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Tuesday, February 7, 2023 · sitting No. 155

Conservatives move supply day motion to cancel carbon tax

The House devoted the largest share of its sitting to a Conservative motion calling on the government to cancel the carbon tax immediately. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre moved the motion and argued that the tax adds to inflation and leaves households paying more than they receive in rebates. Debate on the motion consumed the bulk of government orders.

Question period featured repeated exchanges on health care and the economy. Poilievre asked the government to accept responsibility for longer wait times and higher costs. Ministers Randy Boissonnault and François-Philippe Champagne pointed to federal transfers and recent investments.

Further clashes arose over carbon pricing, with Poilievre and other Conservatives urging the government to halt scheduled increases while ministers defended the policy as necessary for emissions reduction.

Decided that day

  • Fifth report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates passed

From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard

Question Period – February 7, 2023. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube

Who held the floor · 2023-02-07

Government (Liberal)OppositionOver the day: government 38%, opposition 62% of the words spokenGovernment businessQuestion PeriodGovernment business▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 10:0511:0012:0013:0014:0015:0016:0017:00Last speech 18:00Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 7 h 55 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
40One report passes amid lengthy supply debateThe House devoted most of its time to Business of Supply and related topics, yet only a single committee report was formally adopted. Question Period produced few direct answers while procedural calls remained minimal.AI-rated Score out of 100; the verdict and the answer ratings behind it are a model’s reading. How the AI rates this

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

Official Languages

Bloc Québécois MP Alain Therrien accused the government of dividing Quebeckers on language issues and called for it to reprimand Liberal members who spread misinformation about the Charter of the French Language. Minister Pablo Rodriguez replied that the Bloc's raison d'être is to divide.

Read the exchange

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Bloc Québécois MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe pressed the government to suspend the safe third country agreement and described the situation at Roxham Road as absurd. Minister Sean Fraser said the proposal would only shift the problem and that serious solutions require continued talks with the United States and Quebec.

Read the exchange

Justice

Conservative MP Larry Brock said violent crime is up 32 per cent and gang-related homicide is up 92 per cent under the current government, and asked when the Prime Minister would fix the bail system. Minister David Lametti replied that the government is working with provinces to keep dangerous offenders off the streets.

Read the exchange

Labour

Bloc Québécois MP Louise Chabot demanded that the government introduce anti-scab legislation immediately to end the use of replacement workers in federal jurisdictions. Minister Seamus O'Regan said the bill, to be introduced by year's end, will reflect the results of recent consultations with unions and employers.

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Public Services and Procurement

Conservative MP Stephanie Kusie questioned why the government has awarded more than $100 million in contracts to McKinsey & Company. Minister Helena Jaczek said there has been no political interference and that proper processes were followed.

