Parliament AIIndependent · non-official

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Thursday, May 18, 2023 · sitting No. 200

Conservatives move supply-day motion criticizing opioid strategy

The House spent most of the sitting on a Conservative supply-day motion that faults the government's Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy for rising opioid deaths and calls for an end to taxpayer-funded hard-drug supply projects. Pierre Poilievre moved the motion, which remains before the House.

In Question Period, Poilievre pressed the government on a second carbon tax that the Parliamentary Budget Officer said would add 17 cents a litre to fuel costs in Quebec. Steven Guilbeault replied that every economic sector must contribute to fighting climate change.

Poilievre also asked when the Prime Minister would end the decriminalization of hard drugs in British Columbia after new figures showed seven overdose deaths a day. Carolyn Bennett said the government would use every tool, including harm reduction and enforcement.

Decided that day

  • Bill C-21 passed third reading and adoption
  • An amendment to Bill C-21 failed

From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard

Question Period – May 18, 2023. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube

Who held the floor · 2023-05-18

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 10:0011:0012:0013:0014:0015:0016:00Last speech 17:40Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 7 h 40 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
68One Bill Passes Amid Supply TalkThe House spent most of its time on business of supply and carbon pricing while advancing several bills, including the third-reading passage of Bill C-21. Question period produced few direct answers and little else reached a decision.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

Petitions

Brad Vis presented a petition calling for reform of medical cannabis production licences that residents say are abused for commercial black-market sales in British Columbia neighbourhoods.

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Petitions

Tracy Gray presented a petition urging the government to add Amritsar to the open-skies agreement so that direct flights can operate between Canada and Punjab.

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Petitions

Elizabeth May presented a petition demanding that the government implement all recommendations of the 2012 Cohen commission to protect Fraser River sockeye from open-pen salmon farms.

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Democratic Institutions

Alain Therrien demanded an independent public inquiry into Chinese election interference and threats against MPs; Dominic LeBlanc said the government awaits the report of special rapporteur David Johnston next week.

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Housing

Jenny Kwan called for a moratorium on acquisitions of low-cost rental buildings by financial firms and an acquisition fund for non-profits; Ahmed Hussen said the Canada housing benefit already assists vulnerable renters.

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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe said the 72 per cent refusal rate for francophone students from Africa selected by Quebec universities shows ongoing bias; Marie-France Lalonde said the approval rate has risen from 27 per cent to 35 per cent this year.

