Parliament AIIndependent · non-official

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Tuesday, June 20, 2023 · sitting No. 217

Commons allots five hours to online news bill Senate amendments

The House spent nearly half the sitting on time allocation for consideration of Senate amendments to Bill C-18, the Online News Act. Government House leader Mark Holland moved that no more than five further hours be allotted to the stage. Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner and Bloc Québécois MP Martin Champoux criticized the move as an insult to parliamentary debate while Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez and NDP MP Peter Julian defended the bill as essential to local journalism.

In Question Period the main exchanges concerned foreign interference. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre pressed for a public inquiry while Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said consultations with opposition parties were under way. Bloc Québécois MP Alain Therrien accused the government of delaying action until after the summer recess.

Question Period also featured repeated Conservative attacks on the government’s carbon taxes and deficit spending, with Liberal ministers defending their record on affordability measures and citing support from the IMF for Canada’s fiscal position.

Decided that day

  • Time allocation for Bill C-18 approved
  • Concurrence in Bill C-42 report stage passed
  • Bill C-42 defeated
  • Motion to proceed to orders of the day carried
  • Bills S-270, C-52 and C-346 introduced

From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard

Question Period – June 20, 2023. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube

Who held the floor · 2023-06-20

Government (Liberal)OppositionOver the day: government 34%, opposition 66% of the words spokenGovernment businessQuestion PeriodGovernment businessGovernment business▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 10:0012:0013:0014:0015:0016:0017:0018:0019:0020:00Last speech 21:50Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 11 h 50 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
65Bills inch forward amid deflection and delayThe House devoted most of its time to the Online News Act and corporate-law amendments, passing time allocation and one concurrence motion while introducing three bills. Question Period produced almost no direct answers and several procedural interruptions occurred.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

Privilege

Conservative MP Shannon Stubbs raised a new question of privilege concerning delayed answers to written questions on natural resources, citing an access-to-information package.

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Points of Order

Conservative MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay objected to the removal of Conservative MP Rachael Thomas from the Online News Act debate after a heated exchange with the heritage minister.

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Housing

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre cited a Quebec constituent whose mortgage payments rose from $2,300 to $3,700 and accused the government of driving interest rates higher through deficits.

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Public Safety

Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman questioned why the public safety minister had not prevented Paul Bernardo’s transfer from maximum to medium security despite having the authority to do so.

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Carbon Pricing

Conservative MP John Barlow said farmers face a second carbon tax on July 1 that will raise feed, fuel and fertilizer costs and push more Canadians toward food banks.

