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Tuesday, January 30, 2024 · sitting No. 271

Commons debates fall economic statement bill amid points of order

The House spent the largest share of its time on government orders debating the fall economic statement implementation act. Liberal MP Yvonne Jones defended the bill while Conservative MP Garnett Genuis challenged the Speaker's handling of earlier points of order and accused the Chair of inventing new rules.

Question period featured repeated exchanges on the ArriveCAN app. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said 76 per cent of contractors did no work and asked the government to recover the funds while Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland accused Conservatives of planning cuts to dental care and child care.

Further clashes in question period addressed carbon pricing on farms and immigration targets. Poilievre pressed for passage of Bill C-234 while Bloc Québécois MP Alain Therrien and Liberal ministers Marc Miller and Sean Fraser traded charges over housing pressures and the Canada-Quebec accord.

Decided that day

  • 55th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs passed

From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard

Question Period – January 30, 2024. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube

Who held the floor · 2024-01-30

Government (Liberal)OppositionOver the day: government 46%, opposition 54% of the words spokenGovernment businessQuestion PeriodGovernment business▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 10:0011:0012:0013:0014:0015:0016:0017:00Last speech 18:15Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 8 h 15 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
48Economic talk fills the day, little advancesMost speaking time went to the Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, yet no bills moved forward. The House adopted one committee report after rejecting an amendment and fielded mostly incomplete answers during Question Period.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

Petitions

NDP MP Charlie Angus raised a point of order during petitions saying members must not make political speeches and asked the Speaker to enforce the rules.

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Points of Order

NDP MP Peter Julian cited a December 12 ruling and said Conservative MP Damien Kurek should not be recognized until he apologizes for unparliamentary comments during petitions.

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Request for Emergency Debate

NDP MP Blake Desjarlais requested an emergency debate on the housing and houselessness crisis citing the City of Edmonton's declaration and pressures on Indigenous communities.

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Public Services and Procurement

Bloc Québécois MP Julie Vignola described a Quebec public servant left $25,000 in debt by repeated Phoenix pay errors and asked whether the same would happen to the minister.

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Elections in Taiwan

Liberal MP Judy A. Sgro congratulated Taiwan on completing presidential and legislative elections and welcomed new President William Lai.

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Persons with Disabilities

NDP MP Mike Morrice pressed the government during adjournment proceedings to fund the Canada disability benefit without using the disability tax credit as a barrier.

