Parliament AIIndependent · non-official

All sittings← 2023-02-162023-03-06 →

Friday, February 17, 2023 · sitting No. 163

Commons debates national security investment review act

The House spent the largest share of its time on second reading of the National Security Review of Investments Modernization Act. Conservative MP Adam Chambers said hostile foreign powers are undermining western democracies and argued that review thresholds are too low. Bloc Québécois MP Gabriel Ste-Marie said the bill does not go far enough and called for measures to protect economic security and head offices.

New Democrat MP Brian Masse said the NDP has long sought to stop non-democratic governments from owning Canadian companies and urged action on consumer issues as well. Conservative MP Cathay Wagantall questioned why accountability for reviews would move from cabinet to two ministers.

Question period featured repeated Conservative attacks on the government's divisive tone, with Conservative MP Michael Barrett citing a Liberal backbencher's criticism of wedge politics. Liberal MP Rachel Bendayan defended the government's economic record and job creation numbers.

From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard

Question Period – February 17, 2023. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube

Who held the floor · 2023-02-17

Government (Liberal)OppositionOver the day: government 32%, opposition 68% of the words spokenGovernment businessQuestion PeriodGovernment business▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 10:0511:0012:00Last speech 13:15Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 3 h 10 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
31Another sitting that went nowhereThe sitting devoted the bulk of its time to debate on the National Security Review of Investments Modernization Act and government priorities, yet no bills advanced and no votes were recorded. Question period produced mostly deflected or misdirected answers.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

Democratic Institutions

Conservative MP Tom Kmiec said Beijing agents ran a disinformation campaign and illegal donations to help elect a minority Liberal government in 2021, citing a CSIS report in The Globe and Mail. Liberal MP Jennifer O'Connell said the government has already closed financing loopholes and formed committees to protect elections.

Read the exchange

Health

Bloc Québécois MP Marilène Gill accused the government of arrogance for demanding written commitments from provinces before releasing health funding. Liberal MP Carolyn Bennett said bilateral agreements will include data-sharing commitments to unlock top-up payments.

Read the exchange

Seniors

New Democrat MP Lindsay Mathyssen said preventable deaths are occurring while seniors wait for long-term care beds and called for federal action. Liberal MP Darren Fisher said the government has provided up to $4 billion to provinces to improve standards.

Read the exchange

Official Languages

Bloc Québécois MP Mario Beaulieu said Bill C-13 undermines French in Quebec and criticized Liberal MPs for defending a colleague's statements on health care in English. Liberal MP Marc Serré said the bill is needed to halt the decline of French and urged the Bloc to support it.

Read the exchange

The Economy

Conservative MP Marty Morantz said the Bank of Canada governor confirmed the carbon tax adds half a percentage point to inflation and called for its removal. Liberal MP Terry Duguid said a family of four in Manitoba will receive up to $1,000 in climate action rebates.

