All sittings← 2023-03-212023-03-23 →
Wednesday, March 22, 2023 · sitting No. 171
House advances committee reports and concurs in estimates
The House of Commons devoted the largest share of its sitting to committee business. The Standing Committee on Health reported Bill S-203 without amendment while the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development reported Bill S-5 with amendments. Several other committees presented reports on veterans affairs and heritage matters.
In Question Period Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre challenged the government on housing affordability. He noted the average monthly mortgage payment has risen from $1400 to more than $3100 since 2015. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cited the national housing strategy and recent municipal funding announcements as the federal response.
The House later concurred in the supplementary estimates for 2022-23 and interim supply for 2023-24 after recorded divisions.
Decided that day
- Bill C-44 passed all stages
- Bill C-43 passed all stages
- Interim Supply and estimates concurred in
- Opposition motion on alcohol tax passed
- Bill C-241 passed third reading
- Motion M-59 on housing passed
- Bill S-224 passed second reading
- Bill S-209 passed second reading
- Bill C-283 defeated
- Bill C-289 defeated
From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard
Question Period – March 22, 2023. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube
Who held the floor · 2023-03-22
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
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet pressed the Prime Minister to order a fully independent public inquiry into foreign interference rather than one led by a family friend.
Read the exchangeCarbon Pricing
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said the carbon tax raises costs for corner stores and farms with no rebate for small businesses. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau replied that the climate action incentive returns more to households than the tax costs.
Read the exchangeGrocery Industry
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said grocery inflation remains above 10 percent while corporate profits rise. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pointed to the GST rebate and dental-care supports already delivered to families.
Read the exchangeCriminal Code
Conservative MP Raquel Dancho said more than 32,000 Canadians have died of opioid overdoses since 2016 and called for reduced recidivism through treatment in federal institutions.
Read the exchangeVeterans Affairs
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh called for cancellation of a $560-million contract with a Loblaws-owned company for veterans' services. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the government would not cut services as the previous Conservative government had done.
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
- deflectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer promotes housing investments without addressing the specific mortgage payment figure requested.
we launched the national housing strategy in 2017.
- deflectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer lists housing programs and contrasts past governments but avoids stating the current mortgage payment amount.
we stepped up in tangible, concrete ways to deliver more housing
- misdirectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer shifts to economic growth and tax policies instead of addressing current apartment rental costs.
we have seen significant growth in the economy.
- deflectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer highlights job growth and new programs while ignoring the question on spending outcomes for housing affordability.
we have seen record job growth.
- deflectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer discusses federal investments and criticizes the prior Conservative platform without explaining international price differences.
we have continually invested in programs and supports for Canadians
- partly answeredDemocratic InstitutionsMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer explains the process for deciding on a public inquiry but does not address the forced repatriation of Chinese nationals.
we decided to turn to an expert, someone who is absolutely unimpeachable
- deflectedDemocratic InstitutionsMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer calls for less partisanship and defends the expert appointment without engaging the specific concerns about interference.
what we need is not more partisanship, but less.
- deflectedGrocery IndustryMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer lists existing supports like GST rebates and dental care but does not address excess grocery profits or CEO actions.
we stepped up with support for 11 million Canadians through a GST rebate over six months.
- deflectedHousingMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer lists investments without addressing the accusation of favoring the rich or the timeline for action.
over the past eight years, we have made historic investments in housing to give Canadians access to more affordable housing.
- misdirectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer pivots to criticizing the opposition leader's approach rather than addressing the question on housing supply.
whereas he sits back and attacks them and proposes absolutely nothing.
- misdirectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks the hypothetical Conservative record instead of responding to the permit delays and red tape cited.
Just think, if things are expensive now, how much worse it would have been had we had a Conservative government that continued to cross its arms and cut services to Canadians for the past eight years.
- deflectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer shifts to a historical comparison with the asker's father rather than addressing spending outcomes.
the next thing the member opposite is going to complain about is that housing prices are higher today than they were in my father's time as prime minister.
- deflectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer restates general investment philosophy without addressing the specific claim of spending without results.
the Conservative leader is actually arguing that fewer investments in Canadians, fewer investments alongside municipalities and provinces, and fewer programs to support Canadians would somehow have solved this problem.
- misdirectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks the opposition's past record on intergovernmental relations instead of addressing linking funds to results.
Canadians well remember that when the hon. member was in government, the character of the relationships between provinces, municipalities and the federal government was fights all the time.
- misdirectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer pivots to listing past social programs rather than responding to the proposal on infrastructure funding incentives.
The very first thing he did after we formed the government was to vote against a tax hike on the wealthiest so we could lower taxes for the middle class.
