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Wednesday, December 13, 2023 · sitting No. 267
House committees table reports on fisheries, China investment and trade barriers
The House devoted the largest share of its time to committee business, with multiple reports presented from standing committees. The Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans tabled reports on pinniped populations and foreign ownership of fishing licences and quota, while the Special Committee on the Canada-People's Republic of China Relationship presented an interim report on Canadian investment funds and human rights violations. The Standing Committee on International Trade tabled a report on non-tariff barriers to trade.
In Question Period, Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre pressed the government on household debt and the carbon tax, arguing that families face record interest costs and higher grocery bills. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau countered that Conservative votes against supports for farmers, veterans and first nations showed a lack of commitment to affordability measures.
Bloc Québécois MP Yves-François Blanchet urged action on hate speech amid the Middle East crisis, and NDP MP Peter Julian highlighted rising forced evictions in Quebec while criticizing both major parties for lost affordable housing units.
Decided that day
- Private Members' Business M-96 passed
- Bill S-210 passed second reading
- Bill C-371 introduced
From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard
Question Period – December 13, 2023. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube
Who held the floor · 2023-12-13
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
Ukraine
Conservative MP Kyle Seeback said a Conservative government first recognized independent Ukraine and negotiated the Canada-Ukraine free trade agreement, while Liberal MP Justin Trudeau accused Conservatives of undermining support by voting against the trade deal.
Read the exchangeDental Care
Bloc Québécois MP Luc Thériault said the federal dental care plan interferes in Quebec jurisdiction and bypasses the RAMQ in favour of a private insurer, while Liberal MP Justin Trudeau said the program will help children and seniors without regard to cost.
Read the exchangeInnovation, Science and Industry
Conservative MP Michael Barrett said the chair of the green slush fund tried to funnel money to an ineligible project and then resigned, while Liberal MP Justin Trudeau said independent officers and a third-party review are examining the matter.
Read the exchangeImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Bloc Québécois MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe said Quebec has spent $460 million on asylum seekers and deserves full federal reimbursement, while Liberal MP Justin Trudeau said Ottawa already sends hundreds of millions annually to the province.
Read the exchangePublic Sector Integrity Act
Liberal MP Mark Gerretsen said Bill C-290 expands protections for public servants who disclose wrongdoing, while Conservative MP Stephanie Kusie and NDP MP Gord Johns both supported stronger safeguards for those who report misconduct.
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
- misdirectedFinancePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks Conservatives' votes instead of addressing debt or policies.
The Conservatives voted against help for dairy, egg and poultry farmers in Quebec.
- misdirectedFinancePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer shifts to criticizing Conservatives' votes and actions rather than housing costs.
When it was time to support our veterans, how did the Conservatives vote?
- misdirectedFinancePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks the questioner's votes on programs instead of debt or taxes.
Just last week, he voted against a national school food program, and now he rises to talk about affordability.
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer pivots to climate change and past votes without addressing carbon tax on farms.
While they seem to not care about climate change, and want to sit back and watch the world burn, they are going to watch Canadians' food sources burn as well.
- partly answeredCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer addresses outreach to the farm family and explains carbon pricing rationale.
Indeed, our departments reached out to the farm family of the very successful large mushroom farm in the member opposite's riding to talk about the programs we have that can move them off their dependence on fossil fuels.
- answeredDiversity and InclusionMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer directly discusses efforts against anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in response to the call for legislation.
That is why we are working so hard to fight anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.
- partly answeredDiversity and InclusionMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer acknowledges the suggestion but notes complexities around free speech without committing to action.
However, we recognize that this is a delicate and difficult situation, particularly when it raises issues of freedom of speech and freedom of conscience.
- answeredHousingMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer explains the home design catalogue initiative as part of addressing housing affordability.
This week, Minister Fraser announced that we will be bringing back a concept established in wartime and holding consultations to create a home design catalogue that will speed up home construction.
- partly answeredHousingMs. Jenny Kwan (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Mentions rent control but immediately shifts to other housing measures without committing.
including on the issue of rent control.
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Ignores the specific farm payment question and attacks Conservatives instead.
The Conservative Party of Canada has no plan to fight climate change.
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Again avoids the farm's tax bill and pivots to general climate programs and attacks.
The Conservatives have no plan.
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Does not address the farm or foreign produce question and attacks Conservatives.
The ideologically driven MAGA Conservatives are calling for pollution to be free again
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Evades the rebate commitment and reframes as encouraging lower emissions.
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Ignores the tax bill and foreign food question, praises farmers instead.
farmers understand how important it is to protect the land for future generations
- partly answeredCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Provides specific exemption and cost figures but still avoids advising on payment options.
