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Friday, November 24, 2023 · sitting No. 255

Commons debates anti-scab bill for federal workers

The House spent the largest share of its time on Government Orders debating Bill C-58, which would introduce anti-scab provisions under the Canada Labour Code for workers in federal jurisdiction. Mr. Alexandre Boulerice said the bill marks the first federal anti-scab measure and protects the right to strike. Ms. Monique Pauzé credited the Bloc Québécois and the member for Bécancour—Nicolet—Saurel with long-standing advocacy for such legislation.

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux asked about the experience of Quebec and British Columbia with similar rules, and Mr. Boulerice replied that those provinces saw fewer labour disputes and faster resolutions once anti-scab laws were in place. Mr. Richard Cannings noted that earlier NDP private members' bills on the subject had been opposed by both Liberals and Conservatives.

Question period featured repeated Conservative attacks on federal spending, carbon pricing and the Stellantis battery-plant contract, with Liberal ministers defending investments in housing, industry and emissions reduction.

From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard

Question Period – November 24, 2023. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube

Who held the floor · 2023-11-24

Government (Liberal)OppositionOver the day: government 51%, opposition 49% of the words spokenGovernment businessQuestion PeriodGovernment business▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 10:0511:0012:0013:00Last speech 13:40Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 3 h 35 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
30Another sitting that went nowhereThe sitting devoted most time to the Canada Labour Code and other topics yet recorded no votes or bill progress. Question period produced far more deflected or misdirected answers than clear ones.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

Housing

Mr. Peter Julian said a Sherbrooke man faces his first winter on the street and asked when the government would release social-housing funds immediately rather than in 2025; Mr. Peter Fragiskatos replied that two million people have already been housed through existing programs.

Read the exchange

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Ms. Christine Normandin demanded that Ottawa reimburse Quebec the $460 million spent on asylum seekers; Mr. Marc Miller said the two governments must meet to review all transfers under the Canada-Quebec accord before any payment.

Read the exchange

Canadian Heritage

Mr. Martin Champoux said the fall economic statement contained no new money for television and radio despite job cuts at Quebecor; Ms. Pascale St-Onge answered that modernized broadcasting legislation and an enhanced labour tax credit would address the sector's long-term needs.

Read the exchange

Public Services and Procurement

Mr. Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay urged the government to issue a call for tenders instead of a sole-source $9-billion contract to Boeing for the CP-140 Aurora replacement; Mrs. Marie-France Lalonde said no decision has been made and operational needs of the armed forces remain the priority.

Read the exchange

Innovation, Science and Industry

Ms. Marilyn Gladu accused the government of blocking a whistle-blower from testifying at the ethics committee about the Sustainable Development Technology Canada fund; Mr. François-Philippe Champagne said an independent law firm had been retained to receive complaints and restore proper governance.

