All sittings← 2022-05-092022-05-11 →
Tuesday, May 10, 2022 · sitting No. 68
Bloc motion to replace House prayer with reflection dominates supply day
The Bloc Québécois motion to abolish the reading of the prayer at the opening of sittings and replace it with a moment of reflection occupied 53 per cent of House time under Government Orders. Mr. Martin Champoux moved the motion under Standing Order 30 and argued for a clear separation of church and state in the chamber. Mr. Garnett Genuis questioned the motion's understanding of freedom of conscience while Mr. Peter Julian raised concerns about the day's priorities amid other crises.
In Question Period the Conservatives pressed the government on gasoline prices and the carbon tax, with Ms. Candice Bergen accusing the Liberals of profiting from high costs and Mr. Justin Trudeau defending the price on pollution as returning more money to families. The Bloc Québécois challenged Bill C-13 on official languages, with Mr. Alain Therrien arguing it fails to enforce French in federally regulated workplaces and Mr. Justin Trudeau replying that the bill strengthens French across Canada.
Decided that day
- Bill C-19 passed second reading
- Bill S-219 advanced in first chamber
From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard
Question Period – May 10, 2022. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube
Who held the floor · 2022-05-10
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
Passport Canada
Mr. Kelly McCauley said Service Canada offices in Edmonton limit service to travellers within five days and asked when the minister would restore full service. Ms. Karina Gould replied that offices serve urgent travel only because of unprecedented demand and that all required documents submitted outside standards incur no expedited fees.
Read the exchangeHealth
Ms. Melissa Lantsman noted large events without masks or mandates and asked which day the government would end travel restrictions. Mr. Jean-Yves Duclos said vaccinations save lives and cited lower Canadian death rates from COVID-19.
Read the exchangePersons with Disabilities
Ms. Bonita Zarrillo said people with disabilities make up 41 per cent of those in poverty and asked when the government would enact a Canada disability benefit. Ms. Carla Qualtrough replied that budget 2022 invests nearly $300 million in employment supports and that legislation will be reintroduced.
Read the exchangeImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Ms. Jenny Kwan said 3,800 Afghans had identity verification by National Defence but only 900 applications were processed and asked whether Immigration lost the rest. Mrs. Marie-France Lalonde said more than 12,600 Afghan refugees have arrived and two more flights are due this week.
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
- deflectedNatural ResourcesCandice Bergen (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer defends the legislation and announces an appeal without addressing reversal.
We will be appealing this decision.
- deflectedTaxationCandice Bergen (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to carbon pricing court history instead of gas tax relief measures.
That is exactly what we are going to do to ensure that major projects get built while we protect the environment.
- deflectedTaxationCandice Bergen (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer repeats carbon tax rebate claims without addressing tax increases or gas price relief.
An average family does better with this price on pollution in places such as Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta because of the price on pollution.
- deflectedTaxationMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer defends carbon pricing and rebates while ignoring the request for compassion on high prices.
We are there to support families in their time of need.
- partly answeredThe EconomyMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer acknowledges inflation pressures and lists supports but does not address grocery price examples or give a break.
global inflation, first caused by the pandemic and then by Vladimir Putin's illegal war in Ukraine, is putting real pressure on families.
- deflectedOfficial LanguagesMr. Alain Therrien (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer promotes Bill C-13 provisions without addressing the claim that it creates bilingual exceptions undermining French.
It adds important provisions that ensure better compliance with the Official Languages Act while also giving the Commissioner of Official Languages more power to strengthen the use of French in federally regulated businesses in Quebec as well as other regions of Canada with a strong Francophone presence.
- deflectedOfficial LanguagesMr. Alain Therrien (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer asserts protection of French nationwide without addressing the optional bilingualism concern in Quebec workplaces.
We will be there to protect French across the country, and that is exactly what we are doing with Bill C‑13
- partly answeredTaxationMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer notes past tax increases on wealthy and banks but does not commit to taxing oil company excess profits.
