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Wednesday, October 18, 2023 · sitting No. 234
House debates concurrence motion on ArriveCAN report as opposition presses for accountability
The House spent the largest share of the sitting on a concurrence motion moved by Conservative MP Kyle Seeback regarding the sixth report of the Standing Committee on International Trade. The report concerns the ArriveCAN app and the government’s use of consultants. Debate continued throughout the day with members from the Conservatives, Liberals and Bloc Québécois participating.
In Question Period the Leader of the Opposition, Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre, pressed the government on inflation, housing costs and the carbon tax, with particular attention to Quebec’s rate of 4.8 per cent. Liberal ministers defended the government’s spending record and rejected calls for cuts. Other exchanges focused on grocery prices and foreign affairs.
Members marked Persons Day with tributes to the Famous Five and Thérèse Casgrain. The Bloc Québécois raised humanitarian needs in Gaza and the government’s international role.
Decided that day
- Bill C-320 passed second reading
- Bill C-325 failed second reading
- Bill C-244 passed third reading
- Bill C-314 failed second reading
- Bill C-319 passed second reading
- Opposition motion on fiscal plan failed
From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard
Question Period – October 18, 2023. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube
Who held the floor · 2023-10-18
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
Persons Day
Liberal MP Sophie Chatel noted that on October 18 1929 the Privy Council recognized women as persons under the law and recalled her grandmother’s experience in Montreal in the 1940s.
Read the exchangeGrocery Industry
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh asked Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne whether he would support a motion to summon grocery CEOs back to committee after earlier statements that prices would fall.
Read the exchangePensions
Bloc Québécois MP Andréanne Larouche urged support for Bill C-319 to end the two-tier pension system by extending increases to all seniors aged 65 and over.
Read the exchangeVeterans Affairs
Conservative MP Blake Richards said chaplains had been told they could not pray for the fallen on Remembrance Day and asked why.
Read the exchangeThe Environment
Green Party MP Elizabeth May asked the environment minister what tools the federal government could use to protect the Ontario Greenbelt after the province’s reversal.
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
- deflectedThe EconomyPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks Conservatives instead of addressing the question on reversing inflationary policies.
Canadians realize that the Conservatives are too dangerous for this country, and they trust us to move forward.
- deflectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Anita Anand (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists government supports but does not address reversing policies that doubled housing costs.
Canada has a AAA credit rating, the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7 and low unemployment.
- misdirectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Mark Holland (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the opposition's proposed cuts rather than responding to the housing cost question.
The global inflation problem is not going to be fixed by cutting dental support to 3.5 million seniors, and that is what the Leader of the Opposition would do.
- deflectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Anita Anand (Liberal). loaded question.The answer defends investments but avoids addressing the claim of government cuts or doubled housing costs.
unlike the party opposite, on this side of the House we do not balance budgets on the backs of Canadians.
- answeredForeign AffairsPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly addresses the question on the missile origin and Hamas condemnation.
our government has been unequivocal in condemning the terrorist attacks of Hamas against Israeli citizens.
- answeredForeign AffairsMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). substantive question.The answer addresses joining the US-led initiative by detailing Canada's actions on humanitarian corridors.
We are continuing to push for a humanitarian corridor.
- partly answeredForeign AffairsMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). substantive question.The answer confirms contacts with allies but does not confirm direct talks between the Prime Minister and US President.
- deflectedGrocery IndustryMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.The answer highlights past actions but does not commit to supporting the motion to summon grocery CEOs.
We called the five grocery CEOs to Ottawa and expressed the frustration of 40 million Canadians about the price of groceries.
- answeredGrocery IndustryMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly confirms the government requested the CEOs appear, addressing the yes/no on support.
I even wrote to the committee chair asking him to invite the CEOs of Canada's major grocery store chains to come and explain their plan to Canadians.
- deflectedForeign AffairsMs. Melissa Lantsman (Conservative) asked Ms. Pam Damoff (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the intelligence-sharing question and shifts to a general statement on Gaza.
the situation in Gaza is a tragedy.
- misdirectedFinanceMr. Jasraj Singh Hallan (Conservative) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to attacking Conservatives on child benefits instead of addressing deficits or the motion.
There is also fear among Canadians that the Conservatives are going to cut programs they rely on.
- misdirectedFinanceMr. Kyle Seeback (Conservative) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). loaded question.The answer diverts to child benefits and G7 deficits without addressing inflationary deficits or mortgages.
There are actually 400,000 families in Alberta collecting the Canada child benefit cheques.
- deflectedFinanceMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). substantive question.The answer notes inflation data and a bill but avoids explaining mortgage payment solutions.
yesterday, Statistics Canada shared some good news: Inflation is down again here in Canada.
- misdirectedFinanceMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Soraya Martinez Ferrada (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts to housing starts and ignores inflation rates and feeding families.
Just this morning, CMHC reported a 98% increase in housing starts.
- partly answeredOil and Gas IndustryMs. Kristina Michaud (Bloc) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer addresses the legacy by outlining the emissions reduction plan but does not directly affirm or deny the oil production legacy.
We have a very detailed plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and grow a prosperous, low-carbon economy.
- deflectedOil and Gas IndustryMs. Monique Pauzé (Bloc) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer ignores the question on Trans Mountain costs and pollution to pivot to an unrelated Quebec investment.