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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
    Carbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). substantive question.The answer avoids the specific cost question by shifting focus to climate change and Conservative shortcomings.I believe that Quebeckers listening to us today know how important it is to fight climate change.
  2. deflected
    Carbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). substantive question.The answer sidesteps the call to eliminate the tax by disputing the premise and discussing refinery contributions instead.once again the leader of the opposition is saying things that are simply not true.
  3. deflected
    Carbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). substantive question.The answer ignores the bill-paying question and pivots to climate costs while attacking Conservative beliefs.Of course, members of the Conservative Party of Canada do not believe in climate change and they do not care about those costs to Canadians.
  4. deflected
    Carbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). substantive question.The answer evades the hunger question by claiming emission reductions without addressing affordability impacts.unfortunately, the Leader of the Opposition is wrong yet again, because our plan is working.
  5. partly answered
    HealthPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Carolyn Bennett (Liberal). substantive question.The answer addresses the overdose crisis and tools available but does not directly respond to ending decriminalization or mandating treatment.The B.C. coroner has said that there is no evidence that safe supply has been implicated in any of these drug deaths.
  6. deflected
    Democratic InstitutionsMr. Alain Therrien (Bloc) asked Dominic LeBlanc (Liberal). substantive question.The answer avoids committing to an inquiry by defending existing actions and reports instead.I did not realize that hiding information involved putting it in a public report from a Canadian intelligence agency.
  7. deflected
    Democratic InstitutionsMr. Alain Therrien (Bloc) asked Dominic LeBlanc (Liberal). substantive question.The answer avoids committing to an immediate inquiry by deferring to the upcoming Johnston report.Far be it from me to muddy any waters.
  8. deflected
    Public Services and ProcurementMr. Gord Johns (NDP) asked Helena Jaczek (Liberal). substantive question.The answer avoids explaining continued McKinsey contracts by restating general procurement policies.Public Services and Procurement Canada is always committed to an open, fair and transparent procurement process while also obtaining the best value for Canadian taxpayers.
  9. deflected
    HousingMs. Jenny Kwan (NDP) asked Ahmed Hussen (Liberal). substantive question.The answer lists existing Liberal measures without addressing the specific request for a moratorium and acquisition fund.We are also reviewing the tax treatment of real estate investment trusts.
  10. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. Jasraj Singh Hallan (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks Conservative climate policy instead of addressing the claimed costs of the carbon pricing measures.the Conservatives have absolutely no plan to do anything to fight climate change
  11. misdirected
    Carbon PricingMr. Jasraj Singh Hallan (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). loaded question.The answer responds with a sarcastic remark about clothing color and pivots to an unrelated project rather than engaging the question.I am told that orange is the new black.
  12. deflected
    Carbon PricingTim Uppal (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts to defending clean fuel regulations and criticizing Conservatives instead of addressing the stated per-litre costs.if the Conservatives are going to oppose the clean fuel regulations, which they supported during the last election campaign, they should explain to Canadian farmers
  13. deflected
    Carbon PricingTim Uppal (Conservative) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to the PBO's climate cost figure and attacks Conservative beliefs rather than addressing the cumulative tax amounts cited.Why is it that the Conservative Party wants to cancel a market-based mechanism that is putting a price on pollution?
  14. misdirected
    Carbon PricingMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). loaded question.The answer corrects a technical detail about Quebec's system instead of addressing the claimed household cost increase from federal policy.The report talks about something called SPEDE, which is actually Quebec's cap and trade system.
  15. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). loaded question.The answer focuses on refinery profits and the need to fight climate change without addressing the specific cost claim for Quebec households.What we are doing is ensuring that refineries that made record profits in the past few years pay their fair share.
  16. partly answered
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Bloc) asked Mrs. Marie-France Lalonde (Liberal). substantive question.The answer provides updated approval-rate statistics but does not address whether systemic racism has been resolved or what concrete changes occurred.the approval rate for francophone students from Africa went from 27% in 2022 to 35% this year.
  17. partly answered
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Bloc) asked Mrs. Marie-France Lalonde (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges concerns and notes some measures but does not address the specific refusal rate disparity or timeline requested.The approval rate has improved, but we know that there is still work to be done.
  18. deflected
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Bloc) asked Mrs. Marie-France Lalonde (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the accusation of bias and unfair treatment, instead listing unrelated student supports.That is why we started extending expired and expiring post-graduate work permits.
  19. misdirected
    Carbon PricingMr. John Barlow (Conservative) asked Marie-Claude Bibeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer pivots to climate impacts on farmers rather than confirming exemption status for coloured farm fuel.once again, it is important to understand that farmers are the first to feel the impacts of the climate crisis.
  20. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. John Barlow (Conservative) asked Marie-Claude Bibeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer avoids the cost impact question entirely and promotes an unrelated funding announcement.just a few weeks ago, I announced an additional $10 million for the local food infrastructure fund.
