All sittings← 2022-11-232022-11-25 →
Thursday, November 24, 2022 · sitting No. 134
Commons advances Criminal Code bill to ease court delays
The House spent most of the day debating government legislation to amend the Criminal Code and allow virtual appearances in certain proceedings. Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux said the changes would modernize the justice system while preserving judicial independence. New Democrat MP Gord Johns pressed the government on why it had rejected earlier recommendations to increase legal aid funding.
Question period featured repeated Conservative attacks on federal deficits and the carbon tax. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre cited Bank of Canada comments that deficits had contributed to inflation and asked the government to reduce spending. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended pandemic supports and said rebates under the carbon pricing system return more money than most households pay.
Other exchanges centred on foreign interference in elections and health care pressures. Bloc Québécois MP Alain Therrien urged tighter rules on political donations after reports of possible Chinese influence. New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh and Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos traded statements on privatization trends in provincial systems.
From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard
Question Period – November 24, 2022. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube
Who held the floor · 2022-11-24
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
Criminal Code
Bloc Québécois MP Julie Vignola asked when the government would end partisan judicial appointments and address vacancies. Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux replied that appointments follow a non-partisan process established after 2015.
Read the exchangeCarbon Pricing
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre read from a Parliamentary Budget Officer report showing net costs for households in several provinces after rebates. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the price on pollution fights climate change and supports families.
Read the exchangeDemocratic Institutions
Conservative MP Michael Chong asked whether the government had received information on Beijing interference in federal elections. Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said independent reviews confirmed the 2019 and 2021 votes were free and fair.
Read the exchangeSports
Bloc Québécois MP Andréanne Larouche pressed for an independent commission into toxic cultures in sport organizations. Sport Minister Pascale St-Onge said the new Sport Integrity Commissioner can investigate abuse cases and cultural issues.
Read the exchangeVeterans Affairs
New Democrat MP Rachel Blaney criticized the government for outsourcing veterans services to a private firm. Liberal MP Darrell Samson said the contract will expand access to 9,000 medical staff and 600 offices for 14,000 veterans.
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
- deflectedFinancePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer focuses on past pandemic support instead of addressing whether deficits will be shrunk now.
during the pandemic, we chose to be there for Canadians.
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer discusses rebates and climate goals without addressing reversal of the carbon tax on home heat.
The price on pollution not only fights climate change but also supports hard-working families where they most need it.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer shifts to attacking the opposition's climate stance rather than engaging the PBO report data presented.
For perhaps the first time, the member of the official opposition has finally recognized that there is a rebate associated with the price on pollution
- misdirectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer attacks the opposition's past positions and Bitcoin remark instead of addressing cancellation of the tax.
Instead, he moves on recommending that they invest in Bitcoin to avoid inflation.
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer reiterates the rebate claim without engaging the net cost figures or cancellation request.
The average family of four, including families in his riding of Carleton, do better off with our carbon price incentive.
- misdirectedDemocratic InstitutionsMr. Alain Therrien (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer attacks the Bloc's fundraising instead of addressing public funding restoration to counter foreign interference.
If the Bloc Québécois has trouble getting money from Canadians, that is its problem
- deflectedDemocratic InstitutionsMr. Alain Therrien (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer defends the existing system without addressing restoration of public funding for parties.
political party financing in Canada is governed by a robust, sound, transparent system.
- partly answeredHealthMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer addresses general health investments but does not engage the specific leadership failure on pediatric care crisis.
As a government, we invested over $70 billion more over the past few years into our health care system to support the provinces to deliver during the pandemic.
- partly answeredHealthMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer acknowledges privatization concerns and restates commitment to the Canada Health Act but avoids specifying what action threshold would prompt intervention.
We are very concerned about the trend toward privatization that we are seeing in some parts of the country.
- deflectedCarbon PricingMr. Jasraj Singh Hallan (Conservative) asked Mr. Terry Duguid (Liberal). loaded question.The answer disputes the inflation impact and highlights rebates but does not address the failure to meet emission targets.
the Governor of the Bank of Canada estimated that the price on pollution would add marginally to the impact on inflation, perhaps 0.1%.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingMr. Jasraj Singh Hallan (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists unrelated poverty and child-care measures instead of addressing the carbon tax or food-bank usage.
