in lifting vaccine mandates and other restrictions. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said decisions remained grounded in science and that Canada had made significant movements on border restrictions.
Read the exchangePublic Safety
Conservative leader Candice Bergen said the Prime Minister used the Emergencies Act for political gain and revoked it less than 48 hours after a confidence vote. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau replied that the act enabled local authorities to end illegal blockades and that the opposition still could not decide whether it stood with blockaders or communities.
Read the exchangeImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Conservative MP Jasraj Singh Hallan asked the government to commit to visa-free travel for Ukrainians fleeing war rather than leaving them in an immigration backlog. Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said new measures would soon be introduced to welcome more Ukrainians seeking safety.
Read the exchangeNatural Resources
Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet asked whether the Prime Minister agreed it would be irresponsible to use the war in Ukraine to promote oil exports from western Canada. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Europe still relies heavily on Russian oil and gas and that Canada must help provide alternatives.
Read the exchangeOfficial Languages
Bloc Québécois MP Mario Beaulieu said the new bill to modernize the Official Languages Act would not let Quebec be solely responsible for linguistic planning in its territory and would override the Charter of the French Language. Minister Pablo Rodriguez said the government was intervening in its own jurisdiction to strengthen French as a language of work and service across the country.
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
- deflectedForeign AffairsCandice Bergen (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer discusses summoning but does not address expelling the ambassador.
the Minister of Foreign Affairs summoned the Russian ambassador to express extreme concern and disagreement with Russia's actions.
- partly answeredImmigration, Refugees and CitizenshipCandice Bergen (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Addresses processing applications but avoids committing to visa-free travel.
We have been priority processing applications from Ukraine and bolstering operational capacity in the region, which has allowed us to approve more applications from Ukrainian nationals.
- deflectedNatural ResourcesCandice Bergen (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Avoids committing to increased extraction by focusing on existing projects and carbon reduction.
We are actually moving forward with the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, which the Conservatives could not get approved and could not get built.
- misdirectedPublic SafetyCandice Bergen (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ends by attacking Conservatives instead of addressing the claim directly.
Even after all this has ended, Conservative MPs still cannot pick a lane. Canadians want to know: Do they stand with blockaders or do they stand with Canadian communities?
- partly answeredHealthCandice Bergen (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Discusses border measures but does not commit to removing mandates.
Canada has made significant movements on restrictions at the border to enable more Canadians to travel safely and less onerously when they come home.
- answeredForeign AffairsMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Directly agrees and commits to maintaining sanctions until withdrawal.
we will keep the sanctions in place until Russia recognizes that it made a huge mistake and withdraws its soldiers from every part of Ukraine.
- deflectedNatural ResourcesMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Addresses Europe's needs but sidesteps the question of irresponsibility in promoting exports.
We, the whole world, have to try to give Europe alternatives to what Russia has to offer.
- answeredForeign AffairsMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.States that sanctions against Belarus have already been imposed.
we also added sanctions against Belarus, because we know that it was an accomplice and even a partner in this invasion of Ukraine.
- partly answeredImmigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer describes preparations and fast-tracking but does not commit to a barrier-free process.
we are looking at creating new programs to further fast-track applications of people who are fleeing from this terrible conflict.
- deflectedForeign AffairsMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Robert Oliphant (Liberal). substantive question.The response discusses summoning the ambassador and dialogue instead of addressing expulsion.
That is why our foreign affairs minister summoned the ambassador from Russia to hear her opinion immediately and directly.
- deflectedForeign AffairsMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Robert Oliphant (Liberal). substantive question.Avoids the specific question by listing other actions taken against Russia.
When we talk about what we have done, let us talk about the sanctions.
- partly answeredImmigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Jasraj Singh Hallan (Conservative) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.Mentions new measures but does not address visa-free travel specifically.
in the very near future, we will have new measures to welcome more Ukrainians who are seeking safety as they flee this war.
- deflectedImmigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Jasraj Singh Hallan (Conservative) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). loaded question.The answer promotes other measures without addressing the opposition to visa-free travel.
My interest, and I am sure the hon. member shares this perspective, is to create a program that will get the greatest number of Ukrainians to Canada as quickly and safely as possible.
- partly answeredForeign AffairsMr. James Bezan (Conservative) asked Anita Anand (Liberal). substantive question.Acknowledges the request but focuses on existing aid rather than committing to more specific items.
let me just be clear that all options continue to be on the table in terms of our support
- partly answeredNational DefenceMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Anita Anand (Liberal). substantive question.Mentions commitment and work with partners without providing a timeline or specific plan.
Canada will continue to work with our American partners.
- answeredNatural ResourcesMs. Monique Pauzé (Bloc) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). loaded question.The response agrees with the need to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
I think she and I agree, along with governments around the world, that we have to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels
- deflectedNatural ResourcesMs. Monique Pauzé (Bloc) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). substantive question.The answer states the project is under review without addressing the yes/no request on approval.
The project is under review by our government.
- deflectedNatural ResourcesMs. Monique Pauzé (Bloc) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). substantive question.The answer shifts to past government achievements on climate instead of answering the yes/no question.
In the last four years, our government has done the most of any government to fight climate change.
- misdirectedPublic SafetyMr. Dane Lloyd (Conservative) asked Mark Holland (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the opposition for cheerleading illegal activities rather than addressing the accountability question.
The opposition, unfortunately, decided to cheerlead the illegal activities that were happening outside.
