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Friday, February 9, 2024 · sitting No. 279
Commons advances national reconciliation council as Senate changes debated
Gary Anandasangaree moved second reading of and concurrence in Senate amendments to Bill C-29, which would establish a national council for reconciliation to monitor progress across sectors. The minister said the legislation holds governments accountable to Indigenous peoples and follows an interim council created in 2017. Lori Idlout asked why seven years passed before the bill reached the table. Sébastien Lemire raised concerns that the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples was denied entry to a related summit the minister organized.
In Question Period Andrew Scheer pressed the government on rising extortion rates and said Bill C-5 removed mandatory jail terms for the offence. Steven MacKinnon replied that Statistics Canada reported 37 000 new jobs in January and unemployment at 5.7 per cent. Richard Lehoux said homelessness has doubled in some communities and urged faster housing construction. François-Philippe Champagne pointed to an agreement with Quebec worth $1.8 billion for affordable units.
From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard
Question Period – February 9, 2024. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube
Who held the floor · 2024-02-09
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
News Media Industry
Claude DeBellefeuille said Bell Media, Quebecor and CBC/Radio-Canada cuts show the industry is imploding and called for an emergency fund and payroll tax credits. Pascale St-Onge said the government reached a $100-million agreement with Google and introduced tax credits for newsrooms.
Read the exchangeJustice
Luc Thériault asked why the government has not acted on the special joint committee recommendation for advance requests for people with dementia. Pablo Rodriguez said the legal mechanism Quebec proposed appears difficult to implement.
Read the exchangeVeterans Affairs
Luc Desilets said Veterans Affairs warned that rejecting the winning Daoust design team tarnishes Canada's reputation with design firms worldwide. Randeep Sarai said the Team Stimson design was chosen after 12 000 veterans and families responded to a survey.
Read the exchangeHealth
Gord Johns said Belleville declared an emergency after 23 poisonings in two days and called for a national public-health emergency declaration. Élisabeth Brière said the mental-health minister spoke with the mayor about coordinated work with Ontario.
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
- deflectedPublic SafetyAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the crime question entirely and changes the subject to unrelated job numbers.
The job numbers released today by Statistics Canada show that Canada gained 37,000 new jobs in January.
- deflectedPublic SafetyAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the crime question entirely and changes the subject to unrelated job numbers.
There were 37,000 new jobs in January.
- misdirectedPublic SafetyAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Liberal). loaded question.The answer partly addresses RCMP efforts but pivots to attacking Conservative policies and funding cuts.
what we also know is that the Conservatives' tough talk on crime does not actually create the solutions and the results.
- deflectedHousingMr. Richard Lehoux (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the housing question and changes the subject to economic news and battery supply chains.
Canada is ranked, not second or third, but first for its battery supply chain.
- misdirectedHousingMr. Richard Lehoux (Conservative) asked Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the Conservatives instead of addressing the housing question.
the Conservatives want to talk about housing, but they would not even be able to build a bird house.
- partly answeredNews Media IndustryMrs. Claude DeBellefeuille (Bloc) asked Pascale St-Onge (Liberal). substantive question.The answer defends past actions on media bills but blames Conservatives rather than outlining new steps.
we have been taking action since we came to power in 2015, with the full co-operation of the Bloc Québécois on a host of files.
- partly answeredNews Media IndustryMrs. Claude DeBellefeuille (Bloc) asked Pascale St-Onge (Liberal). substantive question.The answer lists prior actions taken but attacks Conservatives and avoids committing to the new measures requested.
we can continue to support journalism.
- answeredHousingMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Mr. Chris Bittle (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly addresses the housing crisis with specific funding and results on homelessness.
We have prevented over 125,000 people from becoming unhoused, and have placed over 71,000 people experiencing homelessness in permanent housing.
- partly answeredGrocery IndustryMs. Lisa Marie Barron (NDP) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.The answer addresses competition reform efforts but sidesteps the specific NDP bill vote and coalition accusation.
we are the ones pushing the grocery industry to do more for Canadians, and I welcome the help of the NDP.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingMr. Dane Lloyd (Conservative) asked Mr. Francis Drouin (Liberal). substantive question.The answer attacks the Conservatives on climate policy and senators instead of addressing Bill C-234 or carbon tax relief for farmers.
five Conservative senators were missing in action when it came down to the important vote.
- deflectedCarbon PricingMr. Dane Lloyd (Conservative) asked Mr. Francis Drouin (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to election timing and general farmer support without addressing the carbon tax or Bill C-234.
Nobody, no Canadian, wants to go into an election right now.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingMrs. Cathay Wagantall (Conservative) asked Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks Conservatives on past votes and climate denial instead of responding to the carbon tax impact or Bill C-234.
it is absurd to be lectured by the Conservative Party on our support for farmers
- partly answeredCarbon PricingMrs. Cathay Wagantall (Conservative) asked Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Liberal). loaded question.The answer explains existing exemptions and rebates but ignores the quadrupling of the tax and advance requests for farmers.
we have already done many of those things by exempting gas and diesel for farm use from pollution pricing.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingMr. Branden Leslie (Conservative) asked Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Liberal). substantive question.The answer shifts to accusing Conservatives of bullying senators rather than naming the lobbied senators or explaining the bill changes.
Shame on the Conservative Party for bullying those senators.
- deflectedCarbon PricingMr. Branden Leslie (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.The answer dismisses the question as nonsense and pivots to competition reform instead of identifying the senators or addressing the carbon tax on food.
it is obvious to us, and I hope it is obvious to Canadians, that what they are talking about is nonsense.
- partly answeredJusticeMr. Luc Thériault (Bloc) asked Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the request for advance MAID but states implementation difficulties without committing to action.
The legal mechanism it is proposing seems extremely difficult, if not impossible, to implement.