I wonder why she has nothing to say about what the government has recently done.
- misdirectedHousingMs. Michelle Ferreri (Conservative) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the questioner's voting record instead of addressing mortgage defaults or spending.
What is interesting is that the member voted against every program that made that funding possible, and then she tried to take credit for it.
- misdirectedHousingMrs. Stephanie Kusie (Conservative) asked Randy Boissonnault (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts to attacking Alberta Conservatives on pensions rather than addressing the deficit or budget plan.
I find it highly shocking that Albertans from the Conservative Party in the House are absolutely silent on a matter that really affects the middle class in Alberta.
- deflectedHousingMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). loaded question.The answer blames Conservatives for delays instead of responding to the housing affordability question for young people.
what Montrealers do not understand is why the Conservatives are delaying the implementation of measures that will help build more apartments and houses across the country.
- deflectedThe EconomyMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Pascale St-Onge (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer criticizes past Conservative records rather than addressing current inflation, interest rates or spending.
The reality is that the last time they were in power, not only did they burn through the budgets left behind by the Liberals, but they also managed to never balance the budget
- answeredHousingMs. Jenny Kwan (NDP) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly addresses the request for Toronto homelessness funding by citing specific amounts already provided.
Toronto has received $290 million to combat homelessness.
- partly answeredHousingMs. Bonita Zarrillo (NDP) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer cites national housing strategy results but does not address the specific request for immediate winter funding in the Tri-Cities.
a strategy that has resulted in 70,000 people being taken off the street; 122,000 who were very close to being homeless are no longer in that position.
- answeredForeign AffairsMichael Chong (Conservative) asked Ms. Pam Damoff (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly responds to the travel advisory discrepancy by stating the minister's advice to Canadians in Lebanon.
yesterday the minister indicated that Canadians in Lebanon should make plans to leave.
- answeredForeign AffairsMichael Chong (Conservative) asked Ms. Pam Damoff (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly affirms ongoing communication on safety threats.
We will continue, as we always do, to ensure that Canadians are safe when they are abroad.
- deflectedCarbon PricingMrs. Dominique Vien (Conservative) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). substantive question.The answer avoids solutions or tax abolition and instead attacks the opposition while noting the tax does not apply in Quebec.
it always surprises me when Quebec Conservatives talk about the carbon tax because the federal carbon tax does not apply in Quebec
- misdirectedCarbon PricingMrs. Dominique Vien (Conservative) asked Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal). substantive question.The answer ignores the carbon tax question and instead demands the asker specify spending cuts to attack their position.
Where do they want to make cuts? Let them show some backbone and tell us where they want to make cuts.
- partly answeredPensionsMs. Andréanne Larouche (Bloc) asked Seamus O'Regan (Liberal). substantive question.The answer lists prior pension measures but does not address support for Bill C-319 or extending increases to ages 65-74.
e increased old age security for the most vulnerable seniors.
- partly answeredPensionsMs. Andréanne Larouche (Bloc) asked Seamus O'Regan (Liberal). substantive question.The answer repeats past actions on pensions but again avoids any commitment on Bill C-319 or equal treatment for all seniors 65+.
We increased pensions for the most vulnerable seniors, who are more likely to live with disabilities and require health care.
- deflectedJusticeEd Fast (Conservative) asked Mark Holland (Liberal). loaded question.The answer sidesteps the call to halt assisted suicide expansion and instead discusses general mental health investments and committee review.
That is why we are making critical investments there.
- deflectedVeterans AffairsMr. Blake Richards (Conservative) asked Mrs. Marie-France Lalonde (Liberal). loaded question.The answer thanks veterans and recalls Remembrance Day but does not address the chaplain prayer policy or Remembrance Day restrictions.
On November 11, like many of my friends here and my colleagues, we remember.
- misdirectedVeterans AffairsMr. James Bezan (Conservative) asked Mrs. Marie-France Lalonde (Liberal). substantive question.The answer attacks the prior Conservative government on spending and avoids addressing current discrimination claims or housing/food issues for troops.
I will not take any lessons today from that side of the House.
- deflectedPublic Services and ProcurementMr. Larry Brock (Conservative) asked Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Liberal). substantive question.The answer shifts focus to committee authority instead of addressing RCMP cooperation.
the Prime Minister does not dictate committees.
- partly answeredPublic Services and ProcurementMr. Michael Barrett (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.The answer covers the investigation and suspension but omits whistle-blower protections.
we will take all measures required to make sure that proper governance is applied in all agencies of the Government of Canada.
- deflectedNatural ResourcesMr. Gerald Soroka (Conservative) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). substantive question.The answer criticizes past Conservative actions and mentions tweaks rather than committing to repeal.
there are some surgical tweaks that we will make to ensure that we move forward.
- answeredNational DefenceMs. Rachel Blaney (NDP) asked Mrs. Marie-France Lalonde (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly states actions and funding to address housing for CAF members.
we are working with our stakeholders to align resources and acquire additional housing.
- partly answeredNatural ResourcesMs. Elizabeth May (Green) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). substantive question.The answer notes amendments will occur but does not commit to reviewing the specific panel recommendations.
we will be making amendments to the act.