All sittings← 2022-03-282022-03-30 →
Tuesday, March 29, 2022 · sitting No. 48
House debates online streaming act as Liberals defend cultural policy
The House spent the largest share of the sitting on the online streaming act under government orders. Liberal MP Chris Bittle told the House the legislation would ensure platforms support Canadian content and that users would face no new obligations. Conservative MP Rachael Thomas questioned whether the CRTC, whose leadership is mostly white middle-aged men, could properly advance diversity goals.
Question period featured repeated exchanges on the carbon tax increase scheduled for Friday. Conservative MP Luc Berthold asked the government to suspend the tax to ease pressure on families. Liberal MP Terry Duguid replied that the Parliamentary Budget Officer had confirmed most households receive more in rebates than they pay.
Members also pressed the government on the pace of Ukrainian refugee arrivals. Bloc Québécois MP Alain Therrien said only 6,000 people had reached Canada since the war began and called for chartered flights. Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said more than 12,000 Ukrainians had arrived since January and that new programs were processing tens of thousands of applications.
Decided that day
- Third report of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration passed
From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard
Question Period – March 29, 2022. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube
Who held the floor · 2022-03-29
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
Committees of the House
Conservative MP Jasraj Singh Hallan moved concurrence in a citizenship and immigration committee report calling for visa-free travel from Ukraine. Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux said the opposition should have used an opposition day motion to allow a longer debate and a vote.
Read the exchangeThe Environment
Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault tabled the 2030 emissions reduction plan. Conservative MP Kyle Seeback said the government had failed to account properly for carbon tax costs and questioned whether the new plan would harm jobs.
Read the exchangeRoyal Canadian Mounted Police
Conservative MP Rosemarie Falk said municipalities faced unexpected costs from the RCMP collective agreement. Liberal MP Pam Damoff said the government was holding bilateral meetings to address partners' questions.
Read the exchangeTelecommunications
Conservative MP Richard Lehoux asked why the government had not improved cellphone service in rural ridings. Liberal MP Gudie Hutchings said the focus remained on the universal broadband fund and urged provinces to bring projects forward.
Read the exchangeThe Budget
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland designated an order of the day for the budget and told the House it would be presented on April 7 at 4 p.m.
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
- deflectedClimate ChangeMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Mr. Terry Duguid (Liberal). loaded question.The answer promotes the emissions plan without addressing the cost to Canadians or the EU ambassador's request.
the emissions reduction plan announced today is an ambitious achievable sector-by-sector road map for Canada to achieve its climate targets.
- deflectedThe EconomyMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). substantive question.The answer lists past benefits instead of confirming whether inflation is costing Canadians more.
That is why we reduced income taxes for the middle class and raised them for the wealthiest 1%.
- misdirectedThe EconomyMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the Conservative narrative on the economy rather than addressing the carbon tax suspension request.
the Conservatives keep pushing a false economic narrative.
- partly answeredClimate ChangeMr. Kyle Seeback (Conservative) asked Mr. Terry Duguid (Liberal). loaded question.The answer addresses the PBO rebate finding but ignores the broader economy-wide cost question.
once again, the Parliamentary Budget Officer confirmed that the majority of households will receive more in climate action rebates than they pay.
- deflectedClimate ChangeMr. Kyle Seeback (Conservative) asked Mr. Terry Duguid (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts to Conservative record and future outlook without addressing trillions in spending.
we know that, if the Conservatives were in power, our emissions would be up 12%.
- partly answeredImmigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Alain Therrien (Bloc) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.The answer highlights arrivals and programs but does not address chartering flights.
We have now seen, since the beginning of the year, more than 12,000 Ukrainians arrive in Canada.
- deflectedImmigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Alain Therrien (Bloc) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.The answer defends collaboration with airlines instead of explaining delays in action.
On the one hand, he says we are not working with the airlines, but he acknowledged in his question that we are having discussions with the airlines.