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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
    Democratic InstitutionsPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer discusses consultations and next steps without committing to announcing a public inquiry.in the coming days, the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities will continue to consult experts, lawyers and the opposition parties to determine the next steps
  2. deflected
    HousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer promotes existing measures and criticizes opposition votes instead of addressing reversal of policies.our government implemented concrete measures to help families like Émilie's
  3. misdirected
    HousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts to accusing the opposition of proposing cuts rather than addressing balancing the budget.If the Leader of the Opposition really wants to come clean with Canadians, will he talk about whether he is going to cut child care for families
  4. misdirected
    HousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer highlights government fiscal stats and attacks the opposition's election results instead of addressing deficits.The Leader of the Opposition is just continuing his attacks to try to distract from the underwhelming election results he got last night
  5. misdirected
    HousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer immediately pivots to criticizing the opposition's by-election results rather than addressing inflationary policies.see how quickly he pivoted away from the disastrous by-election results they got last night
  6. deflected
    Democratic InstitutionsMr. Alain Therrien (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer emphasizes working together after partisan issues without specifying a timeline for launching an inquiry.we are currently discussing positive proposals with the different parties to find a way for everyone to take this matter seriously
  7. deflected
    Democratic InstitutionsMr. Alain Therrien (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer reiterates taking the issue seriously and working with parties without committing to an immediate inquiry.we are working with them now to determine the next steps
  8. partly answered
    HousingMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer lists multiple housing actions taken but does not directly address the question of recognizing a catastrophe.we have been taking action on many fronts
  9. deflected
    HousingMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer lists general programs without addressing the specific Montreal families or their stress.we continue to be there with programs and plans to address this housing crisis across the country.
  10. misdirected
    Government AccountabilityMs. Melissa Lantsman (Conservative) asked Marco Mendicino (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks Conservative policy instead of addressing the minister's accountability or fiction claims.what is reckless to public safety is when we have a Conservative Party of Canada that proposes to make AR-15-style firearms legal again.
  11. misdirected
    Public SafetyMs. Melissa Lantsman (Conservative) asked Marco Mendicino (Liberal). loaded question.Answer pivots to past Conservative cuts rather than responding to the Bernardo transfer or resignation demand.it is preposterous to hear the Conservatives continue to stand up when their record is one of cuts.
  12. partly answered
    Democratic InstitutionsMrs. Stephanie Kusie (Conservative) asked Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Liberal). substantive question.Answer describes existing measures but avoids committing to a public inquiry as asked.we have always taken the issue of foreign interference seriously.
  13. deflected
    Democratic InstitutionsMrs. Stephanie Kusie (Conservative) asked Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Liberal). loaded question.Answer accuses Conservatives of partisan games without answering the yes-or-no inquiry question.it is really disappointing to see the Conservatives back to their partisan games when it comes to foreign interference.
  14. deflected
    Democratic InstitutionsMrs. Dominique Vien (Conservative) asked Marco Mendicino (Liberal). substantive question.Answer mentions consultations but dismisses the question as game-playing without committing to an inquiry.Enough with the game-playing and squabbling.
  15. partly answered
    Public SafetyMrs. Dominique Vien (Conservative) asked Marco Mendicino (Liberal). loaded question.Answer states actions taken on the transfer but does not address confidence in the minister.when I was informed on May 30 of Mr. Bernardo's transfer, I took action by contacting the board.
  16. misdirected
    HousingMr. Denis Trudel (Bloc) asked Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal). substantive question.Answer attacks the Bloc Québécois instead of addressing the housing shortage or federal strategy.I take it personally when I hear the Bloc Québécois saying that July 1 is a nightmare.
  17. answered
    HousingMr. Denis Trudel (Bloc) asked Ms. Soraya Martinez Ferrada (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly references the housing accelerator fund as the mechanism to address vacancy rates and supply shortages raised in the question.That is why we have put in place a housing accelerator for municipalities, and they are very happy to have this fund.
  18. deflected
    HousingMr. Denis Trudel (Bloc) asked Ms. Soraya Martinez Ferrada (Liberal). substantive question.The answer avoids the 1% funding request by declaring housing a provincial matter and attacking another party instead of engaging the proposal.Unlike a party on the other side of the House that insults municipalities, we want to work with all municipalities and stakeholders to build the housing that everyone needs.
  19. misdirected
    FinanceMr. Damien Kurek (Conservative) asked Randy Boissonnault (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the inflation and spending question entirely and instead attacks the Conservative Party's electoral performance and style.last night voters in Winnipeg, in Montreal and in historic numbers in Oxford showed up to vote against the reckless austerity, partisan populism and ugly American-style attacks of the Conservative Party.
  20. deflected
    FinanceMr. Damien Kurek (Conservative) asked Randy Boissonnault (Liberal). substantive question.The answer dismisses the deficit question as false and pivots to an IMF report praising Canada's fiscal position rather than addressing spending restraint.A report today from the International Monetary Fund said that Canada has an enviable fiscal position, the best fiscal position in the G7.
  21. deflected