We are currently moving forward with tax increases for the largest banks and corporations that are making the most profits, including the profits they made during the pandemic
- deflectedTaxationMs. Rachel Blaney (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer lists past tax measures on the wealthy and banks but does not address oil and gas profits or the timing question.
Businesses must pay their fair share of taxes, and that is exactly what this government is ensuring.
- misdirectedCanadian HeritageMrs. Rachael Thomas (Conservative) asked Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the Conservatives' motives instead of addressing whether Bill C-11 controls search results.
They do not care about our culture.
- deflectedTaxationMr. Dan Albas (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). substantive question.The answer lists budget affordability items but does not address the GST reduction proposal or the Prime Minister's prior statement.
That is why our budget includes a number of measures to help Canadians with affordability: dental care, doubling support provided to the first-time homebuyers' tax credit, introducing a multi-generational home renovation tax credit and a $500 payment for people facing housing affordability challenges.
- deflectedTaxationMr. Warren Steinley (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). loaded question.The answer repeats past benefit increases without addressing the carbon tax or a plan to lower gas prices.
Thanks to that benefit, a single mother with two children will receive up to $13,600.
- deflectedTaxationMs. Marilyn Gladu (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). substantive question.The answer highlights past anti-poverty programs but does not address the carbon tax cap promise or reducing gas prices.
When we formed government in 2015, nearly 5.2 million Canadians were living in poverty.
- deflectedTaxationMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). substantive question.The answer lists budget affordability measures but does not answer how much revenue the carbon tax increase has generated.
That is why we have taken major steps in the budget to help Canadians with the cost of living, including providing dental care to Canadians, doubling the first‑time home buyers' tax credit and providing a one‑time payment of $500 to people facing housing accessibility challenges.
- partly answeredTaxationMr. John Williamson (Conservative) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges global market factors but does not address the tax differential or why prices are being driven higher.
Around the world, global energy markets are in flux due to strong demand from the COVID recovery, but also with respect to the invasion of Ukraine.
- deflectedOfficial LanguagesMr. Mario Beaulieu (Bloc) asked Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Liberal). substantive question.The answer promotes the new Official Languages Act but does not address applying Bill 101 to federally regulated businesses like CN.
That is why we are introducing a bill, a new version of the Official Languages Act, and I hope the Bloc Québécois and every opposition member will support our bill, which is very important and will make a real difference in the lives of all Canadians.
- deflectedOfficial LanguagesMr. Mario Beaulieu (Bloc) asked Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Liberal). substantive question.The answer promotes the bill without addressing the specific claim about CN circumventing the Charter.
With our bill on the Official Languages Act, we want to ensure that francophones inside and outside Quebec can work in their language, French.
- deflectedOfficial LanguagesMrs. Claude DeBellefeuille (Bloc) asked Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Liberal). substantive question.The answer promotes their bill and accuses colleagues of not reading it rather than addressing the proposed solution.
They clearly have not read it.
- deflectedHealthMs. Melissa Lantsman (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer discusses vaccination benefits without addressing when mandates will end.
There is no secret and no secret evidence.
- deflectedHealthMs. Melissa Lantsman (Conservative) asked Omar Alghabra (Liberal). substantive question.The answer shifts to positive travel statistics instead of addressing the timeline for dropping restrictions.
More Canadians are travelling today than in the last two years.
- deflectedHealthMichael Chong (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer emphasizes vaccination protection without answering when restrictions will be lifted.
vaccination is not punishment. Vaccination is protection.
- deflectedHealthMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer explains vaccination rates as enabling relaxation but does not address the specific inconsistency raised.
the reason we can relax public health measures is that Canada has high vaccination rates.
- deflectedThe EconomyMs. Leah Gazan (NDP) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). substantive question.The answer highlights CCB benefits without addressing the clawback for CERB recipients.
It has helped lift over 300,000 families out of poverty
- partly answeredPersons with DisabilitiesMs. Bonita Zarrillo (NDP) asked Carla Qualtrough (Liberal). substantive question.The answer states commitment to reintroducing legislation but provides no timeline or details on prioritization.
we are committed to reintroducing Canada disability benefit legislation
- deflectedPassport CanadaMr. Kelly McCauley (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). loaded question.The answer restates unprecedented demand without addressing the call to acknowledge service failure.
there is an unprecedented demand when it comes to passports, and the reason why Service Canada passport offices are only able to serve people with urgent travel is because of this unprecedented demand.