450,000 children have been lifted out of poverty since we took office in 2015.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingMs. Michelle Ferreri (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the Conservatives' voting record rather than responding to the carbon-tax question or listed social indicators.
I really do believe it is the Conservatives who need to look within and find some compassion.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingMs. Michelle Ferreri (Conservative) asked Randy Boissonnault (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to past Conservative record and rhetorical Christmas remarks instead of addressing home-heating costs or the carbon tax.
I am pretty sure the Conservatives do not want to face the facts of their disastrous time in government for almost 10 years.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingMrs. Dominique Vien (Conservative) asked Randy Boissonnault (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists new spending measures and attacks past Conservative policy without addressing whether the carbon tax benefits Canadians facing heating and grocery costs.
We are going to eliminate interest on student debt.
- deflectedCarbon PricingMrs. Dominique Vien (Conservative) asked Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal). loaded question.The answer accuses Conservatives of planning cuts rather than answering whether the carbon-tax increase will proceed.
The Conservative Party is the party of cuts, the party of austerity.
- answeredInfrastructureMr. Xavier Barsalou-Duval (Bloc) asked Dominic LeBlanc (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly addresses the deadline concern by stating an agreement with Quebec is expected to support the municipalities.
I can tell him that I had a very positive discussion with the Quebec minister responsible for infrastructure and with my counterpart, the minister responsible for Canadian relations.
- deflectedInfrastructureMr. Xavier Barsalou-Duval (Bloc) asked Dominic LeBlanc (Liberal). loaded question.The answer promotes future collaboration without addressing the March 31 deadline or funding loss.
We will not have to say these things that my colleague claims to be true.
- deflectedInfrastructureMr. Mario Simard (Bloc) asked Dominic LeBlanc (Liberal). substantive question.The answer dismisses the concern by accusing the asker of seeking conflict rather than committing to transfer funds.
As my colleague the Minister of Canadian Heritage has said in this place several times, and rightly so, the member is desperate to pick a fight.
- partly answeredPublic SafetyMr. Larry Brock (Conservative) asked David Lametti (Liberal). loaded question.The answer explains policy focus on serious crime but does not address the specific claim of a soft-on-crime agenda.
What our party is doing in a variety of its policies is focusing our judicial and police resources on serious crime, with anti-gang measures, with tougher laws on guns, by eliminating certain minimum mandatory penalties and by allowing for conditional sentence orders in cases where there is no threat to public security so we can use resources on serious crime.
- misdirectedPublic SafetyMr. Larry Brock (Conservative) asked Marco Mendicino (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the Conservatives' voting record instead of addressing the rise in gun crime or home sentencing.
it is somewhat surprising to hear that colleague from the Conservative Party take issue with the $137 million we just invested in the CBSA to further tackle illegal smuggling, which the Conservatives voted against.
- deflectedPublic SafetyMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Marco Mendicino (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to Bill C-21 without addressing the contradiction claim or the Laval investigation.
that is exactly why we introduced Bill C‑21
- partly answeredClimate ChangeMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked Mr. Terry Duguid (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists praised measures but does not address the lack of mandate or per capita emissions criticism.
We received praise coming out of COP27 for our climate finance measures; for setting up a fund to help developing nations adapt to climate change; for committing to eliminating coal, eliminating fossil fuel subsidies and capping oil and gas emissions; and very importantly, for investing in the clean economy, with $9.1 billion in our emissions reduction plan.
- answeredHealthMr. Don Davies (NDP) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly acknowledges concerns over privatization and affirms commitment to universal public health care.
We want to maintain accessibility, universality and fairness in the health care system across our country.
- partly answeredPublic SafetyMs. Melissa Lantsman (Conservative) asked Marco Mendicino (Liberal). substantive question.The answer states actions taken under IRPA but does not address listing the IRGC as a terrorist organization or shutting down operations.