97% of farm fuel emissions are exempt from the price on pollution.
- partly answeredDental CareMr. Luc Thériault (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Addresses dental care rollout but does not justify the announcement timing or Quebec agreement.
we recently launched an historic program that will provide dental care to children under 12 across the country.
- deflectedDental CareMr. Luc Thériault (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer ignores the question about choosing Sun Life and pivots to general talks with Quebec.
We are here to work with them, and we are going to continue those discussions with the Quebec government, not with the second opposition party in the House of Commons in Ottawa.
- partly answeredInnovation, Science and IndustryMr. Michael Barrett (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer notes resignation and ongoing reviews but does not address recovering funds or timeline.
Those investigations and reviews are currently under way.
- deflectedInnovation, Science and IndustryMr. Michael Barrett (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer dismisses question as partisan games and shifts to climate plan instead of addressing missing funds.
the Conservatives are making cheap political points.
- deflectedInnovation, Science and IndustryMr. Rick Perkins (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer references prior response and pivots to climate action while attacking Conservatives.
While we work to advance our ambitious climate action, the Conservative Party has no plan because fighting climate change simply does not matter to it.
- deflectedInnovation, Science and IndustryMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer notes investigation but immediately shifts to emissions targets and attacks Conservatives.
When it comes to the environment, we are about to surpass the Harper government's 2030 target.
- answeredHousingMs. Lori Idlout (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer directly lists funding and programs delivered for Indigenous housing.
Since 2016, we have supported the construction and renovation of over 30,000 homes in first nations communities.
- answeredGrocery IndustryMr. Blake Desjarlais (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer details specific competition legislation and amendments targeting grocery pricing.
Our affordability legislation will empower the Competition Bureau to hold grocers accountable and prioritize consumers' interests.
- partly answeredCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer provides exemption statistics but does not address the specific farm bill or production impact.
The reality is that 97% of farm fuel emissions are already exempt from the price on pollution.
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer ignores the specific request to meet with the farm and pivots to general climate talking points while attacking Conservatives.
our government reached out and will continue to reach out to a range of farmers across the country who want to reduce their emissions
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer avoids the bill and tax-on-food question, instead restating emissions targets and attacking the opposition.
We have decreased our emissions over the past two years faster than any other G7 country
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer repeats climate plan claims and criticizes the opposition's votes rather than addressing the request to scrap the tax.
Our plan is working. We are seeing companies around the world invest in Canada.
- partly answeredImmigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer acknowledges payments to Quebec but does not commit to reimbursing the specific $460-million bill mentioned.
every year, we provide hundreds of millions of dollars to Quebec to help with the integration of newcomers
- partly answeredImmigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer notes ongoing funding but sidesteps the direct demand to reimburse the full cost of asylum services.
we have been sending hundreds of millions of dollars to Quebec for years to help it take in asylum seekers
- misdirectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks the opposition's housing stance instead of addressing the eviction and affordability statistics raised.
the Conservative leader has made his thinking clear by stating that the federal government should get out of the business of building affordable housing
- misdirectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer focuses on criticizing the opposition's vote rather than responding to the $87-billion spending outcome or eviction data.
last week, the Conservative Party voted against 71,000 new apartments
- misdirectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer pivots to partisan attacks on the opposition's recent votes instead of engaging with the housing affordability statistics.
when will the leader of the official opposition understand that voting against the construction of 71,000 new homes
- deflectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer avoids the specific mortgage payment question by attacking the opposition's voting record instead.
He rose in the House to vote against 71,000 new rental homes through the apartment construction loan program.
- misdirectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer shifts entirely to Ukraine and inflation causes rather than addressing the housing plan proposed.
Unfortunately, the leader of the official opposition, who referred to Ukraine as a far away land refuses to stand up to deliver for Ukraine.
- deflectedForeign AffairsPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to a new question about a trade deal instead of responding to the listed policy disagreements on Ukraine support.
The Conservative Party of Canada has an opportunity to reverse its position in opposing the Ukraine free trade deal that Zelenskyy is asking for.
- partly answeredSmall BusinessMr. Gord Johns (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges pandemic supports for small businesses but does not address extending the CEBA repayment deadline.
The fact is that we were there to help Canadians through the pandemic, and we are going to continue to support small businesses in many different ways.
- deflectedOil and Gas IndustryMr. Mike Morrice (Green) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer discusses emissions caps and net-zero transition without addressing the TMX spending or disability poverty question.
We need to support all our industries, including our energy industry, in moving towards that.