All sittings← 2024-02-062024-02-08 →
Wednesday, February 7, 2024 · sitting No. 277
Commons debates three-year extension of MAID mental-illness pause
The House devoted the largest share of its sitting to second reading of Bill C-62, which would extend until March 2027 the temporary exclusion of medical assistance in dying for persons whose sole condition is mental illness. Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Ya'ara Saks told the House the three-year period would allow completion of training modules and regulatory work recommended by the expert panel. Conservative MP Rob Moore cited a Society of Canadian Psychiatry brief that called for an indefinite pause rather than a fixed timeline.
Question period featured repeated exchanges on housing between Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Poilievre said housing starts fell 28 per cent in December and accused the government of expanding bureaucracy without increasing supply. Trudeau replied that the government had concluded multiple housing-accelerator agreements and was investing directly in construction while the Conservatives offered only insults.
Public-safety questions centred on auto thefts, with Poilievre urging the purchase of additional port scanners after a constituent tracked a stolen truck to Montreal. Trudeau said the government had restored border-officer positions cut by the previous Conservative government and had provided $121 million to Ontario for enforcement.
Decided that day
- Opposition motion on auto theft failed
- 15th finance committee report adopted
- Bill S-16 introduced
- Bills C-332 and C-352 passed second reading
From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard
Question Period – February 7, 2024. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube
Who held the floor · 2024-02-07
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
Grocery Industry
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh pressed the Prime Minister to support his bill aimed at curbing corporate grocery profits, saying young women he met were being gouged; Trudeau said the fall economic statement already contained competition measures aligned with NDP proposals.
Read the exchangeImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet asked the Prime Minister to transfer all immigration powers to Quebec and to repay $470 million owed for asylum-seeker costs; Trudeau said Ottawa and Quebec had worked together for decades on immigration numbers appropriate for the province.
Read the exchangeCarbon Tax
Conservative MP Jeremy Patzer said the government planned to raise the carbon tax again on April 1 despite knowing it acted as a scam on consumers; Trudeau maintained there was no data linking the tax to higher grocery prices.
Read the exchangeCriminal Code
Conservative MP Karen Vecchio opened private-members' debate on Bill C-332 by reading a CBC account of a young woman subjected to coercive control, arguing the offence must be added to the Criminal Code.
Read the exchangeQuebec Winter Carnival
Bloc Québécois MP Julie Vignola invited Canadians to the final weekend of the Quebec Winter Carnival, highlighting its ice sculptures, parade and 1,500 volunteers.
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
- deflectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer promotes existing programs and accuses the asker of insults without addressing policy cancellation or deficit reduction.
While the Conservative leader insults the municipalities, we remain focused on our goal to accelerate housing construction.
- misdirectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the asker's character and past statements instead of addressing housing starts or interest rates.
the only thing the Conservative leader is offering is insults and more insults aimed at elected officials from Quebec.
- deflectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer highlights municipal investments but ignores the projected housing shortage numbers cited.
We have made about 30 housing accelerator announcements across the country to build more housing faster, providing for greater density, better zoning, faster approval to use vacant land and more affordable homes.
- deflectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer repeats praise for programs and GST removal without tackling construction declines or interest rates.
The investments we are making, including things like taking the GST off purpose-built rental housing, which the Conservatives voted against, will continue to create more homes for Canadians right across the country.
- partly answeredHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer cites one completed project but does not engage with the 28% construction drop or the common-sense plan proposed.
In fact, $33 million of funding from the federal government a few years ago allowed that building to be built today.
- partly answeredJusticeMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer acknowledges the extension request and Conservative risks but focuses on consultations rather than the three-year delay.
We have a duty to protect the most vulnerable while respecting fundamental rights and freedoms.
- partly answeredJusticeMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer recognizes Quebec's proposal and ongoing debates but stops short of committing to include the conditional provision.
I welcome Quebec's debates on the issue. We are going to pursue our discussions on that.
- deflectedGrocery IndustryMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer aligns on competition measures but pivots to attacking Conservatives and their strategist instead of endorsing the bill.
It is not something Conservatives agree on; their chief strategist is actually on the Loblaws' payroll.
- misdirectedGrocery IndustryMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Question frames PM as siding with CEOs without evidence and demands a vote; answer ignores the bill and attacks Conservatives instead.
The Conservatives would rather listen to their lobbyist buddy who works for Loblaw and defend the interests of major grocery retailers, instead of fighting on behalf of Canadians to bring down grocery prices.
- deflectedPublic SafetyPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Question asks specifically about buying scanners for ports; answer restates general investments and rejects Conservative bills without addressing scanners.
We will continue to invest in the fight against auto theft with, for example, $121 million for the Government of Ontario.
- misdirectedPublic SafetyPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Question repeats demand for 24 scanners; answer pivots to past Conservative cuts rather than current scanner plans.
this would perhaps be a little more credible from the Conservative Party if it had not cut 1,000 CBSA officers when it was last in government.
- misdirectedPublic SafetyPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Question proposes cutting consultants to hire inspectors; answer attacks Poilievre's campaign consultant ties to Loblaws instead of addressing hiring.
I cannot help but smile when the Leader of the Opposition talks about high-priced consultants, because his campaign is being run by a high-priced consultant for Loblaws.
- misdirectedPublic SafetyPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Question accuses PM of quadrupling carbon tax due to Loblaws ties; answer counters by naming Conservative adviser Jenni Byrne on Loblaws payroll.
That is exactly where they are coming from, when she is actively on the Loblaws payroll while at the same time feeding lines to the Leader of the Opposition about food prices
- misdirectedPublic SafetyPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Question lists Liberal staff who became Loblaws lobbyists; answer again highlights Conservative campaign manager's Loblaws links without engaging the list.