- partly answeredJusticeMr. Luc Thériault (Bloc) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). substantive question.Mentions ongoing bill and deadline but does not confirm amendment for advance requests.
There is a deadline, March 17, to suspend certain things.
- deflectedCarbon PricingMr. Michael Kram (Conservative) asked Mr. Francis Drouin (Liberal). substantive question.Ignores carbon tax impact on food prices and pivots to attacking opposition on agriculture budget.
The evidence shows that climate change has an impact on the price of food.
- deflectedCarbon PricingMr. Martin Shields (Conservative) asked Mr. Francis Drouin (Liberal). substantive question.Avoids carbon tax on farmers and shifts to opposition leader's past record and lack of policy.
Maybe the hon. member should have a conversation with the leader of the official opposition
- misdirectedHousingMr. Dan Albas (Conservative) asked Mr. Chris Bittle (Liberal). loaded question.Answers a different point about voting record instead of specific homes funded and under construction.
Time and time again, the Conservatives pretend, during this hour of the day in question period, to care about housing
- deflectedHousingMr. Dan Albas (Conservative) asked Mr. Chris Bittle (Liberal). substantive question.Repeats funding total and voting attack without addressing whether homes must be built.
It is unfortunate how unserious they are about this crisis.
- partly answeredHealthMr. Gord Johns (NDP) asked Mrs. Élisabeth Brière (Liberal). substantive question.Acknowledges crisis and mentions talks with mayor but offers no timeline for national emergency declaration.
The Minister of Mental Health and Addictions has spoken with Mayor Ellis to discuss how we can work together
- partly answeredOil and Gas IndustryMs. Heather McPherson (NDP) asked Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Liberal). substantive question.Notes committee call but does not detail government actions to hold parties accountable.
Just before the holidays, I had the opportunity to hold his feet to the fire
- deflectedHousingMr. Eric Duncan (Conservative) asked Mr. Chris Bittle (Liberal). substantive question.Ignores specific Transport Canada delay and pivots to general housing deals and opposition attacks.
Where have the Conservatives been found on this? They are absent.
- misdirectedHousingMr. Eric Duncan (Conservative) asked Mr. Chris Bittle (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks Conservative policy instead of addressing the specific land transfer request.
However, what does the Conservative Party have to offer in its housing policy?
- deflectedHousingMr. Bernard Généreux (Conservative) asked Mr. Chris Bittle (Liberal). rhetorical question.Answer shifts to past voting record rather than responding to the housing starts decline or common-sense ideas.
They bang their fists on the table to demand more work on the file, but when it comes to actually voting on housing funding, they stand up and vote against it, time and time again.
- misdirectedHousingMr. Bernard Généreux (Conservative) asked Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal). substantive question.Answer insults the asker and pivots to collaboration praise instead of engaging with the proposed ideas like selling federal land.
if he is looking for good ideas, then he should stop insulting the mayors of Quebec.
- answeredVeterans AffairsMr. Luc Desilets (Bloc) asked Mr. Randeep Sarai (Liberal). substantive question.Answer directly explains the decision based on veteran survey results regarding the monument design.
We listened to over 12,000 veterans and their families in a survey.
- partly answeredVeterans AffairsMr. Luc Desilets (Bloc) asked Mr. Randeep Sarai (Liberal). loaded question.Answer reiterates veteran input but does not address the survey criticism or jury decision.
However, the Team Stimson design was the one that veterans of the mission, and their families, felt best represented those who served there and their bravery, sacrifices and losses.
- deflectedPublic SafetyMichelle Rempel Garner (Conservative) asked Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Liberal). loaded question.Answer references a past vote against funding instead of addressing reversal of Bill C-5 or extortion statistics.
I find it interesting that the members opposite bring up issues around firearms and safety in our communities, when they actually, just over 60 days ago, voted against $80 million for the RCMP
- deflectedPublic SafetyMichelle Rempel Garner (Conservative) asked Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Liberal). substantive question.Answer criticizes Conservative approach and repeats funding vote point without addressing mandatory minimums or reversal request.
the Conservatives tough-on-crime talk does not result in action.
- misdirectedHealthMr. Todd Doherty (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks past Conservative drug strategy instead of addressing current overdose deaths or policy reversal.
let us roll the tape back to when Conservatives were in power, where they changed the Canada drug strategy, stripped out harm reduction and refused to meet with community organizers, like me, about saving the lives of people who were struggling with substance use.
- partly answeredPublic Services and ProcurementMr. Michael Cooper (Conservative) asked Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Liberal). loaded question.The answer addresses procurement integrity and investigations but avoids the specific question on executive bonuses.
We expect any contracts that the government issues to be issued properly.
- misdirectedInnovation, Science and IndustryMr. Michael Barrett (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the Conservatives on climate and Parliament instead of addressing the embezzlement or voting question.
Canadians should know we believe that we need to fight climate change, we believe in our small and medium-sized businesses, and we believe in clean technology.
- misdirectedInnovation, Science and IndustryMr. Michael Barrett (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.The answer again pivots to attacking Conservatives on climate rather than responding to the accountability or voting query.
Canadians who are watching this morning, and I am sure there are many, should be really worried about the Conservatives; they are attacking anyone who is going to fight against climate change.
- partly answeredAgriculture and Agri-FoodMr. Richard Cannings (NDP) asked Mr. Francis Drouin (Liberal). substantive question.The answer expresses sympathy and notes past support but offers no specific new assistance commitment for B.C. growers.
We have been there to support the wine sector previously and we will continue to be there to support the wine sector in the future.
- partly answeredSportMr. Mike Morrice (Green) asked Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges concerns and references the future of sport commission but does not address the specific funding request.
Our government takes allegations of abuse, maltreatment and sexual violence very seriously.