All sittings← 2023-04-242023-04-26 →
Tuesday, April 25, 2023 · sitting No. 184
Commons debates budget bill amid public service strike talks
The House spent the majority of its time on second reading of the Budget Implementation Act, 2023, No. 1. Liberal MP Peter Schiefke defended the plan as prudent and focused on affordability, the green transition and health care. Bloc Québécois MP Martin Champoux and Conservative MP Eric Melillo questioned its environmental measures and impact on living costs.
In question period Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre pressed the government on the cost of the public service strike and the Trudeau Foundation's ties to foreign donations. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said negotiators were working toward a fair agreement at the bargaining table. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh urged the Prime Minister to intervene directly for a wage deal matching inflation.
Decided that day
- 15th report of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration passed
- Bill S-12 introduced
From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard
Question Period – April 25, 2023. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube
Who held the floor · 2023-04-25
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
Crisis in Sudan
Conservative MP Garnett Genuis moved an emergency debate on the crisis in Sudan, noting the rival military factions and the need for Canada to support the democracy movement.
Read the exchangeCarbon Pricing
Conservative MP Martin Shields cited the Parliamentary Budget Officer report showing Alberta families losing thousands of dollars under the carbon tax and called for its removal.
Read the exchangeHealth
NDP MP Don Davies said the nursing shortage is worsening and accused the government of allowing private clinics to draw staff from the public system.
Read the exchangeTransportation
Liberal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra announced cabinet approval of the Roberts Bank terminal 2 project to raise Port of Vancouver capacity by 50 per cent.
Read the exchangeNational Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week
Liberal MP Lena Metlege Diab noted National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week and Nova Scotia's shift to an opt-out donor system.
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
- deflectedLabourPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer restates bargaining goals without addressing the cost-to-end question.
That is why we are working tirelessly to reach a deal that is fair to public servants and reasonable to taxpayers.
- deflectedLabourPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer repeats bargaining goals without addressing the cost-to-end question.
That is why we are working tirelessly to reach a deal that is fair to public servants and reasonable for taxpayers.
- partly answeredEthicsPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer directly denies engagement but does not address the office meetings claim.
I have had no engagement, direct or indirect, with the Trudeau Foundation for about 10 years now.
- misdirectedEthicsPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer shifts to attacks on Conservatives and unrelated policy instead of addressing the foundation question.
while Conservatives continue to focus on me and attacks on my family, we are going to continue focusing on delivering for Canadians.
- misdirectedEthicsPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer pivots to budget talking points and attacks Conservatives rather than addressing the foundation question.
it is interesting the lengths to which the Conservatives will go to not talk about the budget we just delivered for Canadians.
- deflectedEthicsMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer denies involvement and attacks Bloc but does not answer what was said in the meeting.
I have had no direct or indirect involvement with the Trudeau Foundation for 10 years.
- deflectedEthicsMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer repeats denial and pivots to priorities without explaining the meeting.
for 10 years I have had no direct or indirect interaction with the foundation that bears by father's name.
- deflectedLabourMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer emphasizes bargaining table process without committing to PM involvement.
That is what is happening at the bargaining table, where the negotiators and the unions will stay to do their job.
- deflectedLabourMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer emphasizes bargaining process without addressing fair contract or inflation matching.
I am sure he does not want to disrespect the important process that happens at the bargaining table; that is exactly what we are busy supporting.
- deflectedLabourMs. Leslyn Lewis (Conservative) asked Mona Fortier (Liberal). substantive question.Answer discusses general bargaining progress but ignores the specific school and indigenous children issue.
We have been working tirelessly to get from 570 demands to a few that we need to get done.
- deflectedLabourMs. Leslyn Lewis (Conservative) asked Diane Lebouthillier (Liberal). substantive question.Answer reassures on filing options without addressing strike prevention or low-income impacts.
The Canada Revenue Agency will not extend the deadline for filing tax returns.
- deflectedLabourMrs. Stephanie Kusie (Conservative) asked Mona Fortier (Liberal). substantive question.Answer references open letter and negotiations but does not commit to ending strike or addressing refunds.
We are now a few items away from getting to a deal.
- misdirectedLabourMrs. Stephanie Kusie (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). substantive question.Answer pivots to unrelated past policies and attacks Conservatives instead of addressing the strike or services.
unlike the Conservatives, we respect the right to collective bargaining and we respect the right to strike.
- deflectedLabourMr. Jacques Gourde (Conservative) asked Diane Lebouthillier (Liberal). substantive question.Answer praises tax season stats without assuring quick refunds amid the strike.
This is the best tax season we have had since 2015.
- misdirectedLabourMr. Jacques Gourde (Conservative) asked Diane Lebouthillier (Liberal). substantive question.Answer defends personal integrity and pivots to general public service relations instead of refunds or strike.
let me reassure my colleague that I have no problem with my nose.
- deflectedDemocratic InstitutionsMr. René Villemure (Bloc) asked Mark Holland (Liberal). loaded question.Answer stresses foundation independence rules without addressing China donation or Liberal influence claims.
For any type of foundation, the rules in Canada are incredibly strict so as to ensure that all foundations are independent and free from any influence.
- deflectedDemocratic InstitutionsMr. René Villemure (Bloc) asked Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal). loaded question.Answer shifts to Chantal Hébert and conspiracy claim instead of addressing foundation ties or rapporteur issue.
I wonder if the Bloc thinks Chantal Hébert is part of the conspiracy too.
