All sittings← 2023-11-212023-11-23 →
Wednesday, November 22, 2023 · sitting No. 253
House advances labour code changes to restrict replacement workers
The House spent the largest share of its time on second reading of Bill C-58, which would amend the Canada Labour Code to limit the use of replacement workers during strikes and lockouts in federally regulated sectors. Minister of Labour Seamus O'Regan said the measure responds to long-standing union calls and follows advice from the Canada Industrial Relations Board on implementation timing. Conservatives questioned whether the bill would affect arrangements at the Stellantis battery plant in Windsor.
Question period featured repeated exchanges on inflation and housing. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre pressed the government on new spending in the fall economic statement and its effect on mortgage renewals. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Bloc Québécois members criticized delays in new housing funds until 2025.
Decided that day
- Bill C-316 passed second reading
From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard
Question Period – November 22, 2023. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube
Who held the floor · 2023-11-22
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
Public Safety
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre asked the Prime Minister for details on reports of a vehicle explosion at the Rainbow Bridge crossing that left two people dead.
Read the exchangeInternational Trade
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre accused the government of imposing a carbon tax on Ukraine through the new free trade agreement; Minister of International Trade Mary Ng replied that Ukraine already prices pollution and that Conservatives voted against the deal.
Read the exchangeHousing
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said the fall economic statement failed to address the housing crisis for Indigenous people; Minister of Housing Sean Fraser cited previous distinctions-based investments of more than $8 billion.
Read the exchangeCarbon Pricing
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre urged passage of Bill C-234 to remove the carbon tax from farm fuels; Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Seamus O'Regan defended the government's climate record.
Read the exchangePersons with Disabilities
Green Party MP Mike Morrice pressed the government to fund the Canada disability benefit without waiting for further regulations; Parliamentary Secretary Sameer Zuberi said the benefit will provide additional support once regulations are complete.
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
- answeredPublic SafetyPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly supplies details on the explosion, briefings, border closures and ongoing coordination.
There was a vehicle explosion at the Rainbow Bridge border crossing.
- answeredPublic SafetyPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer supplies the same concrete updates on the incident, closures and federal engagement.
There was a vehicle explosion at the Rainbow Bridge crossing.
- deflectedFinancePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Randy Boissonnault (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to housing measures instead of addressing the added spending or inflation reversal request.
yesterday was a good day with good news for people who want to buy a new home.
- misdirectedFinancePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Randy Boissonnault (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the Conservatives' Ukraine vote rather than engaging the fiscal policy question.
It is the end of support of the Conservative Party for Ukrainians in this country and in Ukraine
- misdirectedForeign AffairsPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). loaded question.The answer accuses the Conservatives of betrayal instead of addressing the carbon-tax or trade-agreement claims.
There is only one party that has betrayed Ukraine and that is the Conservatives.
- partly answeredFinanceMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Randy Boissonnault (Liberal). substantive question.The answer notes the border monitoring but then shifts to housing and tax credits without addressing the economic-statement substance critique.
We are also very concerned about the situation at the border, and we will be monitoring it very closely.
- deflectedFinanceMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). loaded question.The answer defends the housing agreement but does not engage the interference or harm claim.
I recently signed an agreement with Minister Duranceau, my counterpart in the Government of Quebec, that provides for funding of $900 million from the federal government
- answeredPublic SafetyMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the incident, first responders and offers condolences while noting ongoing updates.
We will share information with the House, and indeed with all Canadians, as we get more information
- deflectedHousingMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Marci Ien (Liberal). substantive question.The answer promotes the first home savings account instead of addressing the two-year wait for affordable housing.
So many young people are taking advantage of the first home savings account.
- misdirectedFinancePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). loaded question.The answer avoids the debt interest question by attacking the Conservatives' proposed cuts rather than defending the government's spending.
I would like to know why he refuses to say what he will cut.
- deflectedFinancePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). loaded question.The answer highlights government achievements and Conservative austerity instead of explaining the rise in debt interest costs.
What the Conservatives are proposing are cuts and austerity.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Seamus O'Regan (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts to unrelated topics like retirement age and Ukraine trade instead of addressing carbon tax impacts on farmers or food affordability.
- deflectedInternational TradePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Mary Ng (Liberal). loaded question.The answer corrects a factual claim about the trade deal but does not engage with the broader accusation regarding carbon tax imposition.
The Canada-Ukraine free trade deal does not impose a price on pollution on Ukraine.
- misdirectedInternational TradePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Ahmed Hussen (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks Conservatives on climate change and Ukraine support rather than addressing the carbon tax in the trade agreement.
it is bad enough that that party is the only party in the House that does not believe in climate change.
- misdirectedInternational TradePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Arif Virani (Liberal). loaded question.The answer emphasizes multipartisan support for Ukraine and criticizes the Conservative vote instead of discussing the carbon tax clause.
Unfortunately, that evaporated into a puff of smoke with the very decided and methodological vote taken by the Conservatives.
- partly answeredFinanceMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). substantive question.The answer addresses the economic statement by listing new investments but does not explain why it lacked fresh content on seniors or housing.
in the economic statement that we presented yesterday, we are investing more in housing co-operatives in Quebec and across Canada.
- answeredFinanceMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer explains the purpose of an economic statement and lists specific measures announced.
It is not a budget; it is an economic statement. We tabled it to be transparent with Canadians and to show them how far along we are with our plan.
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Liberal). substantive question.The answer notes Senate independence then pivots to climate history instead of addressing the bill or senators.
we would think that after two decades in this place, the member opposite might know that the Senate is independent of this place.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the questioner on climate denial and Ukraine instead of addressing carbon tax carve-outs or the minister.
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). substantive question.The answer shifts to poverty statistics and Conservative cuts rather than responding to the bill or minister resignation.
Since we came into office in 2015, we have lifted 650,000 children, 2.7 million Canadians, out of poverty.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to Ukraine support and accuses Conservatives of not standing with Ukraine instead of addressing the carbon tax or bill.
I can only assume that is what we are seeing here in Canada, right now, as the members opposite are the only ones in Canada who are not standing with Ukraine.
- answeredHousingMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly addresses indigenous housing by citing specific funding amounts and commitments.
In previous budgets, we have put $4 billion on the table for distinctions-based funding for indigenous communities and an additional $4.3 billion to address indigenous housing needs in urban, rural and northern environments across this country.
- partly answeredClimate ChangeMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Liberal). substantive question.The answer affirms the emissions cap commitment but does not commit to releasing the framework before COP28.
Establishing a cap on oil and gas emissions is one of the key commitments of the government's emissions reduction plan.
- deflectedAutomotive IndustryPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Randy Boissonnault (Liberal). substantive question.The answer attacks Conservative worker record and pivots to green plan instead of addressing the contract or foreign workers.
this is a little bit rich coming from a political party that not only does not stand for auto workers and does not stand for Canadian workers at all, but also has no interest in a green economic plan like we have.
- deflectedAutomotive IndustryPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Randy Boissonnault (Liberal). substantive question.The answer avoids the contract request by repeating job numbers and attacking the asker.
He is risky and reckless, and he is just dealing in pure misinformation.
- deflectedAutomotive IndustryPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Randy Boissonnault (Liberal). substantive question.The answer sidesteps the contract by citing a union leader and restating job figures.
Dave Cassidy, president of Unifor Local 444, called out the disinformation from the Conservative Party as absolutely false and baseless.
- deflectedAutomotive IndustryPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Mr. Ryan Turnbull (Liberal). substantive question.The answer ignores the contract demand and pivots to attacking Conservatives on workers and climate.
The Conservatives have never been for workers.
- partly answeredHousingMr. Gabriel Ste-Marie (Bloc) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.The answer addresses timing of measures and cites recent agreements but does not fully engage the emergency funding critique.
There are a number of measures that take effect very quickly, some in the next number of weeks and some in the next number of months.
- partly answeredHousingMr. Gabriel Ste-Marie (Bloc) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the need for investments and references a Quebec agreement but does not address the immediate 2024-2025 funding gap.
we signed an agreement with the Province of Quebec to the tune of $1.8 billion just to support investments in affordable housing.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Liberal). loaded question.The question embeds a premise about quadrupling the tax cost; the answer attacks climate denial instead of addressing farmer costs.
it is really disappointing that the Conservatives still do not believe in climate change.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to Ukraine and climate ideology rather than quantifying carbon tax costs on farmers.
Conservatives need to give their heads a shake and stand with the people who are fighting for freedom around the world.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). loaded question.The answer again diverts to Ukraine support and climate opposition instead of answering the cost question.
If he truly cared about supporting Canadian families and Canadian farmers, he would support the Canada-Ukraine free trade agreement and would not abandon them in their time of need.
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Lawrence MacAulay (Liberal). loaded question.Answer ignores the specific cost question and pivots to criticizing the opposition's climate plan.
the Leader of the Opposition and his party do not even have a climate plan.
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Lawrence MacAulay (Liberal). loaded question.Answer avoids addressing the tax impact on farmers and repeats general climate plan talking points.
If we do not deal with climate, we will increasingly put up the price of food.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Liberal). loaded question.Answer shifts entirely to Ukraine and attacks the government instead of addressing Bill C-234 or carbon tax.
Ukrainian farmers are betrayed by this federal government.
- partly answeredIndigenous AffairsMs. Lori Idlout (NDP) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.Answer acknowledges the infrastructure gap and cites increased funding but does not specify timing or reconciliation with the $350 billion figure.
We have seen an increase of 168% in investments in indigenous communities, and we are not going to stop.
- partly answeredEmergency PreparednessMs. Elizabeth May (Green) asked Harjit S. Sajjan (Liberal). substantive question.Answer discusses visits and ongoing discussions but does not commit to specific infrastructure funding timelines.
We will make sure that the north gets the support it needs.
- deflectedEmergency PreparednessMs. Leah Gazan (NDP) asked Mr. René Arseneault (Liberal). rhetorical question.This is a point of order demanding an apology rather than a policy question, and the response addresses decorum instead.
The heckling always comes from the same part of the House.