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Tuesday, October 18, 2022 · sitting No. 112
Commons concurs in procedure committee membership report
Liberal MP Bardish Chagger presented the 16th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs on committee memberships and moved concurrence. Conservative MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay secured unanimous consent to amend the membership by substituting several Conservative members on the committee.
Question period featured repeated exchanges on the economy and taxation. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre pressed the government on the planned tripling of the carbon tax and its effect on home heating costs while Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended the price on pollution and linked opposition to dental and rental supports.
Bloc Québécois MP Alain Therrien questioned the government over $28 million in Roxham Road contracts awarded without tender while the Prime Minister said public servants negotiated the leases at fair market value.
Decided that day
- Government Business No. 20 on cost-of-living relief passed
- Closure motion passed
- Citizenship and Immigration committee report passed
- Bill C-22 advanced to second reading
- Bill C-30 received royal assent
- Bill S-253 introduced
From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard
Question Period – October 18, 2022. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube
Who held the floor · 2022-10-18
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 Garnett Genuis moved concurrence in a citizenship committee report and called for the release of Vladimir Kara-Murza. Liberal MP Anita Vandenbeld joined the call after meeting Evgenia Kara-Murza in Ottawa.
Read the exchangePetitions
Conservative MP Garnett Genuis tabled petitions on charitable status, Falun Gong persecution, organ harvesting and Huseyin Celil's detention. Green Party MP Elizabeth May objected to rhetoric on the carbon tax during petition presentation.
Read the exchangeSmall Businesses
Liberal MP Majid Jowhari and Conservative MP Ryan Williams marked Small Business Week. Williams criticized rising costs and a planned tripling of the carbon tax.
Read the exchangeDiversity and Inclusion
Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman accused the government of delaying action for a month on funding to an anti-Semitic consultant. Liberal MP Ahmed Hussen said funding was cut once the matter was raised.
Read the exchangePublic Safety
Bloc Québécois MP Rhéal Fortin said the government ignored early warnings about the convoy. Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said the Emergencies Act was invoked only after an unprecedented situation developed.
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
- deflectedThe EconomyPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer changes subject to dental/rental supports and accuses blocking instead of addressing inflationary policies.
It is one thing to disagree with our proposals to help families and quite another to try to prevent that money from getting into the pockets of the families who need it.
- deflectedThe EconomyPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer pivots to low-income family supports and accuses blocking rather than addressing housing bubble or money printing.
The reality is that not only does the Leader of the Opposition not support those measures to help low-income families with real money this fall, but he is blocking their passage in the House
- deflectedTaxationPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer ignores carbon tax and home heating to repeat dental/rental talking points and accuse flip-flopping.
He flip-flopped and reversed himself and supported our GST credit, which is supporting Canadians, but not only is he not supporting concrete measures for dental and rental, but he is actually blocking their passage in the House.
- deflectedTaxationPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer addresses carbon pricing rebate in general but avoids exempting home heating or tripling the tax.
The reality is that an average family in this country receives more money from our putting a price on carbon pollution than it pays.
- misdirectedTaxationPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer shifts to attacking Conservatives on tax breaks for wealthy and ends by accusing blocking of other measures.
Why are the Conservatives continuing to block dental and rental supports for low-income Canadians?
- partly answeredPublic Services and ProcurementMr. Alain Therrien (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer explains contract decisions by public servants and fair market value but does not address disclosure refusal.
The rental agreements were negotiated based on fair market value to arrive at a competitive price.
- partly answeredPublic Services and ProcurementMr. Alain Therrien (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer covers negotiation by CBSA and fair prices but sidesteps national security claim and confidentiality clauses.
The lease agreements were negotiated to reflect current prices, and this was done independently, by civil servants.
- deflectedThe EconomyMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer lists existing bills passed but provides no new recession plan as requested.
We know there is more to do. We will keep working so we can be there for Canadians.
- deflectedThe EconomyMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer focuses on past achievements rather than addressing the need for a new recession plan or EI expansion.
this government has demonstrated time and time again over the past seven years that we have Canadians' backs
- deflectedTaxationMr. Jasraj Singh Hallan (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). substantive question.Redirects to a different bill instead of addressing the carbon tax question.
One good example is Bill C-30 , which would provide inflation relief payments to 11 million Canadian households.
- misdirectedTaxationMr. Jasraj Singh Hallan (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). substantive question.Turns to attacking Conservatives instead of answering about the carbon tax.
Why do Conservatives want to let foreign oligarchs dictate Canadian household finances?
- deflectedTaxationMr. Mark Strahl (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). substantive question.Promotes other supports instead of addressing the carbon tax question.
our government understands that the cost of living is a real challenge for many Canadians, and that is why I am so pleased that we were able to put forward a plan to double the GST tax credit.
- misdirectedTaxationMr. Mark Strahl (Conservative) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). substantive question.Partially addresses affordability but then attacks the opposition on climate instead of fully answering.
- misdirectedTaxationMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal). substantive question.Avoids the question by questioning what Conservatives would cut.
It is fine to criticize, but they do not have the guts to say what they would do.
- misdirectedTaxationMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal). substantive question.Deflects by challenging Conservatives to specify cuts instead of answering.
it is easy to criticize, but they should have the courage to say what they would do.
- answeredNatural ResourcesMs. Kristina Michaud (Bloc) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). loaded question.Directly addresses the concerns raised about fast-tracking by confirming compliance requirements.
these projects will have to comply with our climate and environmental ambitions and respect the rights of first nations.
- deflectedThe EnvironmentMs. Monique Pauzé (Bloc) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). substantive question.The answer stresses independence of the commission and future assessments without addressing the claimed exemption or policy intent.