- answeredClimate ChangeMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Mr. Terry Duguid (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly lists specific measures addressing fossil fuel emissions and transition.
On top of the cap to reduce oil and gas emissions, we are implementing the clean fuel standard to accelerate the adoption of cleaner fuel.
- deflectedClimate ChangeMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Mr. Terry Duguid (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists general climate measures but avoids the question on eliminating oil subsidies.
our emissions reduction plan is our practical road map to fight climate change, create jobs and ensure that Canadians are global leaders in the transition to a clean economy.
- answeredInternational TradeMr. Randy Hoback (Conservative) asked Mr. Arif Virani (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly outlines a three-part plan for improving trade relations with the US.
We will have continuous engagement with the U.S. administration at the highest levels.
- misdirectedThe EconomyMrs. Dominique Vien (Conservative) asked Ahmed Hussen (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the opposition's record instead of addressing breathing room in the budget.
The party opposite has voted against every single measure I have mentioned.
- partly answeredThe EconomyMr. Dave Epp (Conservative) asked Marie-Claude Bibeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer mentions a committee report but does not commit to implementing a grocery code of conduct.
We made it a priority at my last meeting with the provincial and territorial agriculture ministers.
- misdirectedHousingMr. Richard Martel (Conservative) asked Ahmed Hussen (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks Conservatives and cites one MP instead of addressing housing availability and costs.
Maybe the hon. member needs to speak to the Conservative member for Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry , who stood in the House and said that we should pull back from the national housing strategy.
- misdirectedHousingMs. Michelle Ferreri (Conservative) asked Ahmed Hussen (Liberal). loaded question.The answer defends the incentive and attacks Conservatives rather than explaining CMHC fees for buyers.
As recently as last week, the Conservative member for Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry said that we should stop helping first-time homebuyers.
- misdirectedHousingMr. Doug Shipley (Conservative) asked Ahmed Hussen (Liberal). substantive question.The answer focuses on opposition votes against past measures instead of new plans to curb price increases.
They have called for no more help for first-time homebuyers.
- partly answeredImmigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Bloc) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.The answer addresses biometrics and airlift talks but does not confirm using border services officers for airlifts.
Regarding the airlift, we continue to have conversations with airlines to arrange to get as many people here as quickly as possible.
- deflectedImmigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Bloc) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.The answer lists actions taken but avoids addressing the request to involve border services officers immediately.
We are going to continue to do more, as much as we can, as quickly as we can.
- deflectedImmigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Bloc) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.The response highlights arrivals and resources deployed but sidesteps the specific asks on chartering flights and mobilizing officers.
We are going to continue to send resources where we see the people moving.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingMr. Glen Motz (Conservative) asked Mr. Terry Duguid (Liberal). substantive question.The answer pivots to a Conservative member's past statement instead of addressing the call to cancel the tax increase.
- partly answeredCarbon PricingMr. Dan Mazier (Conservative) asked Marie-Claude Bibeau (Liberal). substantive question.The response addresses support for farmers via clean technology funding but does not engage with the bill on removing the carbon tax from grain drying.
This would support our farmers very significantly in affording energy-efficient technologies, including grain dryers.
- deflectedCarbon PricingMr. Richard Bragdon (Conservative) asked Mr. Terry Duguid (Liberal). substantive question.The answer promotes the policy's benefits and attacks Conservatives rather than addressing the lack of metrics for the carbon tax's impact.
I would say, once again, that Conservatives are stuck in the past and we are looking to the future.
- deflectedCarbon PricingMrs. Laila Goodridge (Conservative) asked Mr. Terry Duguid (Liberal). substantive question.The response cites rebate amounts but does not justify the tax increase amid affordability concerns.
We are fighting climate change and we are promoting affordability.
- answeredImmigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMs. Jenny Kwan (NDP) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly confirms extension of settlement supports including the specific services requested.
I am very pleased to share with her that yesterday we announced that we would be extending settlement supports to Ukrainians who have landed in Canada, including employment assistance, language training and other measures that we make available directly to refugees who come to Canada.