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
    Government PrioritiesMr. Michael Barrett (Conservative) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). loaded question.Answer ignores the division accusation and pivots to unrelated economic stats.our government has been there for Canadians during this difficult time of global economic uncertainty.
  2. deflected
    Government PrioritiesMr. Michael Barrett (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.Answer shifts to investment rankings instead of addressing the division or stigmatization claims.I am surprised that he would be talking down the Canadian economy at a time when we have record investment coming into our country.
  3. misdirected
    Government PrioritiesMr. Michael Barrett (Conservative) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks Conservative policy rather than responding to the affordability and division points raised.I think Canadians see that this particular Conservative Party has zero credibility on the economy.
  4. deflected
    Government PrioritiesMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Mr. Anthony Housefather (Liberal). loaded question.Answer gives a general unity statement without addressing the specific divide-and-conquer accusation or policy failures.We should all, as members of Parliament, in all political parties, aim to unify.
  5. misdirected
    Government PrioritiesMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks Conservative economic ideas instead of addressing internal Liberal division or the call to stop dividing Canadians.The Conservatives' economic policy basically consists of giving up the fight against climate change, attacking our seniors' pensions, attacking employment insurance and suggesting that Canadians invest in cryptocurrency.
  6. partly answered
    HealthMrs. Marilène Gill (Bloc) asked Carolyn Bennett (Liberal). substantive question.Answer acknowledges the federal-provincial agreement but does not address the lack of expertise or demand to transfer funds without conditions.Our discussions were, and will continue to be, focused on how we can work together to improve health care for patients, their families and health care workers.
  7. answered
    HealthMrs. Marilène Gill (Bloc) asked Carolyn Bennett (Liberal). substantive question.Answer directly explains the conditions and commitments required for the health funding transfers.under our plan, the premiers of the provinces and territories must agree to three key commitments to obtain funding through tailored bilateral agreements.
  8. partly answered
    SeniorsMs. Rachel Blaney (NDP) asked Mr. Darren Fisher (Liberal). substantive question.Answer lists existing supports but does not address the specific request to increase the guaranteed income supplement.our government is helping seniors who are struggling by doubling the GST tax credit and by providing dental and rental support.
  9. partly answered
    SeniorsMs. Lindsay Mathyssen (NDP) asked Mr. Darren Fisher (Liberal). substantive question.Mentions funding and standards but does not address the absence from the offer to premiers.We have provided up to $4 billion to support the provinces and territories in their efforts to improve long-term care in their jurisdictions.
  10. deflected
    Government PrioritiesMrs. Tracy Gray (Conservative) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). loaded question.Ignores the accusation of division and instead attacks Conservative voting record.I simply do not understand why it is that when we try to improve the situation of Canadians, Conservatives vote against it.
  11. misdirected
    Government PrioritiesMrs. Tracy Gray (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.Turns to attacking the Conservative leader rather than responding to the question.If there is one Canadian who has stoked fear in our society, it is the leader of the Conservatives.
  12. deflected
    Government PrioritiesMr. Adam Chambers (Conservative) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). loaded question.Shifts focus to Conservative opposition to Liberal measures instead of addressing division.the member opposite is right. Canadians are struggling and Canadians do not seem to understand why the Conservative Party does not want to help them.
  13. deflected
    Government PrioritiesMr. Adam Chambers (Conservative) asked Ms. Ya'ara Saks (Liberal). loaded question.Lists past programs and Conservative votes against them rather than addressing responsibility.I feel that we need to remind the Conservatives that it was this government that decided, in 2016, to take a true strategy on poverty in this country.
  14. deflected
    Government PrioritiesMr. Jeremy Patzer (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.Calls the premise disturbing and pivots to calls for unity instead of taking responsibility.it is honestly quite disturbing to hear a member of Parliament talk about Canada being broken.
  15. deflected
    Government PrioritiesMr. Jeremy Patzer (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.Avoids responsibility by emphasizing positive achievements and urging unity.Let us talk about building together. That is what we are doing on this side
  16. deflected
    Official LanguagesMr. Mario Beaulieu (Bloc) asked Mr. Marc Serré (Liberal). substantive question.Promotes Bill C-13 instead of confirming or correcting the claim about English-language health care.We are the first government to recognize the decline of French in Quebec and across Canada.
  17. misdirected
    Official LanguagesMr. Mario Beaulieu (Bloc) asked Mr. Marc Serré (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks Bloc position instead of addressing the specific MPs or coincidence raised.Once again, I do not understand the Bloc Québécois's position.
  18. deflected
    Democratic InstitutionsMr. Tom Kmiec (Conservative) asked Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Liberal). loaded question.Answer restates government actions and accuses Conservatives of politics rather than addressing the Prime Minister's knowledge.The Conservatives seem to wake up to this fact only when they think it is politically advantageous.
  19. misdirected
    Democratic InstitutionsMr. Tom Kmiec (Conservative) asked Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Liberal). loaded question.Answer accuses Conservatives of doing China's bidding instead of resolving the contradiction between PM and CSIS statements.Are the Conservatives going to work with us to continue to strengthen our institutions, or are they going to continue to do China's bidding and undermine the trust in our democratic institutions?
  20. deflected
    Democratic InstitutionsMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Liberal). loaded question.Answer repeats prior measures and urges cooperation without addressing whether the PM ignored reports.Conservatives seem to be awake to issues of foreign interference only when it seems politically advantageous.