- answeredPassport CanadaMr. Gerald Soroka (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). loaded question.The answer directly addresses the charging policy for expedited service when standards are missed.
if all required documents have been submitted and Service Canada is outside service standards, the client will not be charged for expedited or transfer fees.
- partly answeredPassport CanadaMr. Jamie Schmale (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). loaded question.The answer covers current service changes but does not address specific complaints of rudeness or past delays.
as of this week, all wickets in Service Canada offices across the country are open.
- deflectedPassport CanadaMr. Kyle Seeback (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). loaded question.The answer provides processing numbers but avoids any admission of incompetence or specific fixes.
There is an unprecedented demand, in terms of getting passports processed.
- deflectedImmigration, refugees and citizenshipMr. Sébastien Lemire (Bloc) asked Mrs. Marie-France Lalonde (Liberal). substantive question.The answer highlights fast-tracking volumes but sidesteps the duplication of LMIA requirements with Quebec.
IRCC is fast-tracking work permits for occupations in demand, such as health care, agriculture, food and seafood production.
- answeredImmigration, refugees and citizenshipMr. Sébastien Lemire (Bloc) asked Mrs. Marie-France Lalonde (Liberal). substantive question.The answer outlines concrete policy changes to expedite and streamline temporary foreign worker arrivals.
we will eliminate the limit on low-wage positions for seasonal employers, extend LMIA validity for low-wage occupations, and extend the maximum duration of employment for the high-wage and global talent streams from two years to three years.
- misdirectedSmall BusinessMrs. Tracy Gray (Conservative) asked Mary Ng (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to tax cuts instead of addressing credit card interchange fee reductions.
Do members know what we did in budget 2022? We cut their taxes, so that we could help businesses and small businesses grow.
- deflectedEmploymentMr. Blake Richards (Conservative) asked Carla Qualtrough (Liberal). loaded question.The answer describes general labour measures but does not engage with TFW red tape or economic costs.
we are taking an all-of-government approach to addressing labour shortages, whether it is welcoming talent from around the world, investing in the workers of the future, looking to transition workers through skills and training opportunities, or investing in specific sectors that are transitioning.
- partly answeredImmigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMrs. Dominique Vien (Conservative) asked Mrs. Marie-France Lalonde (Liberal). substantive question.The answer mentions program changes but does not address the specific 10-12 week delays cited.
That is why we have announced changes to the foreign worker program to ensure it continues to meet the needs of the Canadian workforce.
- answeredAgriculture and Agri-FoodMr. Dan Mazier (Conservative) asked Marie-Claude Bibeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer directly refutes the premise by confirming a recent joint farm visit.
that is strange because I visited a farm in Montérégie about a month ago with the Minister of Environment .
- partly answeredRail TransportationMrs. Kelly Block (Conservative) asked Omar Alghabra (Liberal). substantive question.The response acknowledges concerns and mentions letters sent but offers no timeline or concrete plan.
I have written to CN and CP to express the frustrations I have been hearing from shippers and farmers
- deflectedThe EconomyMr. Glen Motz (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). loaded question.The answer avoids the inflation question by accusing the opposition of misreading the budget.
yet again, the Conservatives seem to be criticizing a budget that they imagined rather than the budget we actually delivered.
- deflectedImmigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMs. Jenny Kwan (NDP) asked Mrs. Marie-France Lalonde (Liberal). substantive question.The answer supplies arrival statistics but ignores the query about lost applications.
so far, more than 12,600 Afghan refugees have arrived in Canada, and more than half of those arrived through our special immigration measures for Afghans who assisted in Canada's mission in Afghanistan.
- partly answeredIndigenous AffairsMs. Lori Idlout (NDP) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.The answer affirms compliance and negotiations but provides no timeline for resolving funding discrimination.
In fact, the government has been fully complying with Jordan's principle. We will continue to do that.