- deflectedPublic SafetyMr. Jake Stewart (Conservative) asked Mark Holland (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to Ukraine and questions the opposition's focus instead of addressing the Emergencies Act admission.
I would hope that the members opposite would look at the efficacy of the Emergencies Act and how successful it was in restoring peace and order.
- partly answeredPublic SafetyMr. Joël Godin (Conservative) asked Marco Mendicino (Liberal). substantive question.The answer explains the invocation and revocation as a last resort but does not detail what changed between Monday and Wednesday.
- partly answeredPublic SafetyMr. Joël Godin (Conservative) asked Marco Mendicino (Liberal). substantive question.The answer justifies the act's necessity and timely revocation but avoids specifying what changed in the two days.
We always said that we would not keep the Emergencies Act in effect a minute longer than necessary, and we kept that promise last week.
- deflectedClimate ChangeMr. Richard Cannings (NDP) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). substantive question.The answer highlights emission reductions and investments without addressing the call to stop fossil fuel subsidies.
We continue to cut emissions, and we have cut 30 million tonnes since we have come into power.
- deflectedClimate ChangeMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). substantive question.The answer emphasizes past investments and the need for more action without committing to ending fossil fuel subsidies.
This is why our government has already invested $2.3 billion in climate change adaptation and more than $100 billion to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the past few years.
- deflectedHealthMrs. Stephanie Kusie (Conservative) asked Mona Fortier (Liberal). substantive question.The answer discusses vaccination rates but does not provide the number of fired employees.
Public servants stepped up and 99% got their first dose, 98.7% got their second dose.
- deflectedHealthMr. Jeremy Patzer (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.The response expresses gratitude but does not address the timeline for lifting federal mandates.
I am grateful for our relationship with Minister Merriman and the entire Government of Saskatchewan, who have been there to help the people of Saskatchewan get through this crisis, and I am grateful to the millions of people in Saskatchewan who made the right choice and got vaccinated.
- partly answeredHealthMr. Richard Lehoux (Conservative) asked Omar Alghabra (Liberal). substantive question.The answer notes recent easing of measures but does not provide a plan for permanently ending mandates.
The good news is that yesterday we eased our border measures.
- deflectedHealthMs. Michelle Ferreri (Conservative) asked Omar Alghabra (Liberal). substantive question.The response discusses border testing changes without addressing vaccine mandate timelines.
Yesterday we changed these measures.
- deflectedOfficial LanguagesMr. Mario Beaulieu (Bloc) asked Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Liberal). substantive question.The answer promotes the new bill but does not explain why Bill 101 is not applied.
Promoting and protecting the French language is a top priority for our government.
- deflectedOfficial LanguagesMr. Mario Beaulieu (Bloc) asked Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal). substantive question.The response emphasizes protecting French across Canada without committing to amendments.
We want to protect and promote French not only in Quebec but everywhere.
- deflectedThe EconomyMr. Adam Chambers (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the opposition's narrative instead of addressing policy changes.
the Conservatives continue to talk down the Canadian economy with a false economic narrative, so I am glad to have the chance to share some good news.
- deflectedThe EconomyMr. Brad Redekopp (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). loaded question.The response defends policies and criticizes Conservatives rather than addressing the poverty increase claim.
we will take no lessons from the Conservatives when it comes to supporting the most vulnerable people in Canada.
- deflectedHousingMr. Dan Muys (Conservative) asked Ahmed Hussen (Liberal). substantive question.The response criticizes the opposition's voting record instead of addressing the timeline for a housing plan or hope for young buyers.
I encourage the hon. member to enable his party to actually vote for the measures we have brought in to enable affordability.
- deflectedTaxationMrs. Tracy Gray (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). substantive question.The answer explains the automatic tax adjustment but pivots to past opposition votes rather than committing to cancel the increase.
if the member opposite really wanted to support Canada's small business owners, she and her party should have voted with us to support the business-support measures that helped Canadian small businesses get through COVID.
- partly answeredTaxationMr. Scot Davidson (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). substantive question.The response directly addresses the scale of the tax increase and notes craft-specific measures before shifting topics.
the increase is less than one-fifth of one penny per can of beer, and there are specific measures that take into consideration the needs of craft brewers and wineries.
- partly answeredTourism IndustryMr. Tony Baldinelli (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer notes recent relaxation of measures but does not specify a future date for dropping pre-departure testing.
They were relaxed just a day ago.
- partly answeredHousingMs. Jenny Kwan (NDP) asked Ahmed Hussen (Liberal). substantive question.The response details increased national housing strategy funding and co-op support but omits action on speculators or the 500,000-unit target.
We have brought in significant resources through the national housing strategy, which has grown from $40 billion to over $72 billion.
- partly answeredHousingMs. Leah Gazan (NDP) asked Ahmed Hussen (Liberal). substantive question.The answer affirms concern and lists multiple Winnipeg programs but does not address recognizing housing as a human right or new investments.
I have lost count of the number of times I have been to Winnipeg, virtually and in person, to make announcements through the rapid housing initiative, the national housing co-investment fund, the affordable housing innovation fund, the rental construction financing initiative, reaching home, the Canada-Manitoba housing benefit and the Canada-Manitoba bilateral agreement on housing.
- deflectedHousingMs. Elizabeth May (Green) asked Ms. Pam Damoff (Liberal). rhetorical question.The exchange concerns procedural noise rather than policy substance and the response is cut off without addressing the point of order.