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Tuesday, September 19, 2023 · sitting No. 220

Commons holds take-note debate on allegations of Indian link to killing

The House devoted the largest share of its sitting to a take-note debate on credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Minister Harjit S. Sajjan moved the motion under Standing Order 53.1, and members from all parties expressed condolences to the family while calling for transparency in the ongoing investigation.

Question period featured repeated exchanges between Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over accelerating inflation, the carbon tax and housing costs. Poilievre argued that recent deficits and money creation had driven prices higher and warned of further mortgage distress; Trudeau countered that supports such as the grocery rebate and child-care reductions had been delivered while the deficit remained the lowest in the G7.

New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh pressed the government on grocery prices and protection for those facing foreign threats, while Bloc Québécois members raised concerns about housing funds held in Ottawa and support for Quebec fruit and vegetable growers.

From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard

Question Period – September 19, 2023. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube

Who held the floor · 2023-09-19

Government (Liberal)OppositionOver the day: government 39%, opposition 61% of the words spokenGovernment businessGovernment businessGovernment business▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 10:0012:0013:0014:0015:0016:0017:0018:0019:0020:00Last speech 22:05Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 12 h 5 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
66Allegations and Accord Bills Share the FloorThe House devoted nearly equal time to allegations against the Indian government and debate on the Newfoundland Atlantic Accord, while introducing four bills. Question Period produced mostly deflected or incomplete answers amid only minor procedural interruptions.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

Foreign Hostage Takers Accountability Act

Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman introduced Bill C-353, the foreign hostage takers accountability act, to impose restrictive measures on foreign hostage takers and those practising arbitrary detention.

Read the exchange

Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation Act

Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson opened second reading of Bill C-49 to amend the Atlantic Accord acts, saying the legislation would enable an offshore wind industry; Bloc Québécois MP Mario Simard questioned whether the bill truly addressed clean energy given its focus on oil drilling.

Read the exchange

Grocery Industry

Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne told the House that the five major grocery chains had been summoned to Ottawa and asked to produce concrete plans to stabilize prices within three weeks.

Read the exchange

Carbon Pricing

Conservative MP John Barlow cited the Parliamentary Budget Officer’s projection that farmers would pay nearly $1 billion in carbon taxes by 2030 and urged the government to cancel planned increases.

Read the exchange

Indigenous Affairs

New Democrat MP Leah Gazan called on the government to provide resources for a search of Winnipeg landfills where remains of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls are believed to lie.