- deflectedDemocratic InstitutionsMs. Marie-Hélène Gaudreau (Bloc) asked Mark Holland (Liberal). loaded question.Answer defends foundation independence without addressing exodus, China ties, or call for inquiry.
It is unacceptable to attack an independent foundation which has no ties with the Prime Minister.
- partly answeredLabourMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). substantive question.Answer acknowledges honesty and strike rights but does not address passport delays or G7 comparison.
it is unfortunate that the Conservatives fail to understand the importance of being honest with Canadians.
- partly answeredLabourMr. Kevin Waugh (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). substantive question.Answer clarifies passport status under law and lists essential services but ignores spending critique and strike resolution.
The law dictates what is an essential service, and passports are not considered essential under the law.
- misdirectedLabourMr. Todd Doherty (Conservative) asked Seamus O'Regan (Liberal). loaded question.Answer pivots to past Conservative record on workers instead of addressing strike, spending, or northern B.C. costs.
I look at certain members in this House who were in government at one point of time.
- misdirectedLabourMr. Alex Ruff (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). loaded question.Answer promotes budget items and avoids passport, strike, or IRCC backlog questions entirely.
A few weeks ago in this House, we tabled a budget that for some reason the Conservatives do not want to talk about.
- answeredLabourMs. Jenny Kwan (NDP) asked Mélanie Joly (Liberal). substantive question.Answer directly addresses Sudan consular services and numbers helped, though not the broader strike impact on IRCC.
We have had 550 of them who raised their hands saying they need help; 100 have gotten out of Sudan.
- partly answeredGender-Based ViolenceMs. Leah Gazan (NDP) asked Marci Ien (Liberal). loaded question.Answer cites past emergency funding and national plan but does not commit to renewing the specific $150 million.
This work continues with the national action plan, more than half a billion dollars in the last budget
- deflectedDemocratic InstitutionsMr. Kelly McCauley (Conservative) asked Mark Holland (Liberal). loaded question.The answer sidesteps the request for an independent investigation by defending charity rules and attacking the opposition instead.
The Conservatives do not care whom or what they attack. Their partisan games continue.
- deflectedDemocratic InstitutionsMr. Garnett Genuis (Conservative) asked Mark Holland (Liberal). loaded question.The answer avoids confirming details about the meeting by redirecting to charity regulations and dismissing the questioner.
I do not know how much time the member spends on subreddits and 4chan, but instead he should spend some time looking at facts.
- misdirectedDemocratic InstitutionsMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Mark Holland (Liberal). loaded question.The answer rejects the premise but then pivots to unrelated attacks on Conservative positions regarding CBC and the Bank of Canada.
Let us talk about the wall that is supposed to exist to protect our public broadcaster, CBC and Radio-Canada, which they want to tear down and destroy.
- deflectedDemocratic InstitutionsMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Mark Holland (Liberal). loaded question.The answer refuses to engage the specific allegation and instead cites general laws protecting foundations without addressing influence claims.
it is not up to me to respond. It is up to Canada's laws to protect the independence of any type of foundation in Canada.
- deflectedThe EnvironmentMs. Kristina Michaud (Bloc) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). loaded question.The answer highlights emission reductions but does not address the Arctic oil exploration funding or the UN report on glaciers.
We had the best record of all the G7 countries in 2020 and 2021 when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- partly answeredThe EnvironmentMs. Kristina Michaud (Bloc) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the commissioner but pivots to newer data and budget investments without directly refuting the reports' criticisms.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingMr. Martin Shields (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores carbon tax impacts and instead attacks the Conservatives' past record on child poverty.
It is a little hard to take them seriously when they talk about poverty, but do members know what? After our coming into office in 2015, Canada now ranks second in the OECD when it comes to child poverty.
- deflectedCarbon PricingMr. Warren Steinley (Conservative) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). loaded question.The answer labels the question hypocritical by referencing a past platform but does not address scrapping the carbon tax.
To be honest, it represents the height of hypocrisy because the platform he ran on in 2021 said, "We recognize that the most efficient way to reduce our emissions is to use pricing mechanisms."
- deflectedCarbon PricingMr. Rob Morrison (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). substantive question.The answer ignores the carbon tax question and pivots to unrelated economic ratings and spending programs.
Our government is providing dental care, investing in health care, providing grocery rebates and being fiscally responsible.
- deflectedTelecommunicationsMr. Ryan Williams (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.The answer changes the subject to auto investment instead of addressing cellphone bills or the minister's alleged job.
Just last week, we got the single largest investment in Canada's auto history of $7 billion.
- answeredOfficial LanguagesMr. Joël Godin (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly condemns the issue and commits to action on bilingual 911 service.
We will, of course, be looking into this matter.
- partly answeredInternational TradeMr. Clifford Small (Conservative) asked Mary Ng (Liberal). substantive question.The answer addresses sanctions and raising the issue with Japan but does not answer the yes/no question on crab sanctions.
We have raised this issue with Japan, and Japan, too, I would say, has been a strong defender of Ukraine.
- deflectedAir TransportationMr. Taylor Bachrach (NDP) asked Omar Alghabra (Liberal). loaded question.The answer discusses passenger protections but avoids the gag order claim entirely.
Our government is strengthening the protection for our passengers, making sure airlines are accountable and responsible for fulfilling their obligation to their customers.
- partly answeredHealthMr. Don Davies (NDP) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer highlights funding for public health care but does not address the for-profit delivery concern.
Those dollars are designed to support the public delivery of health care services in Canada.