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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. deflected
    Public Services and ProcurementPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). substantive question.The answer avoids the ArriveCAN question entirely by shifting to unrelated Conservative policy attacks.Canadians know full well that when Conservatives talk about spending, what they really want is to make cuts.
  2. deflected
    Carbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). substantive question.The answer ignores the carbon tax cost question and instead discusses Quebec's environmental stance.Quebec, the Quebec nation, understands the importance of the environment and the importance of industrial investments in the green economy.
  3. deflected
    Public Services and ProcurementPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). substantive question.The answer sidesteps the ArriveCAN waste question by pivoting to alleged Conservative cuts.Canadians have learned through bitter experience that, when Conservatives talk about the public finances, what they are really talking about is cutting the government support Canadians depend on.
  4. misdirected
    Carbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). loaded question.The answer responds to the loaded vacation question by attacking the asker on his residence and rebate instead of addressing the carbon tax point.
  5. misdirected
    Carbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). substantive question.The answer evades the Bill C-234 question by attacking the asker on his housing and pension rather than the carbon tax on farmers.the Leader of the Opposition may be bragging about what he pays for, but I think Canadians should understand that he does not pay any rent on that 19-room mansion that he lives in.
  6. answered
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Alain Therrien (Bloc) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly addresses the immigration target review promise by citing the housing agreement with Quebec.we negotiated a $1.8-billion contribution agreement with la belle province to build 23,000 housing units and 8,000 affordable housing units.
  7. partly answered
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Alain Therrien (Bloc) asked Marc Miller (Liberal). substantive question.The answer partly addresses the immigration adjustment question by referencing the Canada-Quebec accord but then shifts to questioning the asker.we have a unique agreement with Quebec, the Canada-Quebec accord, which transfers more than $700 million a year to Quebec precisely to manage its levels.
  8. partly answered
    HousingMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). substantive question.The answer partly addresses the Toronto housing funding request by noting existing federal support but does not commit to the specific $250 million.We are providing $1.5 billion for Toronto in 2023-24.
  9. deflected
    Grocery IndustryMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to competition policy without addressing the accusation of protecting grocers' profits.That is exactly why we amended the Competition Act in December to give the commissioner of competition more power.
  10. misdirected
    Carbon PricingMs. Melissa Lantsman (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). substantive question.The answer attacks the questioner and her party instead of addressing the carbon tax increase or name change.What is out of touch is for a Toronto MP, like the one sitting opposite, to be saying to the people of Ontario, to the hard-working families of Ontario, "We are going to take away the $974 you are getting back thanks to the price on pollution.
  11. misdirected
    Carbon PricingMs. Melissa Lantsman (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). substantive question.The answer attacks a former Conservative leader on expenses rather than addressing the carbon tax or food costs.It was having a temporary leader who charged $20,000 to move into her temporary house and then charged Canadian taxpayers more than $5,000 for bed and bath linens, which is for towels and sheets.
  12. misdirected
    Carbon PricingMrs. Shannon Stubbs (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). substantive question.The answer attacks Conservatives on austerity and lists past achievements instead of addressing Bill C-234 or the carbon tax on farmers.Since we formed government, 2.3 million Canadians have been lifted out of poverty, and the poverty rate has fallen from 14.5% when they were in government to 7.4%.
  13. misdirected
    Carbon PricingMrs. Shannon Stubbs (Conservative) asked Randy Boissonnault (Liberal). substantive question.The answer shifts to attacking Conservatives for meeting Tucker Carlson instead of addressing the carbon tax or Bill C-234.A who's who collection of Conservatives gathered for a pep talk from far-right U.S. commentator Tucker Carlson—
  14. deflected
    Carbon PricingMs. Lianne Rood (Conservative) asked Lawrence MacAulay (Liberal). substantive question.The answer discusses general farm investments without addressing Bill C-234 or removing the carbon tax from farmers.That is why we invested, as a government, $1.5 billion to make sure our farmers, ranchers and processors are ready for the future.
  15. deflected
    Carbon PricingMs. Lianne Rood (Conservative) asked Lawrence MacAulay (Liberal). substantive question.The answer emphasizes environmental investments without addressing the carbon tax or Senate amendments to Bill C-234.Farmers fully understand that one has to take care of the land and the environment, and if not, one's food price will increase dramatically.
  16. partly answered
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Bloc) asked Marc Miller (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the announcement and partial payment but does not confirm timing or full amount requested.I was the one who announced that there would be good news this week.
  17. deflected
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Bloc) asked Marc Miller (Liberal). substantive question.The answer discusses other funding amounts but avoids the specific $470 million question.We never asked for an accounting, but obviously there will have to be a conversation about that with Quebec.
  18. partly answered
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Bloc) asked Marc Miller (Liberal). substantive question.The response acknowledges shared responsibility and teamwork but does not commit to organizing integration sharing among provinces.We are clearly going to work together.
  19. misdirected
    HousingMrs. Shelby Kramp-Neuman (Conservative) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the colleague for preying on anxiety and contrasts plans instead of addressing housing measures.with respect, my hon. colleague is simply trying to prey on the very real anxiety that families are feeling across this country.
