All sittings← 2022-11-222022-11-24 →
Wednesday, November 23, 2022 · sitting No. 133
Commons debates criminal code bill to ease court delays
The House spent the largest share of its sitting on second reading of Bill S-4, an act to amend the Criminal Code and related statutes to allow greater use of technology in criminal proceedings. Parliamentary secretary Gary Anandasangaree said the measures would help the justice system operate while respecting public health requirements. Members from the NDP, Conservative and Bloc Québécois raised questions about timing, preliminary inquiries and in-person testimony.
In Question Period the main exchanges concerned carbon pricing and foreign interference. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre asked whether the Prime Minister had been briefed on Chinese interference activities before raising the matter with President Xi Jinping. Justin Trudeau said he receives regular briefings from intelligence officials on a range of threats.
New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh pressed the government on corporate profits and housing costs, while Conservative members highlighted increases in violent crime and food bank use.
Decided that day
- Bill C-228 passed third reading
- Bill C-291 passed second reading
- Bill C-249 defeated at second reading
From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard
Question Period – November 23, 2022. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube
Who held the floor · 2022-11-23
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
Agriculture and Agri-Food
Conservative MP John Barlow said the Parliamentary Budget Officer found that tripling the carbon tax would add more than $1 billion in costs for farmers while doing little to cut emissions. Justin Trudeau replied that 80 per cent of families in backstop regions receive more in rebates than they pay.
Read the exchangeForeign Affairs
Conservative MP Garnett Genuis called for the government to list the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization after learning of death threats against Canadians. Justin Trudeau said Canada is listing the regime under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
Read the exchangeIndigenous Affairs
New Democratic Party MP Jenny Kwan asked the government to fund a distinctions-based urban, rural and northern indigenous housing strategy in the next budget. Parliamentary secretary Soraya Martinez Ferrada said budget 2022 committed billions to address housing shortages for indigenous peoples.
Read the exchangeOfficial Languages
Conservative MP Alain Rayes asked whether Bill C-13 would give the Treasury Board sole responsibility for coordinating the Official Languages Act. Justin Trudeau said the bill strengthens Treasury Board powers and is now before committee.
Read the exchangeFinance
Liberal MP Leah Taylor Roy noted that the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan would write off its $95-million investment in the collapsed FTX exchange. Justin Trudeau said the government would instead deliver rental and dental supports through Bill C-31.
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
- answeredDemocratic InstitutionsPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly lists specific examples matching the question about aggressive games.
whether it is Russian disinformation concerning its role in Ukraine, Chinese interference in communities, the diaspora and the media, or the Iranian government putting pressure on Iranian Canadians, we remain vigilant in order to protect Canadians from interference from countries around the world.
- answeredDemocratic InstitutionsPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly confirms regular briefings on the interference activities referenced.
I am regularly briefed by intelligence officials and security experts on threats to Canada and Canadians.
- answeredDemocratic InstitutionsPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer supplies concrete examples of the specific interference activities asked about.
we have known for many years that there are consistent engagements by representatives of the Chinese government in Canadian communities and with local media, as well as reports of illicit Chinese police stations.
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The response defends the carbon tax without addressing the request to reverse it on home heating.
the price on pollution returns more money to average families across the country than it costs them.
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer reiterates policy benefits and attacks the opposition instead of addressing reversal of the tax.
That was something that was confirmed by the Parliamentary Budget Officer.
- deflectedDemocratic InstitutionsMr. Alain Therrien (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The response emphasizes election integrity rather than naming candidates or detailing funding methods.
the integrity of our elections has not been compromised.
- misdirectedDemocratic InstitutionsMr. Alain Therrien (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the questioner personally and avoids the posed dilemma about knowledge or hiding information.
the member from the Bloc Québécois will say just about anything.
- partly answeredThe EconomyMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer lists measures on corporate taxation but does not directly tackle recent grocery profit surges.
We are making sure that corporations pay their fair share while we support Canadians.
- partly answeredThe EconomyMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer lists specific fiscal supports but does not address when or how the government will tackle inflation itself.
We doubled the GST credit for six months, which put hundreds of dollars more into the pockets of 11 million households across the country.
- deflectedCarbon PricingMr. Jasraj Singh Hallan (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer avoids the question on carbon tax and spending record by pivoting to unrelated economic positives and attacking the opposition.
Because we stepped up to support small businesses, families, communities, workers, seniors and youth during the pandemic with historic supports, our economy actually bounced back faster than those of many of our allies.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingMr. Jasraj Singh Hallan (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the question about the Prime Minister's travel and carbon tax and instead attacks the Conservatives for lacking a climate plan.
unfortunately, personal attacks seem to be all the Conservative Party can deliver right now, because it has no plan to fight climate change.
- deflectedCarbon PricingMs. Melissa Lantsman (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer defends the carbon tax policy but does not address scrapping it or the specific complaint about heating costs.
At the same time we are returning more money to the families who need that support in the provinces where the federal backstop applies.
- deflectedCarbon PricingMs. Melissa Lantsman (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer disputes the PBO figure and pivots to attacking Conservatives rather than addressing whether the tax will be scrapped.
Speaking of support for families that need it, why are Conservatives opposed to dental and rental supports for Canadians?
- deflectedCarbon PricingMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer repeats the claim that the carbon tax returns money but does not address the request to admit tax increases are bad during inflation.
Yes, there are many families who are struggling to make ends meet because of inflation.
- deflectedCarbon PricingMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts to describing emissions plans instead of admitting whether tax increases during inflation are harmful.
we have one of the most comprehensive emissions reduction plans in the world.