    HousingMrs. Rosemarie Falk (Conservative) asked Ms. Ya'ara Saks (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists existing benefits instead of responding to the call to end deficit spending that is said to drive housing costs.One thing we know is that this government, since 2015, has had the backs of Canadians.
  22. misdirected
    HousingMrs. Rosemarie Falk (Conservative) asked Pascale St-Onge (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks past Conservative cuts rather than addressing current deficit spending or the timing of restraint.Canadians remember how Conservatives handled things before 2015.
  23. partly answered
    Families, Children and Social DevelopmentMs. Leah Gazan (NDP) asked Ms. Ya'ara Saks (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the importance of school food programs and ongoing work but does not commit to a timeline for the promised national program.We know that school food programs are important, and that is why we continue to work together across the aisle to ensure that we meet the needs of Canadian children.
  24. answered
    HousingMr. Blake Desjarlais (NDP) asked Ms. Soraya Martinez Ferrada (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly addresses rising rents and corporate landlords by referencing pledges to build housing faster and legislate against renovictions.We pledged not only to build more housing faster, but also to deal with renovictions through legislation.
  25. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. John Barlow (Conservative) asked Marie-Claude Bibeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer corrects farm size and highlights investments without addressing bankruptcy or hunger numbers.He is presuming that farmers will not make any effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but they are always doing precisely that.
  26. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. John Barlow (Conservative) asked Ms. Julie Dabrusin (Liberal). loaded question.Answer shifts to clean fuel regulations and biofuels instead of responding to food price or bankruptcy impacts.It actually incents cleaner fuels, but it also works to support emerging industries, like biofuels, which I think are quite popular in his part of the country as well.
  27. deflected
    Agriculture and Agri-FoodMrs. Cheryl Gallant (Conservative) asked Marie-Claude Bibeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer promotes clean technology funding without engaging the chain of energy costs to food prices or hunger.One of the innovations that could be deployed across the country is the use of agricultural manure as a source of energy.
  28. misdirected
    Agriculture and Agri-FoodMr. Richard Lehoux (Conservative) asked Marie-Claude Bibeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer attacks prior Conservative record instead of addressing current budget allocation or affordability measures.I think that my colleague should show a little more humility and look at the history of the last Conservative government, which cut hundreds of millions of dollars in risk management programs
  29. partly answered
    Forestry IndustryMr. Mario Simard (Bloc) asked Bill Blair (Liberal). substantive question.Answer references disaster assistance and provincial coordination but omits specific compensation or wage subsidy programs requested.Through working with our provincial partners, the disaster financial assistance arrangements will be there to support those businesses and communities for eligible expenses.
  30. partly answered
    Forestry IndustryMs. Louise Chabot (Bloc) asked Carla Qualtrough (Liberal). substantive question.Answer affirms EI support and flexibility but does not commit to extending the qualifying period to 104 weeks.We are working with Service Canada to ensure that the workers have access to EI, and we will continue to do so.
  31. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. Jeremy Patzer (Conservative) asked Ms. Julie Dabrusin (Liberal). loaded question.Answer pivots to clean fuel regulations and technology incentives without addressing the call to cancel both carbon taxes.I thought the party opposite was really interested in technological solutions to climate change.
  32. misdirected
    Carbon PricingMr. Stephen Ellis (Conservative) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). loaded question.Answer defends the pricing mechanism and cites past Conservative platform instead of addressing forestry exemptions or Atlantic impacts.One of the political parties in the House, in the platform that it ran on in 2021, says, "We recognize that the most efficient way to reduce our emissions is to use pricing mechanisms."
  33. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. Joël Godin (Conservative) asked Ms. Julie Dabrusin (Liberal). substantive question.The answer discusses emissions reductions and clean fuels without addressing the request to cancel the tax.when we took stock of our greenhouse gas emissions, we saw that they were starting to decrease, which means that the work we are doing is reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.
  34. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. Bernard Généreux (Conservative) asked Pascale St-Onge (Liberal). substantive question.Responds by criticizing Conservatives instead of addressing the tax cancellation.I am so disappointed when I hear my Conservative colleagues from Quebec still talking about cancelling the carbon tax or pollution pricing, as they say.
  35. partly answered
    Fisheries and OceansMr. Clifford Small (Conservative) asked Joyce Murray (Liberal). substantive question.Explains status of decisions but does not commit to immediate announcement.With respect to the stocks mentioned, decisions have not yet been made.
  36. deflected
    Public SafetyMr. Dane Lloyd (Conservative) asked Mark Holland (Liberal). substantive question.The truncated answer begins to pivot without addressing the cancellation reason.
  37. deflected
    Grocery IndustryMs. Heather McPherson (NDP) asked Ms. Ya'ara Saks (Liberal). substantive question.Addresses food insecurity with existing programs but ignores the call for windfall tax.we continue to make investments to support those facing hardships.
  38. partly answered
    Small BusinessMr. Taylor Bachrach (NDP) asked Mary Ng (Liberal). substantive question.Acknowledges the issue and ongoing work without confirming extension.we will continue to keep working on this very issue.
  39. deflected
    Small BusinessMr. Daniel Blaikie (NDP) asked Mr. Mark Gerretsen (Liberal). rhetorical question.The exchange concerns procedural rules rather than answering a policy question.Although I would agree with the member that there are certain circumstances in which a chair would be asked a question, the content of the question is what is key here.