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. misdirected
    FinanceKerry-Lynne Findlay (Conservative) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the Conservative housing record instead of addressing current spending and mortgage concerns.When the now opposition leader was the so-called minister of housing, $300 million was allocated toward housing.
  2. misdirected
    Carbon PricingKerry-Lynne Findlay (Conservative) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts to attacking the Conservatives on Ukraine instead of addressing the carbon tax question.in a week where that party has been exposed for what it is, that is, a party that does not stand in alignment with the principles of freedom and has turned its back on the Ukrainian diaspora
  3. misdirected
    Automotive IndustryKerry-Lynne Findlay (Conservative) asked Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the Conservative leader and party instead of addressing the Stellantis contract and jobs question.what is becoming clearer and clearer every day is that the Conservative leader of today is just not worth the risk.
  4. misdirected
    FinanceMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to foreign investment rankings instead of addressing the budget deficit and debt payment question.When it comes to attracting foreign investment, Canada is now ranked third in the world, after the United States and Brazil.
  5. partly answered
    FinanceMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.The answer addresses affordability and housing measures but does not address the request for a timeline to balance the budget.Canadians asked for two specific things, namely for help with affordability and help with housing.
  6. answered
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMs. Christine Normandin (Bloc) asked Marc Miller (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly addresses the request to sit down and resolve the asylum seeker funding dispute with Quebec.I have stated very publicly that we need to sit down with Quebec and our respective finance ministers to sort all this out and put all our cards on the table.
  7. deflected
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMs. Christine Normandin (Bloc) asked Marc Miller (Liberal). substantive question.The answer deflects by accusing the asker of petty politics and shifting blame rather than committing to reimbursement.playing petty politics is to presume that this is a one-way relationship, when it is actually a two-way relationship.
  8. partly answered
    HousingMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer addresses the national housing strategy but does not commit to immediate social housing action.the national housing strategy is getting people housed.
  9. partly answered
    Grocery IndustryMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). substantive question.Mentions competition measures for grocery chains but pivots to unrelated housing stats.As we know, there are competition measures in it that would hold grocery chains to account.
  10. deflected
    FinanceMr. Scott Aitchison (Conservative) asked Mr. Ryan Turnbull (Liberal). loaded question.Ignores borrowing question and lists unrelated ups and downs instead.Let me tell members what it is up.
  11. misdirected
    FinanceMr. Scott Aitchison (Conservative) asked Mr. Ryan Turnbull (Liberal). substantive question.Attacks Conservatives on unrelated issues like Ukraine and border instead of addressing spending.What is irresponsible is voting against the Canada-Ukraine free trade agreement and abandoning Ukrainians in their time of need.
  12. misdirected
    FinanceMr. Kevin Waugh (Conservative) asked Mr. Ryan Turnbull (Liberal). substantive question.Criticizes Conservative flip-flops and Ukraine vote rather than answering on spending and food banks.They say they are committed to supporting Ukraine but then they abandon them in their time of need.
  13. misdirected
    FinanceMr. Kevin Waugh (Conservative) asked Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Liberal). substantive question.Focuses on attacking Conservatives over Ukraine trade vote instead of debt or budget balance.That is the reality. You have betrayed Ukraine and it is shameful the way you have conducted yourselves in the last couple of days.
  14. deflected
    FinanceMrs. Dominique Vien (Conservative) asked Mr. Ryan Turnbull (Liberal). substantive question.Avoids balanced budget question by speculating on hypothetical Conservative cuts.What would the Conservative leader cut?
  15. deflected
    FinanceMrs. Dominique Vien (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.Suggests voting for a bill as a Christmas gift instead of addressing debt or inflation directly.Christmas is coming. If she is so concerned about affordability, she can give Canadians a gift by voting in favour of Bill C‑56
  16. partly answered
    Canadian HeritageMr. Martin Champoux (Bloc) asked Pascale St-Onge (Liberal). substantive question.Acknowledges media crisis and lists prior actions but cuts off without new funding commitment.That is why we have been there since day one, bringing in new programs to support our news media.
  17. deflected
    Canadian HeritageMr. Martin Champoux (Bloc) asked Pascale St-Onge (Liberal). substantive question.The answer dismisses the fund proposal and pivots to legislation plus an attack on Conservatives instead of explaining the refusal.Unfortunately, the $50‑million emergency fund that the Bloc was proposing will not solve the problem.
  18. misdirected
    FinanceMr. Gerald Soroka (Conservative) asked Mr. Ryan Turnbull (Liberal). rhetorical question.The question is a rhetorical attack rather than a genuine query, and the answer responds by attacking the Conservatives instead.it has actually been humorous to watch this week as Conservatives twist and flail like pretzels, turning themselves into things and trying to make people believe they are there for workers.
  19. misdirected
