All sittings← 2022-04-052022-04-07 →
Wednesday, April 6, 2022 · sitting No. 54
Commons advances official languages bill after lengthy debate
The House spent the largest share of its sitting debating government legislation to strengthen the substantive equality of Canada's official languages. Members from all parties reviewed the bill's provisions on the Treasury Board's coordinating role, protections for French in Quebec and supports for minority francophone communities outside the province. The bill remained before the House at adjournment.
In Question Period the prime minister faced repeated Conservative criticism over housing affordability and inflation. Justin Trudeau defended the government's record on national housing strategy investments and child-care transfers while rejecting calls for spending restraint. Bloc Québécois and NDP members pressed the government on climate targets and the Bay du Nord project approval.
Decided that day
- Opposition motion on national defence spending passed
From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard
Question Period – April 6, 2022. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube
Who held the floor · 2022-04-06
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
Housing
Conservative leader Candice Bergen said only nine applications had been received for the shared-equity housing program and asked Justin Trudeau to admit he had no plan for the housing crisis.
Read the exchangeClimate Change
Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet asked whether the prime minister believed the IPCC was wrong after the government moved to approve the Bay du Nord project.
Read the exchangeRoyal Canadian Mounted Police
Liberal MP Peter Fragiskatos asked the prime minister to elaborate on the RCMP's plan to deploy investigators to the International Criminal Court to assist war-crimes inquiries in Ukraine.
Read the exchangeCanada Infrastructure Bank Act
NDP MP Niki Ashton said Bill C-245 would redirect the Canada Infrastructure Bank toward public ownership and climate-resilient projects after the bank failed to deliver results despite holding $35 billion.
Read the exchangeTransportation
NDP MP Gord Johns called on the government to adopt the EU ship-recycling regulation and create a list of certified yards after a ship-breaking operation began work in Union Bay.
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
- deflectedHousingCandice Bergen (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer pivots to general pandemic supports and budget without addressing the personal question posed.
We made a promise to David, and to Canadians like him across the country, that we would have their backs through the difficult two years of the pandemic and beyond, and that is exactly what we continue to do.
- deflectedHousingCandice Bergen (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer restates national housing strategy without engaging the specific program failure or admission requested.
We need to keep moving forward with a broader array of supports that will help different families who are facing different challenges across the country.
- misdirectedThe EconomyCandice Bergen (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks the questioner's inconsistency rather than addressing budget responsibility or inflation claims.
the leader of the Conservative opposition spent the first two questions telling us we needed to do more to support Canadians and then spent this question saying we are doing far too much for Canadians.
- deflectedThe EconomyMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer repeats fiscal responsibility claims without addressing empty promises or inflation impacts on home ownership.
We will continue to be there to support Canadians while remaining fiscally responsible.
- deflectedThe EconomyMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer references past Conservative criticism instead of clarifying the budget approach or responding to caucus concerns.
two years ago, we heard the same thing from the Conservatives, who criticized us for spending too much to support families, small businesses and workers during this pandemic.
- deflectedClimate ChangeMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer emphasizes general economic-environmental balance without addressing the specific Bay du Nord approval question.
This is the most ambitious and concrete plan that Canada has ever seen to reduce greenhouse gases, and it is coupled with meaningful investments to help families, help workers, make it through this period of energy transformation.
- deflectedClimate ChangeMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer claims to follow science without engaging the IPCC inconsistency or project emissions increase.
for several years now, we have been following the science and the best recommendations of experts here in Canada and around the world to implement the most ambitious and concrete plans we have ever had as a country
- partly answeredClimate ChangeMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer lists specific climate actions but does not directly address the carbon capture subsidy criticism.
We are ensuring that we reduce methane emissions by 75% by 2030 and transition to a net-zero electricity grid by 2035.
- deflectedClimate ChangeMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer promotes the government's plan without addressing subsidies or clean energy investments.
we have one of the most comprehensive emissions reduction plans in the world.
- deflectedThe EconomyEd Fast (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer gives general budget focus but avoids specifics on fighting inflation or cost of living.
That is exactly what we are doing by making responsible investments in a fiscally responsible framework.
- misdirectedThe EconomyEd Fast (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer blames global factors and attacks Conservatives instead of addressing the broken middle-class promise.
The Conservatives voted against that.
- partly answeredThe EconomyMrs. Dominique Vien (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer mentions steps on food insecurity but does not commit to a budget tackling inflation.
We are taking important steps, such as launching the local food infrastructure fund
- deflectedHousingMr. Dan Albas (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks Conservative housing plan and pivots to past strategy without addressing broken foreign ownership promise.
That is why we moved forward with the 2017 national housing strategy
- partly answeredHousingMrs. Dominique Vien (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer lists past investments but does not address current crisis or commit to new budget measures.
We supported the construction and renovation of over 440,000 housing units.
- deflectedHousingMr. Dan Albas (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer defends investments and contrasts with Conservatives without admitting failures or addressing doubled prices.
Over the past years, with our investments, we have helped over two million families get the housing they need.
- deflectedClimate ChangeMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer claims ambitious plans but does not address Bay du Nord approval or meeting targets.
We will continue to get the job done and lead Canadians to a net-zero future.