Read the exchange

Question 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

  1. deflected
    HealthPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Randy Boissonnault (Liberal). loaded question.Answer lists spending and meetings but avoids any admission of responsibility for broken health care., the Prime Minister and the premiers of this country are meeting today to talk about building a health care system that will be sustainable for the next 10 years.
  2. deflected
    HealthPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Randy Boissonnault (Liberal). loaded question.Answer repeats pandemic transfers and future meetings without addressing responsibility for health-care failures.Today, the Prime Minister and all the premiers of this country are meeting to build a health care system that would be sustainable for the future.
  3. misdirected
    The EconomyPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.Answer pivots to listing investments instead of addressing responsibility for inflation.I would like to thank the leader of the official opposition because we are going to do just that and take responsibility for all the investments we have attracted to Canada.
  4. deflected
    Carbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.Answer shifts to vaccine investments and Medicago jobs, ignoring carbon-tax impact on heating bills.we invested to protect the health and safety of Canadians.
  5. misdirected
    Carbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks the opposition for lacking solutions rather than addressing the carbon-tax question.we hear a lot of hot air coming from the Leader of the Opposition, but we do not hear a lot of solutions.
  6. misdirected
    Official LanguagesMr. Alain Therrien (Bloc) asked Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks the Bloc's motives instead of addressing reprimands for Liberal MPs.the Bloc Québécois's raison d'être is to divide.
  7. deflected
    Official LanguagesMr. Alain Therrien (Bloc) asked Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Liberal). loaded question.Answer highlights the new bill but sidesteps why Quebec Liberals stayed silent on the Charter.We introduced a bill to create more robust legislation that has teeth and to ensure that we can do what is needed to protect and promote French across the country, including in Quebec.
  8. partly answered
    HealthMr. Don Davies (NDP) asked Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Liberal). substantive question.Answer affirms support for public health care but does not explicitly rule out private delivery.We will always be there to support our universal public health care system.
  9. partly answered
    HealthMr. Daniel Blaikie (NDP) asked Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Liberal). substantive question.The answer affirms support for public health care but does not address whether federal funding can be used for privatization.We will always stand up for our public universal health care.
  10. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. Jasraj Singh Hallan (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). substantive question.The response attributes price increases to external factors instead of addressing removal of the carbon tax.Conservative politicians are making a lot of misleading claims about the price on pollution.
  11. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. Jasraj Singh Hallan (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts to climate damage costs rather than responding to the carbon tax or hypocrisy claims.according to British Columbia's auditor general, on 2021 disaster costs, the atmospheric rivers in British Columbia cost the province $5 billion in damages.
  12. deflected
    Carbon PricingMrs. Rachael Thomas (Conservative) asked Gudie Hutchings (Liberal). substantive question.The response pivots to climate impacts instead of addressing compassion or removing the tax.If anyone wants to talk about why we need to address climate change, come visit the southwest coast of Newfoundland.
  13. deflected
    Carbon PricingMrs. Rachael Thomas (Conservative) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.The answer defends the carbon pricing program and attacks Conservative inaction rather than addressing the request to remove the tax.I have spent seven years in this chamber watching the Conservatives use the families that might be in need as an excuse to do nothing on climate change
  14. misdirected
    Carbon PricingMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Pascale St-Onge (Liberal). loaded question.The response attacks Conservative competence instead of addressing the carbon tax policy question.That is irresponsible, but, more than that, it shows that the Conservatives are incompetent when it comes to helping Canadians face the challenges ahead of us.
  15. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). substantive question.The answer corrects timelines and notes rebates but avoids discussing cancellation of the carbon tax.Third, we give more money back to eight out of 10 Canadians than we take in through carbon pricing.
  16. partly answered
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Bloc) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer rejects the tone and offers collaboration but does not directly address suspending the safe third country agreement.Our government collaborated with the Province of Quebec.
  17. deflected
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Bloc) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.The answer rejects suspension outright and pivots to modernization talks without addressing the timeline requested.the solution my friend is proposing would only shift the problem elsewhere.
  18. misdirected
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Bloc) asked Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal). substantive question.The answer ignores the policy question and instead lectures the asker about an alleged joke in a prior exchange.Now is not the time for jokes, not when we are talking about children crossing alone
  19. partly answered
    JusticeMr. Larry Brock (Conservative) asked David Lametti (Liberal). loaded question.The answer acknowledges the bail principle and federal-provincial work but does not address the specific timeline or admission demanded.I have undertaken with the provinces and territories to look at what we can do at the federal level with respect to bail.
