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Wednesday, September 20, 2023 · sitting No. 221
Commons advances sex offender registry bill amid Poilievre attacks on carbon tax
The House spent the largest share of its sitting on second reading of Bill S-12, which amends the Criminal Code, the Sex Offender Information Registration Act and the International Transfer of Offenders Act. Justice Minister Arif Virani said the bill would strengthen protections for victims of sexual offences and ensure the registry remains operational past its October deadline. Conservative MP Frank Caputo pressed the government to legislate stronger sentences for sexual offences comparable to those already enacted for firearms offences.
In Question Period Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre repeatedly challenged the government over rising inflation and the carbon tax, warning that higher rates would worsen the mortgage crisis. Liberal ministers François-Philippe Champagne and Anita Anand defended the grocery rebate and other supports while accusing Poilievre of offering only slogans. Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet called for release of withheld social-housing funds and an end to oil and gas subsidies.
Decided that day
- Bill C-318 passed second reading
From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard
Question Period – September 20, 2023. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube
Who held the floor · 2023-09-20
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
Housing
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh asked what the Prime Minister would do to stop renovictions and demovictions; Housing Minister Sean Fraser replied that eliminating GST on new rental apartments would increase supply and lower costs.
Read the exchangeOil and Gas Industry
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet urged the government to redirect oil-industry subsidies to seniors' pensions and social housing; Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said a framework to eliminate fossil-fuel subsidies was already in place.
Read the exchangeDiversity and Inclusion
NDP MP Randall Garrison called on Liberals to support a motion condemning anti-trans demonstrations; Minister Marci Ien said the government stands with trans and queer youth and places them at the centre of its response.
Read the exchangeNational Defence
Liberal MP Yvan Baker asked what further support Canada would give Ukraine; Defence Minister Bill Blair announced an additional $33 million for a British-led air-defence partnership.
Read the exchangeMarine Transportation
Bloc Québécois MP Julie Vignola demanded a date for promised contracts to the Davie shipyard; Treasury Board President Jean-Yves Duclos said nearly 1,000 workers are already employed there with contracts extending 20 to 25 years.
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
- deflectedFinancePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the query on inflation, taxes and deficits, instead listing government actions and attacking the opposition leader.
The Canadians who are watching us today know that we will always be there for them, and they are beginning to understand that the Conservative leader is just too risky for Canada.
- deflectedFinancePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer sidesteps the commentary on leadership costs by restating government help and labeling the Conservative leader risky.
If there is one thing Canadians are tired of, it is hearing the Conservative leader's slogans.
- deflectedFinancePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). loaded question.The answer is truncated and offers no response to the question on balancing the budget or inflation.
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Anita Anand (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists government programs but does not address the carbon tax, jet travel or hypocrisy raised in the question.
What is the Conservatives' plan? That is right; they do not have one.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the questioner's record on programs instead of addressing carbon tax, deficits or interest rates.
Over the course of my time in the chamber, I have watched him attack the programs that support my constituents, programs like employment insurance and the Canada pension plan.
- partly answeredHousingMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.The answer engages the housing and jurisdiction points by noting ongoing talks with Quebec but does not commit on releasing the withheld funds.
The fact of the matter is we both see building housing in Quebec and across the country as a priority.
- partly answeredOil and Gas IndustryMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). substantive question.The answer addresses oil subsidies by claiming they were ended but does not discuss using funds for seniors or social housing.
Regarding the oil industry, we ended fossil fuel subsidies two or three months ago, and we are going to build an economy that will make a major contribution to a low-carbon future.
- partly answeredHousingMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the need for affordable housing and cites GST removal but does not directly address preventing renovictions or demovictions.
Part of the solution to the housing crisis is to build more homes, and that is exactly what we are going to do.
- answeredHousingMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly lists concrete steps taken to increase affordable housing supply.
Last week, we eliminated the GST on the construction of apartments in this country.
- deflectedCarbon PricingMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Pascale St-Onge (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the question about rejecting the Bloc proposal and instead attacks the Conservatives.
It is a shame that the Conservative Party has no plan to fight climate change.
- misdirectedFinanceMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Terry Beech (Liberal). loaded question.The answer discusses passport processing improvements instead of addressing deficit spending or the Manley comment.
I am very happy to report that, thanks to the hard work of the now House leader, the passport backlog has been completely eliminated.
- partly answeredHousingMs. Melissa Lantsman (Conservative) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). loaded question.The answer defends current housing programs but avoids admitting any failure or addressing the 'not worth the cost' claim.
We have advanced programs that are going to build homes and that have been building homes.
- deflectedHousingMs. Melissa Lantsman (Conservative) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to warning against politicizing immigration rather than addressing the housing or immigration tracking questions.
with respect, I think it is very dangerous when any member of the House starts playing politics with immigration.
- deflectedHousingMs. Leslyn Lewis (Conservative) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks Conservative motives and voting record instead of responding to the spending or housing affordability question.
I hope this feigned compassion on behalf of the Conservatives is not fooling Canadians
- deflectedHousingMs. Leslyn Lewis (Conservative) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). loaded question.The answer highlights credit rating and new housing plans while criticizing the Conservative leader rather than addressing deficit spending.
The response from the Conservative leader was that we do not need any more of those.