    Carbon PricingMr. Gerald Soroka (Conservative) asked Mr. Francis Drouin (Liberal). loaded question.The question embeds a loaded premise about political motives and the answer counters by attacking the opposition leader rather than addressing the bill.Why did the leader of the official opposition cut $200 million when he was at the cabinet table to support farmers for business risk management?
  20. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. Gary Vidal (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the request about Bill C-234 and instead defends carbon pricing with unrelated statistics.I would like to remind the member that putting a price on pollution is what enables us to reduce emissions by the equivalent of removing 11 million vehicles from our roads.
  21. deflected
    Carbon PricingMrs. Shannon Stubbs (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). loaded question.The answer addresses inflation impact but avoids any comment on senators or Bill C-234.According to the Governor of the Bank of Canada, putting a price on pollution has contributed 0.15% to inflation, and not 15%, as the Conservatives are saying.
  22. answered
    Foreign AffairsMs. Heather McPherson (NDP) asked Ms. Pam Damoff (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly commits to investigating the reported issue and reporting back.we will look into what the hon. member has brought to our attention and report back.
  23. partly answered
    HousingMs. Lisa Marie Barron (NDP) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer discusses existing housing measures but does not address the specific request to release funding immediately.as a result of measures introduced by the current government, two million people are now living in homes, which have been built, repaired or subsidized through the programs introduced.
  24. misdirected
    Automotive IndustryMr. Michael Barrett (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the Conservatives and quotes an expert instead of addressing the contract or worker numbers.instead of talking the Canadian economy down, the Conservatives should celebrate that someone is investing $3.4 billion of their money to build a plant in Windsor.
  25. deflected
    Automotive IndustryMr. Michael Barrett (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.Answer counters with investment facts but avoids the request to release contracts.Let me bring some facts to this story.
  26. deflected
    Automotive IndustryMr. Pat Kelly (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks Conservatives' record instead of addressing contract release or worker numbers.I will take no lessons from the Conservatives.
  27. deflected
    Automotive IndustryMr. Pat Kelly (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.Answer mocks the questioner and reframes subsidy as investment without addressing transparency request.It allows me on a Friday morning to inform Canadians, because Canadians are watching and are wondering what is going on with the other side.
  28. answered
    Public Services and ProcurementMr. Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay (Bloc) asked Mrs. Marie-France Lalonde (Liberal). substantive question.Answer directly states no decision has been made on the contract approach.No decision has been made yet.
  29. partly answered
    Public Services and ProcurementMr. Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay (Bloc) asked Mrs. Marie-France Lalonde (Liberal). loaded question.Answer repeats no decision made but does not address the sole-source or tender concerns.
  30. deflected
    Innovation, Science and IndustryMs. Marilyn Gladu (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.Answer describes actions taken but ignores the blocking of whistle-blower testimony.I had the minister order an investigation to make sure we could get to the bottom of this.
  31. misdirected
    Innovation, Science and IndustryMs. Marilyn Gladu (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks Conservatives' past actions and dismisses the question rather than addressing the committee block.
  32. deflected
    Innovation, Science and IndustryMr. Ziad Aboultaif (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.Answer shifts to past Conservative appointments and calls for sticking to facts without addressing the cover-up claim.it seems that the Conservatives forget facts when it suits their story.
  33. deflected
    Foreign AffairsMichelle Rempel Garner (Conservative) asked Ms. Pam Damoff (Liberal). loaded question.The answer condemns Hamas but ignores the direct request to denounce UN Women's silence.we condemn Hamas, a terrorist organization.
  34. misdirected
    Public SafetyMr. Dane Lloyd (Conservative) asked Dominic LeBlanc (Liberal). loaded question.The answer criticizes the questioner's language rather than addressing the policy on transfers.I think it is important, when talking about issues as serious as a notorious killer like Mr. Bernardo, that we stick to the facts and not mislead Canadians.
  35. partly answered
    Correctional Service of CanadaMr. Scott Reid (Conservative) asked Dominic LeBlanc (Liberal). substantive question.The answer promises details and shares the goal but provides none of the requested enrollment or graduation numbers.I will be very happy to get those exact details and provide them to the member.
  36. deflected
    TaxationMs. Niki Ashton (NDP) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer discusses CRA investments but does not address the UN tax convention vote.Since 2015, the government has invested no less than a billion dollars to ensure that the CRA has the resources it needs
  37. deflected
    Indigenous AffairsMr. Kevin Vuong (Independent) asked Mrs. Jenica Atwin (Liberal). substantive question.The answer reports progress on water advisories but omits any mention of operator training or wage parity.In partnership with communities, we have already lifted 143 long-term advisories since 2015.