  20. deflected
    JusticeMr. Frank Caputo (Conservative) asked David Lametti (Liberal). substantive question.The answer begins by insulting the asker and cuts off without engaging the bail policy question.I would suggest he go back to the classroom.
  21. misdirected
    JusticeMr. Frank Caputo (Conservative) asked Mark Holland (Liberal). substantive question.The answer attacks the opposition leader and reframes the question as an attack on victims rather than addressing catch-and-release policy.The idea that anybody in the chamber, let alone anybody in this government, does not care about victims is a deeply offensive concept
  22. deflected
    JusticeMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked David Lametti (Liberal). loaded question.The answer defends government record on victims but does not address the specific claim about Bill C-5 or the cited sentencing case.Serious crimes deserve serious consequences.
  23. answered
    Disaster AssistanceMs. Heather McPherson (NDP) asked Harjit S. Sajjan (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly confirms they are examining a matching fund in addition to the initial pledge.Yes, we are looking at a matching fund as well.
  24. partly answered
    Marine TransportationMr. Taylor Bachrach (NDP) asked Omar Alghabra (Liberal). substantive question.The answer notes ongoing regulatory review but provides no concrete new safety measures implemented in the two years since the incident.There is an ongoing review of these regulations, but we are committed to having the highest level of safety in Canada.
  25. deflected
    Carbon PricingTim Uppal (Conservative) asked Randy Boissonnault (Liberal). rhetorical question.Answer shifts entirely to past tax cuts instead of addressing carbon tax concerns raised.The record in the House on who supports Canadians with reducing taxes is clear: It is us.
  26. deflected
    Carbon PricingTim Uppal (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). rhetorical question.Answer poses a rhetorical question about Conservative positions rather than responding to carbon tax claims.I guess the question many Canadians are wrestling with is which Conservatives they should believe.
  27. misdirected
    Carbon PricingMr. Stephen Ellis (Conservative) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). rhetorical question.Answer lists unrelated benefits and attacks Conservative voting record instead of addressing carbon tax or responsibility.Every step of the way the Conservatives voted against them, and I am happy to take that message to the polls next time.
  28. misdirected
    Carbon PricingMr. Stephen Ellis (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). rhetorical question.Answer attacks Conservatives for undermining climate change and obstructing supports rather than answering about the carbon tax.It baffles the House and all Canadians that Conservatives continue to vote against measures that are actually supporting Canadians.
  29. answered
    LabourMs. Louise Chabot (Bloc) asked Seamus O'Regan (Liberal). substantive question.Answer directly states the government will introduce a bill by end of year reflecting consultations.We held consultations, and the bill that the government will introduce in the House by the end of the year will reflect the results of those consultations.
  30. partly answered
    LabourMs. Louise Chabot (Bloc) asked Seamus O'Regan (Liberal). substantive question.Answer affirms commitment to ban but emphasizes process without committing to immediate introduction.We on this side of the House will make sure that we get it right.
  31. answered
    Public Services and ProcurementMrs. Stephanie Kusie (Conservative) asked Helena Jaczek (Liberal). substantive question.Answer addresses contract awards by stating no political interference and confirming oversight processes.there has been absolutely no political interference in the award of contracts to McKinsey.
  32. deflected
    Public Services and ProcurementMr. Garnett Genuis (Conservative) asked Mark Holland (Liberal). substantive question.Answer defends general contracting processes and denies aspersions instead of addressing call for Auditor General investigation.Canada is known around the world for the quality of the contracts that we engage in.
  33. deflected
    Public Services and ProcurementMrs. Dominique Vien (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the specific contract spending question and pivots to attacking Conservative voting habits.If the Conservatives were sincere in their desire to help Canadians, they could do something very simple, and that is vote with us to help them.
  34. misdirected
    HealthMr. Rick Perkins (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts to preserving jobs and technology instead of addressing the $600 million prepurchase payment obligation.Yesterday, I spoke with the CEO of Mitsubishi Chemical in Japan.
  35. deflected
    Public Services and ProcurementMr. Jamie Schmale (Conservative) asked Mark Holland (Liberal). loaded question.The answer avoids accountability for the McKinsey contracts and $2 billion non-existent company by dismissing accusations as conspiracies.There are many wild accusations made by the other side.
  36. partly answered
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.The answer addresses the safe third country agreement negotiations but adds an unrelated attack on a colleague.The reality is that a long-term solution is being negotiated with the United States through the modernization of the safe third country agreement.
  37. answered
    HousingMs. Jenny Kwan (NDP) asked Ahmed Hussen (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly responds to the funding request by detailing existing and planned indigenous housing investments.Through budget 2022, we are investing over $4 billion in indigenous housing through co-developing processes, including for the urban, rural and northern indigenous housing strategy.
  38. deflected
    SeniorsMs. Rachel Blaney (NDP) asked Kamal Khera (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists existing OAS and GIS measures but does not address the age-based payment disparity or the human rights complaint.That is precisely why we have been there for them every single step of the way.