- deflectedDemocratic InstitutionsMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer defends the appointee's character without addressing the call for an independent public inquiry.
what Canadians expect is that issues as serious as foreign interference, particularly Chinese interference, will be dealt with in a serious and responsible manner.
- deflectedDemocratic InstitutionsMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer defends the government's process and accuses opposition of politicizing rather than addressing the call for an inquiry.
The opposition parties are the only ones still trying to politicize this situation.
- partly answeredHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the density idea and notes existing investments but does not commit to requiring it for all federally funded stations.
the idea of density around transit hubs is something we are already moving forward on and have invested in over the past few years.
- partly answeredHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer claims the idea is already being implemented via agreements but does not address mandating pre-approval for high-density housing.
part of question period and answer period needs to be taking "yes" for an answer.
- partly answeredHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer states the government is already examining federal properties for conversion but provides no specifics on selling 15% of buildings.
once again, this is an idea we are already moving forward with, looking at federal properties and how we can convert them either through the rapid housing process or by working with municipalities to deliver more affordable housing.
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer focuses on rebates and climate goals without addressing the carbon tax increase or its impact on housing costs for seniors.
as of April, the places across the country that have the carbon backstop in place will receive more money.
- deflectedEmploymentMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer highlights past union partnerships and investments but does not commit to an IRA-style plan or job guarantees in the budget.
over the past eight years, it has been an honour and a pleasure to work so closely with organized labour across this country.
- misdirectedVeterans AffairsMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer attacks the NDP and Conservatives instead of addressing the specific Loblaws contract for veterans' services.
we are not going to do what the NDP suggests, which is what the Conservatives did many years ago and cut services to veterans.
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer promotes green investments and small business taxes but does not answer the question on rebates for an average corner store.
We are going to continue to show leadership around the world in drawing in green investments while we support small businesses with some of the lowest small business taxes in the world.
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer pivots to election history and climate rhetoric without addressing the carbon tax cost on the specific business mentioned.
I guess the Leader of the Opposition truly thinks that the third time is the charm.
- deflectedTaxationPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer highlights past tax cuts but does not address the requested cancellation of the tax hike on beer and spirits.
we have always recognized the important contributions that Canadian wine, beer and spirits producers make to the Canadian economy.
- deflectedTaxationPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer repeats prior tax measures without responding to the call to cancel the new tax increase.
That is why we lowered small business taxes and eliminated excise duty on low-alcohol beer.
- misdirectedDiversity and InclusionMr. Martin Champoux (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer shifts to defending minority rights and attacking the notwithstanding clause instead of clarifying the appointee's mandate.
That is why we are always going to be there to defend individual rights.
- misdirectedDiversity and InclusionMr. Martin Champoux (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer attacks the Bloc's stance on minorities rather than addressing whether the appointee is straying from her mandate.
it always amazes me that the Bloc Québécois seems to be willing to pick and choose which minorities it would like to defend.
- misdirectedInternational TradePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer counters with accusations of Conservative capitulation instead of addressing the specific claim about backing down on tariffs and borders.
We stood strongly. We got them to lift tariffs on steel and aluminum.
- misdirectedInternational TradePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer reframes around NAFTA renegotiation and Conservative advice rather than confirming or denying capitulation on the listed issues.
We stood firm and pushed back against the Americans, even though Mr. Harper and the Conservatives were urging us to capitulate
- misdirectedInternational TradePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer defends the NAFTA outcome and accuses the opposition of rewriting history instead of addressing the timeline comparison on softwood tariffs.
I understand how badly the Conservatives need to take partisan shots, but they do not have the right to rewrite history.
- deflectedInternational TradePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer shifts to EVs and IRA instead of addressing buy America exemption request.
We got a carve-in for electric vehicles and batteries in the U.S. inflation reduction act.
- deflectedInternational TradePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer accuses asker of making things up and avoids specific exemption commitment.
The fact of the matter is, we will continue to stand up for Canadian jobs and work closely with the Americans on making sure we are competitive with the world.
- deflectedInternational TradePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer lists past actions but does not address ending buy America tomorrow.
we have consistently stood up for Canadians, whether it was Canadian auto workers and Canadian steelworkers, whether it was making sure we renegotiated NAFTA in strong ways, or whether we stood up for inclusion of Canadian electric vehicle production in the new IRA.
- partly answeredForeign AffairsMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer addresses monitoring but ignores boycott and ban demands.
obviously Canada is monitoring the situation in Punjab closely.
- deflectedClimate ChangeMs. Elizabeth May (Green) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). rhetorical question.Question is a statement of demands rather than a query; answer notes past actions without new commitments.
since 2015 we have taken concrete actions to address climate change.