- partly answeredOil and Gas IndustryMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). substantive question.The answer references an existing framework for reducing subsidies but does not confirm an announcement at the UN meeting.
we have put in place a framework to reduce and eliminate subsidies to the fossil fuel sector.
- deflectedOil and Gas IndustryMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). loaded question.The answer denies the premise and pivots to a general policy statement without addressing redirection of funds.
We established a framework to reduce and eliminate fossil fuel subsidies.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the opposition and changes subject to unrelated actions instead of addressing the carbon tax impact on groceries.
Rather than coming up with slogans, the Conservatives should unite with the Liberal caucus to act in the interest of Canadians.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks Conservatives on climate denial and policy flip-flops rather than addressing the tax increase question.
what is drastic and irresponsible is denying that climate change exists.
- misdirectedFinanceMrs. Shelby Kramp-Neuman (Conservative) asked Mark Holland (Liberal). loaded question.The answer reframes the question as cuts to vulnerable programs instead of addressing inflationary spending.
When they are talking about dealing with global inflation, they want to do it on the backs of the most vulnerable
- misdirectedFinanceMrs. Shelby Kramp-Neuman (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks past Conservative record and lists cuts instead of addressing current inflationary spending.
When they are talking about cutting, they are talking about cutting things like child care.
- partly answeredHousingMs. Jenny Kwan (NDP) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the need for more housing and references the national housing strategy but does not commit to the specific two million units requested.
We re-entered the sector in 2017 with the advancing of the national housing strategy.
- answeredDiversity and InclusionMr. Randall Garrison (NDP) asked Marci Ien (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly affirms support for the motion and condemns the hate as requested.
Absolutely we stand with trans and queer youth.
- deflectedCarbon PricingMr. Kyle Seeback (Conservative) asked Lawrence MacAulay (Liberal). loaded question.The answer discusses climate impacts and investments but avoids addressing removal of the carbon tax on farmers.
That is why we, as a government, have invested in climate change and will continue to invest to make sure that farmers and the country itself can grow crops
- deflectedCarbon PricingMr. Kyle Seeback (Conservative) asked Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Liberal). loaded question.Answer shifts to farmers' beliefs without addressing whether the tax is a climate plan or will be axed.
I represent a rural riding too, and what the member does not get is that farmers believe in climate change and they want to help fight it.
- deflectedCarbon PricingMr. John Barlow (Conservative) asked Lawrence MacAulay (Liberal). loaded question.Answer discusses climate events instead of addressing farmer support for the carbon tax or its quadrupling.
Hurricane Fiona blew down their barns and killed their cattle.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingMr. Richard Lehoux (Conservative) asked Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal). loaded question.Answer pivots to attacking Conservatives on climate costs rather than responding to the carbon tax increase question.
One thing is clear: Canada cannot afford the Conservatives.
- partly answeredMarine TransportationMrs. Julie Vignola (Bloc) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.Answer references the spring announcement and worker benefits but avoids specific dollar commitments to Davie.
I would like to point out that my colleague also had the chance to attend the incredible announcement we made last spring.
- deflectedMarine TransportationMrs. Julie Vignola (Bloc) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.Answer emphasizes existing work and future hiring without providing a date for the promised contracts.
There will be contracts for the next 20 to 25 years and thousands more workers will be hired
- misdirectedCarbon PricingMr. Stephen Ellis (Conservative) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks the member's travel expenses instead of addressing the carbon tax increase or inflation impacts.
it is hard to take seriously a question from the hon. member after I read a news article, just a couple of evenings ago, indicating that he and some of his Conservative colleagues went on a $45,000 trip
- deflectedCarbon PricingMr. Stephen Ellis (Conservative) asked Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Liberal). loaded question.Answer criticizes Conservative slogans and the member's Europe trip rather than addressing the carbon tax cancellation request.
While that member was hobnobbing with millionaire climate change deniers in Europe, we were here continuing to address the issues that face Canadians
- misdirectedCarbon PricingMr. Blake Richards (Conservative) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). loaded question.Answer highlights past Conservative positions on pollution pricing instead of responding to the call to cancel tax increases.
The last Conservative government, within which the Leader of the Opposition was a minister, proposed cap and trade, which is a form of pricing pollution.
- deflectedCarbon PricingMr. Scot Davidson (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists unrelated government programs instead of addressing the cabinet meeting costs or carbon tax request.
When it comes to child care, we have cut fees in half by over 50%.
- deflectedCarbon PricingMrs. Rachael Thomas (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to wildfires and climate action without addressing the carbon tax or affordability concerns raised.
The Conservatives can continue to bury their heads in the sand.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingMrs. Rachael Thomas (Conservative) asked Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the Conservatives' plans and social programs rather than responding to the carbon tax question.
The Conservative plan to fix global inflation by cutting people's services and benefits is no plan at all.
- answeredAgriculture and Agri-FoodMr. Taylor Bachrach (NDP) asked Lawrence MacAulay (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly states the process for compensation and confirms action will be taken once analysis is complete.
We are analyzing the situation, and as soon as that is done, we will make sure the farmers are compensated.
- partly answeredCanadian HeritageMr. Mike Morrice (Green) asked Pascale St-Onge (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges contact and general support programs but does not commit to the requested one-time emergency funding.
We continue to support arts organizations through a range of programs, and we will work with the organization to see how our programs could support it.