That is why we designated the entirety of the Iranian regime using a sparingly used power under IRPA.
- deflectedDemocratic InstitutionsMichael Chong (Conservative) asked Marco Mendicino (Liberal). substantive question.The answer affirms election integrity reviews but never addresses whether any information on Beijing interference was received.
My colleague knows we have had independent reviews of both the 2019 and the 2020 election, which have confirmed that those elections were free and fair.
- deflectedDemocratic InstitutionsMr. Michael Cooper (Conservative) asked Marco Mendicino (Liberal). substantive question.The answer lists past legislation and resources but does not confirm whether the PMO will hand over all relevant documents.
We are cracking down on foreign funding through the introduction of Bill C-76
- deflectedDemocratic InstitutionsMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Marco Mendicino (Liberal). substantive question.The answer repeats that elections were free and fair and mentions investments but avoids committing to handing over documents.
Yes, there is a threat of foreign interference, which is why we are making the necessary investments in our national security apparatus.
- partly answeredSportsMs. Andréanne Larouche (Bloc) asked Pascale St-Onge (Liberal). substantive question.The answer describes the new Sport Integrity Commissioner office but does not address establishing an independent commission of inquiry.
At the national level, we have created the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner, which can investigate cases of abuse, but also investigate the culture in certain sports.
- deflectedSportsMs. Andréanne Larouche (Bloc) asked Pascale St-Onge (Liberal). substantive question.The answer expresses solidarity and calls for improvement but never states whether an independent commission will be created.
Every component of Canada's sports system needs to do better.
- misdirectedOfficial LanguagesMr. Joël Godin (Conservative) asked Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Liberal). loaded question.The question embeds multiple unsupported accusations; the answer counters by accusing the questioner of blocking the bill instead of addressing the listed claims.
what is hypocritical in the House is that the Bloc Québécois and the Conservatives are actually blocking our bill.
- misdirectedFinanceMr. Marty Morantz (Conservative) asked Randy Boissonnault (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts blame to Conservatives for supporting pandemic spending rather than addressing whether excessive spending caused inflation.
If they are having heartache over that now, that is on their conscience, not on ours, because we did the right thing to support Canadians.
- misdirectedFinanceMr. Marty Morantz (Conservative) asked Randy Boissonnault (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the opposition for suggesting crypto investments and defends past spending instead of addressing the claim that spending caused inflation.
What are the Conservatives doing? They are suggesting that people invest in crypto.
- deflectedCarbon PricingMrs. Stephanie Kusie (Conservative) asked Mr. Terry Duguid (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks opposition record instead of addressing carbon tax question.
as usual, the Conservatives are spreading misinformation.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingMr. James Bezan (Conservative) asked Kamal Khera (Liberal). loaded question.Answer pivots to past Conservative policies on seniors rather than carbon tax impact.
I will not take any lessons from the party opposite in supporting seniors.
- deflectedCarbon PricingMr. Warren Steinley (Conservative) asked Seamus O'Regan (Liberal). loaded question.Answer promotes rebate amounts without engaging the emissions or food bank facts raised.
I am so delighted to get this opportunity right now to be able to tell a family of four in Newfoundland and Labrador that they will be getting $1,312 in their bank account every year.
- partly answeredVeterans AffairsMs. Rachel Blaney (NDP) asked Mr. Darrell Samson (Liberal). substantive question.Answer explains contract benefits but does not address training delays or Loblaws outsourcing.
This new contract will give 14,000 veterans access to 9,000 medical services staff, and there will be 600 offices available to them.
- answeredMarine TransportationMs. Elizabeth May (Green) asked Omar Alghabra (Liberal). substantive question.Answer directly acknowledges concerns and outlines planned legislative response.
We tabled Bill C-33 just two weeks ago.
- deflectedBusiness of the HouseAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Mark Holland (Liberal). substantive question.Answer begins by questioning whether a question was asked and shifts to inflation comparisons.
I am beginning to think, and I could be wrong in this supposition, that the hon. opposition House leader is making statements and not asking questions.