- partly answeredImmigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Question asks why PM will not transfer all immigration powers to Quebec; answer explains existing unique powers and ongoing cooperation.
Recognizing Quebec's unique status and the need to defend the French language and Quebec culture, Canada has long given Quebec specific powers that no other province has for the defence of Quebec.
- deflectedImmigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Question claims Quebec minister's referendum call repudiates Liberal policy; answer accuses Bloc of seeking confrontation rather than addressing the policy repudiation.
we keep seeing how desperate the Bloc Québécois always is to pit Quebec and Canada against each other and look for excuses to hold a referendum.
- deflectedPublic SafetyPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Question assumes PM caused crisis and demands specific funding shift; answer restates bill details and general investments without addressing Ghana quote or plan.
The reality is that Bill C-5 is the bill that keeps mandatory minimum penalties for car theft on the books, and Bill C-75 is the bill that raises the maximum penalty on car theft.
- deflectedPublic SafetyPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Question challenges bill effects and asks for plan adoption; answer pivots to organized crime and past votes without addressing house arrest directly.
Organized crime is directly involved in the massive spike in auto thefts in this country.
- deflectedPublic SafetyPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Question demands yes/no on plan to end house arrest and bail; answer again emphasizes organized crime and opposition votes, avoiding direct response.
in all the questions the Leader of the Opposition asked about car theft, he has not once mentioned organized crime, which is the cause of car theft in this country right now.
- misdirectedPublic SafetyPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Question asks about reversing catch-and-release for extortion; answer attacks Conservative approach as far-right American trap and shifts to gun control.
once again we see Conservatives falling into the same far-right American trap in their approach on crime that does not work, that does not keep Canadians safe.
- misdirectedPublic SafetyPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Question cites stats and asks to follow evidence on policies; answer dismisses as nostalgia and attacks Harper record instead of addressing facts.
what we heard from the Leader of the Opposition is that under the previous Conservative government, everything was perfect, and what he is proposing is to make Canada great again.
- partly answeredPersons with DisabilitiesMs. Bonita Zarrillo (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Question asks if PM will hold airlines accountable; answer affirms commitment to obligations but offers no new enforcement action.
We will continue to make sure that areas of federal jurisdiction like airlines continue to meet all their responsibilities and obligations toward Canadians.
- partly answeredIndigenous AffairsMs. Lori Idlout (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Question asks for commitment to fund non-insured health benefits; answer references partnership talks and devolution but does not commit new funding.
Whether it was celebrating the historic devolution agreement that we made possible or looking at further supports, including non-insured health benefits, we will continue to be there for the people of Nunavut.
- misdirectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Question asks why rent increase planned for military amid homelessness; answer defends investments and attacks Conservative vote record.
When the Conservatives had an opportunity to support our military personnel, they chose not to.
- deflectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). rhetorical question.Trudeau attacks past Conservative record instead of addressing the rent increase or military housing wait times.
we will take no lessons from the Conservatives, who nickel-and-dimed our military service members and veterans through nine years of their time in office
- deflectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). rhetorical question.Trudeau shifts to praising Canada and listing programs while ignoring tent cities and rent hikes mentioned.
why does he not just say it straight out? He is planning to make Canada great again.
- deflectedThe EconomyPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). rhetorical question.Trudeau pivots to defending Canada as great and attacking proposed cuts rather than engaging with food bank or rent statistics.
the Leader of the Opposition may not think that Canada is the best country in the world, but we do.
- partly answeredImmigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Trudeau acknowledges Quebec's efforts and ongoing work but does not confirm repayment of the specific $470 million debt.
We recognize that this has created additional costs not only for the Quebec government, but also for social services and community organizations.
- deflectedImmigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Trudeau highlights past fixes and accuses Bloc of seeking fights instead of addressing referendum concerns or intake capacity.
The Bloc Québécois is the only one looking to pick fights and hold referendums.
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Trudeau cites lack of data linking carbon tax to food prices and promotes rebates without addressing the food bank potato cuts.
there is absolutely no data to support any link between our price on pollution and higher grocery prices.
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Trudeau dismisses the diesel and transport cost chain as unsupported and pivots to climate action ideology.
the problem with the story the Leader of the Opposition just told is there is absolutely no data to support it.
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Trudeau claims faster emission reductions due to carbon pricing and attacks the opposition's plan instead of providing requested proof.
Canada is actually reducing its emissions faster than our G7 partners largely because we put a price on pollution.
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer defends the carbon tax and rebates but does not address canceling the specific April 1 hike.
once again, we heard in a parliamentary committee yesterday absolutely no evidence and no data to support the Leader of the Opposition 's contention that the price on pollution impacts grocery prices.
- deflectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer criticizes the opposition housing plan instead of addressing rent increases or the student's commuting situation.
the Leader of the Opposition likes to talk about the challenges Canadians are facing, and while we are busy solving them, he is proposing nonsensical solutions.
- misdirectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer attacks the Conservatives and a lobbyist rather than responding to the proposed housing plan or past metrics.
an active paid lobbyist is the one giving them all the advice on how to win their campaign.
- partly answeredHealthMr. Gord Johns (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer discusses working with provinces on mental health via accords but does not commit to direct funding for community organizations.
We are working hand in hand with provinces to deliver mental health services across the country with our historic health accords, worth $200 billion, which include significant transfers for mental health and accountability so Canadians can see real results.
- deflectedHousingMr. Kevin Vuong (Independent) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer highlights the foreign buyer ban and general housing plan but ignores the mortgage fraud and money laundering concerns raised.
just a few days ago, we reinforced and extended our foreign homebuyer ban to make sure that homes in Canada are used by Canadians to live in, not as investment vehicles for foreign entities or foreign owners.