  21. partly answered
    Democratic InstitutionsMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Bill Blair (Liberal). loaded question.Answer provides a letter sent to members but does not reconcile the PM's statement with the CSIS report.On December 18, 2020, I wrote that member, and every member in this House, a letter advising them about the threat of foreign interference
  22. answered
    TelecommunicationsMr. Brian Masse (NDP) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.Answer directly explains the delay as time taken to fight for lower prices via competition.Canadians know that the time I am taking is time I am taking to fight for them.
  23. deflected
    Public SafetyMs. Lisa Marie Barron (NDP) asked Mr. Gary Anandasangaree (Liberal). substantive question.Answer lists bills on justice reforms but does not address mental health supports, guaranteed income or restorative justice.We brought forward Bill C-5 , which will essentially address issues with systemic racism within the criminal justice system.
  24. misdirected
    TaxationMr. John Barlow (Conservative) asked Mr. Francis Drouin (Liberal). loaded question.Answer praises farmers and notes climate impacts instead of addressing the underutilized homes tax on farm families.We will always be there to defend our farmers.
  25. deflected
    TaxationMr. John Barlow (Conservative) asked Mr. Francis Drouin (Liberal). substantive question.The answer ignores the specific tax and exemption request entirely.We will always be there to defend farmers.
  26. partly answered
    The EconomyMr. Marty Morantz (Conservative) asked Mr. Terry Duguid (Liberal). substantive question.The answer corrects the inflation figure and highlights the rebate but avoids the call to axe the tax.he estimated that perhaps 0.1% will be related to the price on pollution in terms of inflation.
  27. misdirected
    The EconomyMr. Marty Morantz (Conservative) asked Mr. Terry Duguid (Liberal). substantive question.The answer attacks the Conservatives' record instead of addressing the current tax and bank bailout claims.What did the Conservatives do when they were in power? Absolutely nothing.
  28. partly answered
    Democratic InstitutionsMr. René Villemure (Bloc) asked Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the issue and notes some measures taken but does not address the call for transparency on known interference.Some of the loopholes we have closed were things like foreign campaign funding and tighter rules on third party advertising.
  29. deflected
    Democratic InstitutionsMr. René Villemure (Bloc) asked Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Liberal). substantive question.The answer pivots to past actions and attacks Conservatives rather than addressing opacity or specific knowledge of interference.I encourage all members of the House to bring forward solutions instead of behaving recklessly like the Conservatives
  30. misdirected
    Canadian HeritageMrs. Dominique Vien (Conservative) asked Mr. Chris Bittle (Liberal). substantive question.The answer attacks the Conservatives for filibustering instead of addressing Quebec's request for consultation.Where have the Conservatives been? They have been filibustering this legislation the entire way.
  31. misdirected
    Canadian HeritageMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Mr. Chris Bittle (Liberal). substantive question.The answer shifts to job losses and filibustering accusations rather than responding to the request to hear Quebec.What have the Conservatives been doing the last year? They have been filibustering.
  32. misdirected
    Canadian HeritageMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Mr. Chris Bittle (Liberal). substantive question.The answer again accuses the member of absence and filibustering instead of addressing the call for a committee meeting on Quebec's input.It is amazing that the member has stepped up this week to say that he cares, when over the last year he has been silent.
  33. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. Gerald Soroka (Conservative) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). loaded question.Answer promotes carbon pricing as effective without addressing the demand to axe the tax.It is a capitalism-based mechanism that all experts agree is the most effective at fighting climate change.
  34. misdirected
    Carbon PricingMrs. Anna Roberts (Conservative) asked Mr. Darren Fisher (Liberal). loaded question.Answer shifts to past Conservative votes and seniors' poverty rates instead of addressing the carbon tax removal request.
  35. misdirected
    SeniorsMrs. Anna Roberts (Conservative) asked Mr. Darren Fisher (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks Conservatives for voting against seniors' measures rather than addressing the CERB impact or accountability question.For seven years and three months, they cannot stand up every year and vote against the things we do for seniors and then pretend to care about seniors.
  36. partly answered
    HousingMs. Jenny Kwan (NDP) asked Ms. Soraya Martinez Ferrada (Liberal). substantive question.Answer acknowledges the benefit and eligibility criteria but does not commit to changing the discriminatory requirement.There has been no change to the eligibility criteria that all of us agreed on last October, with the exception of the Conservatives.
  37. partly answered
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Mike Morrice (Green) asked Harjit S. Sajjan (Liberal). substantive question.Answer expresses sympathy and mentions funding but does not address expediting immigration files or family sponsorship.Our government has already pledged a matching fund of an additional $10 million.
  38. answered
    Points of OrderMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Mr. Mark Gerretsen (Liberal). substantive question.Answer accepts the point of order and notes the birthday slip-up as explanation.today is the member for St. Catharines's birthday, and I think he just slipped up in celebrating his birthday.
  39. answered
    Points of OrderMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Mr. Mark Gerretsen (Liberal). substantive question.Answer accepts members are honourable and supports allowing the statement to be repeated due to noise.I would strongly encourage all members of the House to allow the member to give her statement again, given the circumstances.
  40. deflected
    Points of OrderMr. Michael Barrett (Conservative) asked Mrs. Jenica Atwin (Liberal). substantive question.Answer shifts to a statement on Black History Month instead of addressing the point of order on unanimous consent.Black History Month is a time to reflect on our country's story and renew our engagement toward anti-Black racism.