This energy development project will be subject to our rigorous environmental assessment process and public consultations.
- deflectedThe EnvironmentMs. Monique Pauzé (Bloc) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). substantive question.The answer shifts entirely to green transition investment instead of addressing the number of future oil projects.
I want to talk for a moment about the green transition and the need for Canada to invest and attract private capital in this major transition.
- partly answeredNatural ResourcesPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). loaded question.The answer counters claims on imports and production but does not engage the loaded premises about LNG blocks or Putin.
When the Conservatives were in government, foreign oil imports were double what they are today.
- deflectedNatural ResourcesPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). loaded question.The answer blames the prior environmental assessment act rather than addressing LNG project outcomes or Europe dependency.
One of the big reasons why these projects did not proceed is because they completely gutted the environmental assessment process.
- deflectedTaxationMr. Matt Jeneroux (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks past Conservative actions on energy efficiency instead of addressing current tax plans on heating.
If there is energy poverty in the country, it is because the Conservative Party was in power for 10 years.
- deflectedTaxationMr. Matt Jeneroux (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). substantive question.The answer promotes GST credits and other programs without addressing tax increases on home heating or affordability.
That is why we have a plan to double the GST tax credit.
- answeredClimate ChangeMs. Laurel Collins (NDP) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly outlines strategies for clean jobs and low-carbon transition in response to the question on workers.
That is why we brought forward a critical minerals strategy, a hydrogen strategy.
- partly answeredClimate ChangeMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.The answer lists green projects but does not confirm willingness to work specifically with the Alberta Federation of Labour plan.
Just recently, we broke ground on the Dofasco plant in Hamilton.
- deflectedPublic Services and ProcurementMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Helena Jaczek (Liberal). loaded question.The answer addresses negotiations instead of the alleged meetings at fundraisers.
In their testimony yesterday, the public servants and Mr. Guay made it clear that Mr. Guay was approached by public servants to negotiate a lease and that no public office holder was involved in the negotiations for this lease.
- deflectedPublic Services and ProcurementMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Helena Jaczek (Liberal). loaded question.The answer restates procurement policy rather than addressing the conflict of interest question.
The government has been delivering open and fair procurement processes, while obtaining the best value for Canadians in all that our government is contracting in terms of the needs during the Roxham Road situation.
- deflectedDiversity and InclusionMs. Melissa Lantsman (Conservative) asked Ahmed Hussen (Liberal). loaded question.The answer condemns the statements but avoids identifying who knew or any accountability measures.
The funding to this organization has been cut.
- deflectedDiversity and InclusionMs. Melissa Lantsman (Conservative) asked Ahmed Hussen (Liberal). loaded question.The answer explains the funding cutoff process but does not name anyone being fired.
After the review, we followed the process in place, cut the funding to this organization and demanded the money back.
- deflectedPublic SafetyMr. Rhéal Fortin (Bloc) asked Marco Mendicino (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer justifies invoking the Emergencies Act instead of detailing pre-arrival communications.
we invoked the Emergencies Act because it was an unprecedented situation.
- deflectedPublic SafetyMr. Rhéal Fortin (Bloc) asked Marco Mendicino (Liberal). loaded question.The answer restates the government's timeline and actions without addressing the three-week delay.
From day one of the illegal blockade, we managed the situation by providing the resources, the RCMP officers and all the tools that the police needed.
- deflectedTaxationMr. Ted Falk (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). substantive question.The answer pivots to EI rates under Harper instead of addressing the planned tax increases.
Mr. Harper understood that too, which is why the EI contribution rate was higher in every year that he was prime minister than it is this year and than it will be next year.
- misdirectedTaxationMrs. Stephanie Kusie (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). substantive question.The answer shifts to unrelated bills on dental care and rent instead of responding to the tax increase question.
There is a bill before the House that would see Canadian children in low-income households have access to dental care.
- deflectedTaxationMr. Scot Davidson (Conservative) asked Mr. Arif Virani (Liberal). loaded question.Answer ignores the carbon tax and onion import question entirely, pivoting to unrelated trade and equity programs.
First of all, in terms of making Canadian businesses competitive, we are aggressively pursuing trade agreements around the planet to diversify our supply chains.
- deflectedTaxationMrs. Dominique Vien (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). substantive question.Answer acknowledges cost-of-living struggles but shifts to inflation relief and housing/dental payments instead of addressing the planned tax increase.
That is why I am very pleased that all members of the House have decided to unanimously support our plan to deliver inflation relief payments.
- misdirectedTaxationMr. Bob Zimmer (Conservative) asked Dan Vandal (Liberal). loaded question.Answer addresses northern food costs by touting a nutrition program but never engages the carbon tax or tripling taxes query.
I was in Inuvik as well, about six weeks ago, and there I announced $163 million of new money for the nutrition north program.
- partly answeredTaxationMrs. Laila Goodridge (Conservative) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). loaded question.Answer directly rebuts the affordability claim by citing rebates and future climate costs, though it does not promise to end the tax.
It is important for the hon. member to understand that the direct rebates to families paying the carbon tax are greater for 80% of the families than what they actually pay.
- answeredLabourMs. Heather McPherson (NDP) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). substantive question.Answer confirms recent meetings with Alberta unions and agreement on job creation, addressing the request for a plan.
I will underline the fact that I was in Calgary just a couple of weeks ago meeting with the Alberta federation and a number of the unions in Alberta talking about exactly these issues.
- deflectedImmigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked Mrs. Marie-France Lalonde (Liberal). substantive question.Answer defends the procurement process for the land lease but sidesteps the call to suspend the safe third country agreement.
the rental agreements were negotiated based on fair market value to arrive at a competitive price.