- partly answeredIndigenous AffairsMs. Leah Gazan (NDP) asked Marc Miller (Liberal). loaded question.The response acknowledges the need for action and notes funding but provides no timelines or targets as asked.
That was only the beginning, and it was coupled with $2.2 billion of investments.
- deflectedHealthMr. Stephen Ellis (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the request for benchmarks and pivots entirely to vaccination benefits.
I would like to thank my colleague for giving me one more opportunity to speak about the importance of vaccination.
- deflectedHealthMr. Brad Redekopp (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer avoids any plan or review of mandates and repeats vaccination statistics instead.
the reason we are able to lift restrictions is that we have a large number of people here in Canada who have been vaccinated.
- partly answeredHealthMr. Jeremy Patzer (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer addresses the travel easing date but ignores border hours and charter claims.
we will be able, on April 1, to make it easier for people to travel into Canada by changing the prearrival testing rules.
- deflectedHealthMr. Mark Strahl (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer redefines 'cruel' to discuss COVID impacts rather than addressing the mandates.
"cruel" is indeed the right word when we speak about the impacts of COVID-19 on our families, our children, our seniors, our economy, our workers and our businesses over the last two years.
- partly answeredCanada Revenue AgencyMr. Jean-Denis Garon (Bloc) asked Diane Lebouthillier (Liberal). substantive question.The answer notes past improvements and investments but offers no explicit plan to raise the ranking.
As noted in the Parliamentary Budget Officer's report, the CRA has improved its large business tax compliance performance since 2018.
- misdirectedCanada Revenue AgencyMr. Jean-Denis Garon (Bloc) asked Diane Lebouthillier (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer attacks the opposition instead of addressing the collection-ratio ranking or any plan.
Unlike the members across the way, we are doers, not complainers.
- answeredImmigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Jasraj Singh Hallan (Conservative) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly explains the biometrics exemption and added resources in Warsaw.
as of yesterday, certain individuals in low-risk cohorts will no longer be required to have biometrics before they are permitted to enter into Canada.
- answeredImmigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Garnett Genuis (Conservative) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.The answer addresses the motion by explaining the security-screening approach and recent changes.
certain individuals in the low-risk cohorts, as of yesterday, are no longer required to complete the biometric process.
- partly answeredImmigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMrs. Tracy Gray (Conservative) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.The answer addresses the biometrics barrier with a policy change but ignores the request to remove visa requirements and the specific travel/hotel problem.
certain individuals from low-risk cohorts will no longer be required to comply with a biometrics requirement.
- partly answeredImmigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Philip Lawrence (Conservative) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.The answer reports overall progress and numbers but does not address the specific family's repeated rejections or timeline for their case.
we now have more than 9,500 Afghan refugees who are already in Canada pursuing a second lease on life.
- deflectedTelecommunicationsMr. Richard Lehoux (Conservative) asked Gudie Hutchings (Liberal). substantive question.The answer repeatedly pivots to broadband internet targets instead of addressing cell coverage on rural roads.
the universal broadband fund is just that: connecting Canadians with high-speed Internet.
- deflectedTelecommunicationsMr. Gary Vidal (Conservative) asked Gudie Hutchings (Liberal). substantive question.The answer discusses a BC highway partnership and urges the province to engage rather than confirming action on the Saskatchewan CRTC application.
I encourage my hon. colleague to get his province to come to the table with us.
- answeredJusticeMs. Niki Ashton (NDP) asked David Lametti (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly states the government will not appeal and explains the stay request and termination deadline.
Under the circumstances, we will not be applying for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada.
- partly answeredCOVID-19 ProtestsMr. Brian Masse (NDP) asked Marco Mendicino (Liberal). substantive question.The answer thanks the member and law enforcement but offers only vague ongoing contact rather than confirming compensation for Windsor.
I and other colleagues within the government will remain in touch with my colleague to ensure that Windsor recovers fully from any impacts