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
    FinancePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer avoids addressing when or whether the budget will be balanced and instead lists existing supports and G7 fiscal metrics.we manage our finances responsibly, with the lowest deficit and best debt-to-GDP ratio of any G7 country.
  2. partly answered
    Public SafetyMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The response stresses safety as a priority and mentions working with agencies but provides no specific protection plan for threatened individuals.It is important for everyone to feel safe in Canada. That is why keeping Canadians safe is one of our absolute top priorities
  3. deflected
    FinanceMr. Jasraj Singh Hallan (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to defending past COVID programs instead of addressing current inflationary spending or trust in the Prime Minister.Thanks to those programs, we have nearly one million more jobs in Canada than before COVID.
  4. deflected
    FinanceMr. Jasraj Singh Hallan (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). loaded question.The response avoids the question on deficits and interest rates by attacking Conservatives and restating job numbers and GST removal.We do not intend to take advice from the party that was going to leave Canadians high and dry when COVID shut down our economy.
  5. deflected
    FinanceMr. Adam Chambers (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). loaded question.The answer highlights credit rating and GST removal while ignoring the call to stop deficits and instead attacks Conservative austerity.The only thing the Conservatives can offer is austerity and cuts.
  6. misdirected
    FinanceMr. Adam Chambers (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). loaded question.The minister insults the questioner about confusing rates then shifts to grocery price stabilization instead of addressing carbon tax or energy costs.I guess it is an easy mistake to make if one is a Conservative who does not really care about facts.
  7. deflected
    FinanceMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). loaded question.The response ignores the inflation and mortgage question to attack the Conservative leader's past pandemic comments.Today, he was proud of something he said at the beginning of the pandemic.
  8. deflected
    FinanceMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). loaded question.The answer corrects a supposed confusion on rates and cites deficit stats but does not address the industry minister or spending's impact on inflation.if my colleague opposite wants to lecture anyone about economics, he should start with his colleagues, who do not understand the difference between the key rate and inflation.
  9. partly answered
    Grocery IndustryMr. Sébastien Lemire (Bloc) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.The response defends the grocery CEO meeting and price stabilization request but offers no timeline or enforcement details for measures affecting wallets.We told them to table specific, concrete plans to stabilize prices in Canada.
  10. deflected
    Agriculture and Agri-FoodMr. Yves Perron (Bloc) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.The answer focuses on grocery chains stabilizing prices rather than committing support for farmers.it is up to the large grocery chains to stabilize prices in Canada.
  11. answered
    Agriculture and Agri-FoodMr. Yves Perron (Bloc) asked Lawrence MacAulay (Liberal). substantive question.The minister explains the existing programs that provide compensation for weather damage.We have the CAP program and the business risk management programs, which we worked on with the provinces and the territories right across the country.
  12. misdirected
    FinanceMs. Michelle Ferreri (Conservative) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). loaded question.The response attacks the Conservatives' record and plans instead of addressing the inflation claim.The only plans they have are to raise taxes on the people who build homes, and that is just foolish.
  13. misdirected
    FinanceMs. Michelle Ferreri (Conservative) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). loaded question.Responds by criticizing Conservatives' past votes rather than addressing the Prime Minister's statements.What is funny is she does not realize that many of her colleagues voted against the Canada child benefit
  14. misdirected
    FinanceMs. Marilyn Gladu (Conservative) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). loaded question.Focuses on criticizing the opposition's housing plan instead of addressing spending.Realistically, when we dig into the housing plan, if we can call it that, that they put forward the other day, they plan to cut funding for home building
  15. misdirected
    FinanceMr. Philip Lawrence (Conservative) asked Mark Holland (Liberal). loaded question.Diverts to dental care and attacks Conservative plans on vulnerable people.For the nine million Canadians who do not have the opportunity today to have good oral health, we can make sure that this is not only a matter of dignity for them but also a matter of prevention, and the Conservatives are going to fix global inflation by taking away dental care.
  16. partly answered
    Indigenous AffairsMs. Leah Gazan (NDP) asked Gary Anandasangaree (Liberal). substantive question.Acknowledges the issue and describes the approach but does not commit to specific action on searching landfills.Our approach must be victim-centred, trauma-informed and indigenous-led in order to support healing, and we look forward to working with the families to reach that end.
  17. answered
    Indigenous AffairsMs. Lori Idlout (NDP) asked Gary Anandasangaree (Liberal). substantive question.Commits to working on implementing the red dress alert system.we look forward to working with the opposition and all parties to implement the red dress alert.
  18. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. John Barlow (Conservative) asked Lawrence MacAulay (Liberal). substantive question.Answer diverts to hurricane damage and general environment instead of addressing carbon tax costs or inflation.It is quite obvious that we have to do something about the environment, and we are doing something about the environment.
  19. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. John Barlow (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.Answer attacks Conservatives on crypto and shifts to grocery chains without addressing carbon tax.we will take no lessons from the Conservatives.
  20. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. Jacques Gourde (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.Answer dismisses question as buzzwords and pivots to grocery meetings instead of carbon tax policy.Canadians have had enough of Conservative buzzwords.
  21. misdirected
    Carbon PricingMr. Jacques Gourde (Conservative) asked Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal). loaded question.Answer calls statement nonsense and attacks on unrelated issues like weapons and women's rights.in 2023, not having a climate change plan makes no sense.
  22. answered
    LabourMs. Louise Chabot (Bloc) asked Seamus O'Regan (Liberal). substantive question.Answer directly confirms legislation will be introduced to protect collective bargaining.We are on track to introduce legislation by the end of the year.
  23. partly answered
    LabourMrs. Julie Vignola (Bloc) asked Seamus O'Regan (Liberal). substantive question.Answer references past strikes and review process but offers no specific action on the Quebec lockout.We will be taking a careful look at both of those situations
  24. deflected
    Carbon PricingMs. Lianne Rood (Conservative) asked Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Liberal). substantive question.Answer uses a quote from a Conservative supporter instead of addressing tax impacts on food prices.This quote is from Preston Manning, the political mentor of the leader of the official opposition .
  25. deflected
    Carbon PricingMs. Lianne Rood (Conservative) asked Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Liberal). substantive question.Answer emphasizes rebates rather than responding to the call to cancel carbon tax increases.I appreciate the opportunity to remind Canadians that the price on pollution is a rebate program.
  26. deflected
    Carbon PricingMrs. Dominique Vien (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). loaded question.The answer sidesteps the carbon tax application to Quebec farmers by shifting to praise for Quebec's climate leadership.Quebec is the leader when it comes to climate action.
  27. deflected
    Carbon PricingMrs. Stephanie Kusie (Conservative) asked Jenna Sudds (Liberal). substantive question.The answer ignores the carbon tax question entirely and pivots to child care spending.We are building a nationwide system of child care that is affordable, inclusive and high quality.
  28. partly answered
    Carbon PricingMrs. Stephanie Kusie (Conservative) asked Mark Holland (Liberal). loaded question.The answer engages the inflation premise by countering with climate costs but does not address axing the tax.I would also say we are not talking about the costs of a climate that will not bear crops.
  29. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. Warren Steinley (Conservative) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). substantive question.The answer notes rebates then shifts to offshore wind and criticizes the opposition instead of addressing the carbon tax on farmers.My goodness, they are going to need to explain it to the constituents in Atlantic Canada and to the premier of Nova Scotia.
  30. partly answered
    Indigenous AffairsMs. Niki Ashton (NDP) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.The answer states programs will be protected and notes past increases but does not specify targeted programs.Programs and services for indigenous peoples will be protected.
  31. answered
    Climate ChangeMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly addresses the emissions cap by pointing to the existing reduction plan and engagement with the sector.That is what we are doing through the emissions reduction plan we have put into place.