  21. misdirected
    Carbon PricingMr. Richard Martel (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). substantive question.The answer shifts focus to Quebec's separate system and offers a briefing instead of addressing the federal carbon tax question.If the member would like a technical briefing from my department on how the Quebec system works, I would be happy to offer him one.
  22. partly answered
    HousingMs. Bonita Zarrillo (NDP) asked Ahmed Hussen (Liberal). substantive question.The answer notes provincial jurisdiction on rent control but details federal programs that partially address affordability.That is why we introduced the Canada housing benefit.
  23. partly answered
    HousingMs. Laurel Collins (NDP) asked Ahmed Hussen (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the federal role and lists programs but does not address taking on housing corporations or the net loss of affordable units.we are the government that introduced the rental construction financing initiative, which is about building more rental supply in Canada
  24. misdirected
    Carbon PricingMrs. Shelby Kramp-Neuman (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). loaded question.The answer counters with a question about the Conservatives' past platform instead of addressing the new tax impacts.when the Conservative Party of Canada, in the 2021 election, campaigned on bringing carbon pricing to $170 a tonne or putting in place clean fuel regulations, were they trying to fool Canadians?
  25. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. Clifford Small (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). loaded question.Answer shifts to emission reductions and investments without addressing carbon tax costs or timeline for removal.our plan is working. We have reduced carbon pollution by more than 50 million tonnes.
  26. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). loaded question.Answer lists supportive organizations and attacks Conservatives instead of addressing the PBO cost figures or UN ranking.I could name a long list of independent organizations that have publicly attested that our plan is working and that greenhouse gas emissions have begun to decline.
  27. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). loaded question.Answer quotes allies and criticizes the Conservative Party without engaging the Equiterre lawsuit or Quebec family cost question.These are all allies of the federal government. Unfortunately, they are not allies of the Conservative Party.
  28. partly answered
    The EnvironmentMr. Jean-Denis Garon (Bloc) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). substantive question.Answer acknowledges federal role and ongoing talks but provides no specific actions taken.We are in talks with the band council and the Government of Quebec to find a lasting solution to this problem.
  29. misdirected
    The EnvironmentMr. Jean-Denis Garon (Bloc) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). substantive question.Answer attacks the Bloc Québécois for playing hot potato rather than outlining concrete federal steps or timeline.the only party playing hot potato with this issue is the Bloc Québécois.
  30. deflected
    HealthMr. Stephen Ellis (Conservative) asked Carolyn Bennett (Liberal). loaded question.Answer defends the overall policy framework without addressing when or whether the vending machine program will end.Without harm reduction, people do not live long enough to get to treatment.
  31. answered
    HealthMr. Brad Vis (Conservative) asked Carolyn Bennett (Liberal). loaded question.Answer directly clarifies that school playgrounds are not exempt under the B.C. decriminalization agreement.The exemption we have approved in British Columbia specifically states that playgrounds attached to schools and day cares are not exempt and must be enforced.
  32. answered
    JusticeKerry-Lynne Findlay (Conservative) asked Carolyn Bennett (Liberal). substantive question.Answer explains federal involvement since 2018 and participation in the Purdue settlement, addressing the timing question.Since 2018, we have been working with British Columbia on the litigation against big pharma and those who enabled it, and we were part of the Purdue settlement in June 2022.
  33. deflected
    Public SafetyMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Mr. Andy Fillmore (Liberal). substantive question.The answer discusses general responsibilities without addressing the timeline or specific request for guidelines.We expect all partners to take measures as well.
  34. answered
    Foreign AffairsMichael Chong (Conservative) asked Mr. Maninder Sidhu (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly confirms support for Taiwan's participation as asked.That is why we support Taiwan's participation in the World Health Assembly and the World Health Organization.
  35. deflected
    Foreign AffairsMichael Chong (Conservative) asked Mr. Maninder Sidhu (Liberal). substantive question.The answer calls on Russia but avoids the specific request to urge the United States at the G7.We call on Russia to fulfill its international obligations, including under the New START Treaty.
  36. answered
    The EnvironmentMr. Mike Morrice (Green) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). substantive question.The answer states disagreement with the characterization and commits to using all tools to protect the Greenbelt.The federal government will use all of its available tools to ensure that we can continue protecting the lands in the Greenbelt, as well as jewels like Rouge National Urban Park.
  37. partly answered
    HealthMr. Don Davies (NDP) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer describes existing and future regulations but does not address the accusation of Liberal inaction.That is why we have already put into place strong regulations over the last few years on packaging, publicity and content of vaping products, and we will be doing more.
  38. partly answered
    The EnvironmentMs. Elizabeth May (Green) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). substantive question.The answer describes federal actions taken but does not address demanding Ontario comply with the Great Lakes annex.We have already started an impact assessment review of the impacts of said development on Rouge National Park.
  39. misdirected
    Presence in GalleryMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Ms. Julie Dabrusin (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer addresses alleged unparliamentary language instead of the request to table the report.Calling someone names like that is unparliamentary.