  20. misdirected
    HousingMrs. Shelby Kramp-Neuman (Conservative) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). loaded question.The response criticizes the Conservative approach and plan rather than addressing the rent and affordability crisis directly.for years, the Conservative approach to policies that would actually help people was to prey on their anxieties rather than to advance ideas that would actually address them.
  21. answered
    HousingMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly addresses student housing challenges by announcing a new policy for low-cost loans for student residences.just yesterday, we advanced a new policy that is going to make low-cost loans available to build more student residences across this country.
  22. misdirected
    HousingMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Soraya Martinez Ferrada (Liberal). loaded question.The response thanks the member then pivots to attacking the opposition party for insulting mayors instead of addressing the housing crisis.I am happy to be on this side of the House, with a government that began rolling out the very first national housing strategy in 2016 to put a roof over the heads of Canadians across the country, rather than with a party that wants to insult the mayors of our cities
  23. deflected
    Grocery IndustryMs. Rachel Blaney (NDP) asked Seamus O'Regan (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts to OAS age maintenance and supports for seniors without addressing grocery prices or CEO profits.we are very proud on this side of the House that one of the first things we did was to make sure the age for OAS was maintained at 65 years old, not 67.
  24. answered
    Foreign AffairsMr. Matthew Green (NDP) asked Ahmed Hussen (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly responds with details on new humanitarian funding to protect Palestinian lives.There is $40 million, additional, to deliver life-saving food, medicine and other supplies to Palestinians through trusted international partners
  25. misdirected
    HousingMr. Joël Godin (Conservative) asked Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks Conservatives instead of addressing housing crisis or families.I urge the member to leave the dark side and come join us in working for all Quebeckers.
  26. misdirected
    HousingMr. Joël Godin (Conservative) asked Diane Lebouthillier (Liberal). substantive question.Answer demands apology from asker rather than addressing housing actions in the region.If he has a backbone, he will stand up and apologize to Magdalen Islanders.
  27. deflected
    HousingMr. Kyle Seeback (Conservative) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). loaded question.Answer compares plans and defends record but avoids admitting failure or apologizing.We will do what it takes to build homes, to bring down rents and to make sure every Canadian has a roof over their head.
  28. deflected
    HousingMr. Kyle Seeback (Conservative) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). loaded question.Answer defends national housing strategy and criticizes Conservative plan without addressing apology request.The Conservative plan would raise taxes on home building, cut funding for cities that are trying to change their rules and eliminate supports for affordable housing altogether.
  29. answered
    Public Services and ProcurementMrs. Julie Vignola (Bloc) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). rhetorical question.Answer acknowledges the pay issue and commits to fixing it for public servants.That is why we must work harder every day so that people like the person the member mentioned get what they need and what they are owed for the work they do
  30. answered
    Public Services and ProcurementMrs. Julie Vignola (Bloc) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.Answer details specific steps like hiring officers and improving technology to resolve Phoenix issues.We are investing in improved technology that will enable better information flow between the departments concerned and the payroll centre, most of whose employees are in Miramichi.
  31. misdirected
    FinanceMr. Philip Lawrence (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). loaded question.Answer shifts to criticizing Conservative cuts instead of addressing Liberal spending or budget.They are talking, to be very specific, about taking away early learning and child care.
  32. misdirected
    FinanceMr. Philip Lawrence (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). loaded question.Answer focuses on what Conservatives would cut rather than responding to calls to end spending.they are going to cut child care; they voted against it.
  33. deflected
    FinanceMr. Bernard Généreux (Conservative) asked Chrystia Freeland (Liberal). substantive question.The answer pivots entirely to Quebec investments instead of addressing budget balancing.This initiative started in Quebec. We are proud to be helping Quebec with this crucial work.
  34. partly answered
    Public Services and ProcurementMrs. Kelly Block (Conservative) asked Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Liberal). substantive question.It acknowledges procurement issues and consequences but avoids explaining the specific contract awards.any wrongdoing in the procurement process would face consequences.
  35. deflected
    Public Services and ProcurementMrs. Stephanie Kusie (Conservative) asked Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Liberal). substantive question.The response states general expectations for rules but sidesteps the forgery and rigging allegations.what we expect from the public service is that it implement contracts based on government policies that follow the rules and procurement policies
  36. answered
    EthicsMr. Michael Barrett (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.It directly counters with the Ethics Commissioner's statements on consultation and clearance.He confirmed that the office had been consulted by the Prime Minister 's Office before the Prime Minister and his family went on their vacation.
  37. partly answered
    LabourMs. Lindsay Mathyssen (NDP) asked Bill Blair (Liberal). substantive question.It supports bargaining but does not address the minister's claimed lack of awareness of responsibility.We support a resolution of this labour dispute at the table, and we will continue to support both sides coming back to the table.
  38. partly answered
    Indigenous AffairsMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.It outlines specific community support steps but does not commit to funded fire halls for all Treaty 9 communities.I spoke with Chief Atlookan on Friday night to reiterate to the chief that we will work with the community, not only on fire prevention, with the truck waiting for the ice roads so it can be delivered