- answeredDemocratic InstitutionsMr. Alain Therrien (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly addresses the integrity of the election and foreign interference concerns raised.
That is why Canadians can take comfort in what the Chief Electoral Officer said when he confirmed yesterday that there is no reason to believe that it was not a free and fair election.
- deflectedDemocratic InstitutionsMr. Alain Therrien (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer avoids the question on restoring public financing and instead defends election integrity.
Our non-partisan committee, which is mandated to assess potential threats of electoral interference, found that the integrity of our elections in 2019 and 2021 was not compromised.
- deflectedForeign AffairsMr. Garnett Genuis (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer addresses Iranian actions with immigration measures but ignores the request to list the IRGC as a terrorist organization under the Criminal Code.
We are listing the Iranian regime under the most powerful provision of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
- deflectedDemocratic InstitutionsMichael Chong (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer sidesteps transparency on 2019 election funding and reiterates prior statements on election integrity.
in all the extensive security briefings I have received, there has never been any information on federal candidates receiving money from China.
- answeredDemocratic InstitutionsMr. Michael Cooper (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly responds to the yes-or-no question about receiving intelligence memos.
in all the extensive security briefings I get, there was never any information given to me on candidates receiving money from China, so no.
- deflectedDemocratic InstitutionsMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer avoids addressing who is telling the truth and instead repeats assurances about election integrity.
the Chief Electoral Officer has said that there is no reason to believe that it was not a free and fair election.
- partly answeredThe EnvironmentMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer addresses phasing out subsidies and climate action but does not specify a timeline for cancelling oil subsidies.
We reiterated our commitment to phase out fossil fuel subsidies within the next two years.
- partly answeredPensionsMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer supports the bill but deflects with attacks on Conservatives rather than detailing changes to protect workers in bankruptcy.
, but we will take no lessons from a Conservative Party that waged war on labour for a decade and has nothing to offer Canadians but Bitcoin and buzzwords.
- deflectedPublic SafetyMs. Raquel Dancho (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer lists existing measures but does not address getting tough on crime as requested.
While we are fighting to make our communities safer, the Conservative Party is fighting to make assault weapons legal again.
- misdirectedPublic SafetyMs. Raquel Dancho (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the Conservative approach instead of addressing Bill C-5 or mandatory minimums.
What Canadians deserve is legislation that goes after criminals while protecting our communities and that holds up in court, which is where the Conservative Party's tough-on-crime approach consistently failed to protect Canadians.
- deflectedPublic SafetyMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists unrelated gun measures and attacks Conservatives rather than explaining minimum sentences.
We are seeking to make communities safer, while the Conservative Party is fighting to make assault weapons legal again.
- deflectedPublic SafetyMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer promotes Bill C-21 and border seizures while ignoring the question on illegal weapons and border holes.
While Conservative politicians want to make assault weapons legal again, we are determined to keep our communities safe.
- deflectedClimate ChangeMs. Monique Pauzé (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer avoids explaining the Prime Minister's absence and pivots to Canada's emissions plan.
our greenhouse gas emissions reduction plan is one of the most comprehensive in the world.
- deflectedClimate ChangeMs. Monique Pauzé (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer defends the minister's role and the PM's G20 attendance without addressing the oil companies or boycott claim.
At the same time, I myself was at the G20 summit and other important summits where, on a daily basis, I stressed the importance of leadership in the fight against climate change.
- deflectedCarbon PricingMr. Clifford Small (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer promotes the carbon tax benefits and attacks Conservatives instead of addressing Atlantic home heating costs.
That is why we are delivering help, with a price on pollution that puts more money in their pockets, and with support for dental and rental, which the Conservatives are voting against.
- deflectedCarbon PricingMr. Clifford Small (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer begins a personal anecdote instead of responding to the poll or carbon tax on heating.
a few weeks ago I stood in the street in Port aux Basques and held in my arms a woman—
- misdirectedCarbon PricingMr. Rick Perkins (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks Conservative politicians and offers no response on missed targets or the carbon tax increase.
It is impossible to have a plan to grow the economy without having a plan to fight climate change, but all Conservative politicians are offering is a lot of hot air, a lot of criticism and a lot of misinformation, with no solutions to support families or fight climate change.
- deflectedAgriculture and Agri-FoodMr. John Barlow (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer discusses rebates for families but ignores specific claims about agricultural emissions and costs.
80% of families in areas where the federal carbon price backstop applies get more money from the price on pollution.
- deflectedAgriculture and Agri-FoodMr. John Barlow (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer cites global events and general benefits without addressing farm-specific cost increases or tax cancellation.
putting a price on pollution not only prepares and ensures we are ready to be competitive in a lower-carbon world in the coming decades, but also puts more money back in the pockets of hard-working families who need it, every single year.
- misdirectedThe EconomyMrs. Rachael Thomas (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer pivots to list programs and attacks Conservative opposition instead of addressing spending or inflation concerns.
Unfortunately, the Conservative Party continues to oppose child care and continues to oppose rental and dental supports.
- partly answeredIndigenous AffairsMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer references investments in gender-based violence and housing but does not specify steps to accelerate calls for justice.
over the past number of years we have invested historic amounts in supporting the fight against gender-based violence across this country, in support of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and in support of indigenous housing and indigenous-led solutions.
- partly answeredOfficial LanguagesMr. Alain Rayes (Independent) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer confirms strengthened Treasury Board powers but shifts to criticizing opposition filibustering rather than fully committing on coordination.
Bill C‑13 strengthens the Treasury Board's powers with respect to official languages.