- deflectedClimate ChangeMs. Monique Pauzé (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer promotes general emissions plan without addressing Bay du Nord approval or IPCC contradiction.
we have one of the most comprehensive emissions reduction plans in the world.
- deflectedFinanceMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer attributes inflation globally and lists benefits instead of addressing spending control or tax increases.
inflation is a global phenomenon caused by the end of the pandemic and Vladimir Putin's illegal war in Ukraine.
- deflectedFinanceMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer attacks Conservatives on austerity rather than addressing spending control or Liberal colleague's call.
every year at the same time, we hear the same old thing from the Conservatives, who support austerity.
- deflectedFinanceMs. Raquel Dancho (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer criticizes Conservatives on child care instead of outlining budget measures for housing, groceries or inflation.
to hear the Conservatives say that child care is not part of the solution for families is to see once again that the Conservatives just do not get it.
- deflectedFinanceMrs. Laila Goodridge (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer lists existing family benefits without addressing debt, inflation or NDP influence on spending.
since 2015 we have been investing in families with a Canada child benefit, which Conservatives voted against
- partly answeredClimate ChangeMs. Laurel Collins (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer addresses fossil fuel subsidies and emissions plan but does not explain continued oil and gas production increases.
we are committed to phasing out fossil fuel subsidies in the next two years.
- deflectedClimate ChangeMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer lists climate investments without addressing oil production increase or UN accusation of inconsistency.
we are stepping up our climate ambition by committing more than $100 billion to climate action
- deflectedFinanceMrs. Shannon Stubbs (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer lists rural investments without addressing carbon tax, spending or rural job impacts.
our investments in rural Canada continue as we move forward on broadband investments, on cell coverage investments
- deflectedFinanceMrs. Shannon Stubbs (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer promotes general investments while attacking Conservative slogans instead of addressing rural costs or the why question.
We will not simply fall back on slogans and easy solutions like the Conservatives do.
- partly answeredHousingMs. Melissa Lantsman (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer begins to address past Conservative withdrawal from housing but is cut off before fully responding to the trust fund claim.
over 10 years the previous Conservative government withdrew the federal government's engagement in housing, and therefore we had to pick up an awful lot of slack since 2015.
- deflectedHousingMs. Melissa Lantsman (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists housing investment numbers but ignores the inflation and budget cost questions to pivot to criticizing Conservatives.
Our investments in housing across this country have helped over two million families get the housing they need, have supported the creation and repair of over 440,000 homes and have invested to increase rental units by over 71,000
- deflectedHealthMr. Mario Simard (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer highlights pandemic spending and provincial partnerships but does not address the requested unconditional transfers or summit.
We have invested more than $63 billion extra in the health care system because of the pandemic, because we knew that we had to be there for Canadians and we knew it was important to support health care personnel.
- deflectedHealthMr. Luc Thériault (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer references listening to workers and future investments but avoids committing to an immediate summit or unconditional funding.
We promised to be there to increase health transfers, but we are going to do it in partnership with the provinces and territories to ensure that we get those results for workers and Canadians.
- partly answeredForeign AffairsMr. James Bezan (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer condemns Russian actions and affirms legal pursuits but does not address the specific Harpoon missile request or timeline.
We are pursuing multiple international legal avenues in support of Ukraine, including at the International Criminal Court, and yes, we will continue to offer military aid to the Ukrainian forces.
- deflectedHealthMr. Stephen Ellis (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer accuses Conservatives of inconsistency on spending while restating past investments without addressing doctor and nurse shortages or the budget commitment.
once again we see the Conservatives are asking us to invest more in supporting Canadians while at the same decrying that we are investing anything to support Canadians.
- deflectedAgriculture and Agri-FoodMr. John Barlow (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer defends the carbon tax with general claims about rebates but ignores the specific request for an agriculture exemption.
The price on pollution means more money in Canadians' pockets and less pollution in our air.
- deflectedClimate ChangeMr. Kyle Seeback (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks Conservatives' seriousness on climate instead of addressing claims about emissions, costs, and lack of environmental gain.
we see the Conservatives take no seriousness in regard to the climate change challenges.
- misdirectedClimate ChangeMr. Kyle Seeback (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer insults Conservatives on math and science rather than responding to the spending and emissions figures raised.
once again the Conservative politicians prove that math and science are simply not their strong suits.
- partly answeredRoyal Canadian Mounted PoliceMrs. Rosemarie Falk (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer addresses the bargaining process and cost-sharing but avoids the direct question on relief in tomorrow's budget for rural communities.
Municipalities and provinces were at the table since the very beginning of these negotiations, and I can assure the member that increased costs are shared by the contract jurisdictions and the federal government
- answeredIndigenous AffairsMr. Blake Desjarlais (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly addresses the implementation of calls to justice and ongoing work on reconciliation and justice for MMIWG.
this government has been committed to reconciliation with indigenous peoples, to healing for the families and to justice for the victims of the missing and murdered indigenous women and girls' assassinations.
- answeredClimate ChangeMs. Elizabeth May (Green) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer presents the emissions reduction plan as concrete evidence of following IPCC-aligned science and targets.
what we put forward last week was the most ambitious and concrete emissions reduction plan that Canada has ever seen.