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Wednesday, February 14, 2024 · sitting No. 282

Child care bill advances amid Conservative attacks on arrive scam

The House spent the largest share of the sitting on second reading and concurrence in Senate amendments to Bill C-35, the Canada Early Learning and Child Care Act. Minister Jenna Sudds moved concurrence and said the legislation would improve access to high-quality affordable child care across the country. The bill received support from the Bloc Québécois despite concerns over federal involvement in provincial jurisdiction.

Question period was dominated by exchanges over the arrive scam. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre said a single company with four employees received $250 million in contracts despite doing no IT work. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau replied that investigators were examining whether rules had been followed and that anyone who broke them would face consequences.

Decided that day

  • Bill C-273 passed second reading
  • Bill C-317 passed second reading
  • Bill S-202 adopted at third reading

From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard

Question Period – February 14, 2024. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube

Who held the floor · 2024-02-14

Government (Liberal)OppositionOver the day: government 43%, opposition 57% of the words spokenQuestion PeriodGovernment businessGovernment businessPrivate members▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 14:0015:0016:0017:0018:0019:00Last speech 19:40Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 5 h 40 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
65Bills Advance Amid Deflected QueriesThe House spent most of its time on substantive business and advanced multiple bills through readings and introductions with almost no procedural disputes. Question period produced few direct answers, yet three measures still cleared key votes.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

Pierre Poilievre said rent reached a record $2,196 a month in January and accused the government of funding bureaucracy instead of homes. Justin Trudeau said the housing accelerator fund would speed up construction and that Conservatives had voted against removing the GST on new apartments.

Read the exchange

Carbon Pricing

Pierre Poilievre asked how much the government spent on consultants to rename the carbon tax and whether GC Strategies had been hired. Justin Trudeau said the Canada carbon rebate would deliver more money to eight out of ten families while fighting climate change.

Read the exchange

Foreign Affairs

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh asked when the government would stop authorizing military exports to Benjamin Netanyahu. Justin Trudeau said no new export permits had been issued since October 7 and that a two-state solution remained the only path to peace.

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Natural Resources

Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet asked whether the Prime Minister considered nuclear waste dangerous after the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission approved storage near the Ottawa River. Justin Trudeau said the decision rested with the independent commission and was based on science.

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. deflected
    Public Services and ProcurementPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer gives general statements on rules and investigations without addressing the specific company or contract details raised.Anyone who did not follow the rules must face the consequences.
  2. deflected
    Public Services and ProcurementPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges questions but pivots to authorities investigating without explaining why the company received contracts.We expect the authorities to conduct the appropriate investigations to find out who exactly was involved
  3. deflected
    Public Services and ProcurementPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer repeats pandemic context and calls for investigations without addressing the pointed question about funds.That is why we are expecting and supporting all relevant authorities to follow up on this irregular contracting
  4. deflected
    Public Services and ProcurementPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer labels the situation unacceptable and notes investigations but does not explain the timing or awarding of contracts.This is an issue we need to continue to understand, and we need to make sure the rules are being followed
  5. misdirected
    Public Services and ProcurementPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts to unrelated government housing and health initiatives instead of addressing the contract or corruption allegations.While the Conservative Party continues to block these initiatives, we are going to continue to step up for Canadians.
  6. deflected
    Public Services and ProcurementMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer states rules must be followed and expects investigations but does not identify who is to blame for ArriveCAN.We expect the investigators and appropriate authorities to do their work to find out exactly how this unacceptable situation came about.
  7. partly answered
    Public Services and ProcurementMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer addresses the investigation by noting internal processes and police interest but provides no timeline or leadership details.We know that other authorities, including the police, have taken interest in this case as well.
  8. deflected
    Public Services and ProcurementMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer defends pandemic actions and notes ongoing investigations without addressing the waste or specific spending alternatives raised.It is obvious that in this case the rules do not look like they were followed, and that is why there are investigations ongoing
  9. deflected
    Public Services and ProcurementMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges rule-breaking but pivots to pandemic achievements without addressing the specific waste or housing comparison.Clearly the rules were not followed. That is why we are making sure there is a follow-up, an investigation, and there will be consequences for anyone who has broken the law.
  10. deflected
    Public Services and ProcurementPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer avoids the cost question by attacking Conservatives' pandemic stance instead of providing information.some of the Conservatives' attacks on this situation are because they deeply deplore all the measures we put in to keep Canadians safe during the pandemic.
  11. partly answered
    Public Services and ProcurementPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer states that investigations are addressing the cost but does not give a figure or timeline.There are direct follow-ups. Investigations are ongoing right now, both internal and external, to ensure that, as rules were evidently broken, there are consequences and there is accountability for this.
  12. deflected
    Public Services and ProcurementPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer repeats pandemic framing and investigations without addressing the repeated request for the exact cost.Even as we did, we expected and we continue to expect that the rules around procurement will be followed by the public service.
  13. deflected
    Public Services and ProcurementPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer again cites ongoing investigations without disclosing the cost or confirming access to documents.investigations are ongoing to find out exactly how this happened, who benefited and what the consequences will be.
  14. deflected
    Public Services and ProcurementPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer refers only to investigations without providing or seeking the cost figure requested.investigations are under way to find out exactly who is responsible, what rules were broken and what the consequences will be for the people involved.
  15. misdirected
    Public Services and ProcurementPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the direct accusation of cover-up or incompetence and restates the investigation process.We received the Auditor General's report last week. We are following up and we have been following up on this for months already.
  16. partly answered
    Public Services and ProcurementMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer confirms internal investigations into the contract but does not address recovery of funds.internal processes and investigations began months ago to look into this contract, which was improperly awarded and for which the rules were not followed.
  17. deflected
    Public Services and ProcurementMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer mentions consequences from investigations but avoids addressing third-party management.I am not going to say anything else because there are processes and investigations under way.
  18. deflected
    InfrastructurePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The response claims clarification and pivots to past investments and Conservative opposition rather than addressing the policy shift.The reality is that our approach to infrastructure has not changed.
  19. deflected
    InfrastructurePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to past projects and Conservative voting record instead of addressing the third link or road funding policy.The reality is that our government's approach to investing in transportation systems and roads has not changed since 2015.
  20. deflected
    InfrastructurePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The response reiterates clarification and lists projects while pivoting to attack Conservative opposition instead of addressing the funding ban claim.Our government's approach to investing in trade corridors and roads that Canadians rely on has not changed since 2015.
  21. deflected
    InfrastructurePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists specific projects and pivots to Conservative opposition without addressing the road funding decision or carbon tax impacts.Our approach to infrastructure continues to be one of investing in the future for Canadians.
  22. answered
    Foreign AffairsMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly states that no new export permits have been permitted since October 7.We have not permitted any new export permits since October 7.
  23. deflected
    Public SafetyMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The response explains the process and need for time but does not address the timeline or when legislation will be introduced.It is also something we have listened to and have heard, particularly from minority or marginalized communities, that we need to get it exactly right.
  24. deflected
    Carbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer discusses rebates and opposition cuts but avoids the question about consultant spending on rebranding.the Leader of the Opposition does not even understand the consequences of the cuts he is proposing left, right and centre.
  25. deflected
    Carbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Trudeau lists rebate amounts instead of addressing the PBO analysis on net costs for 60%.Eight out of 10 families across the country get more money out of the Canada carbon rebate—
  26. deflected
    HousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Trudeau defends the accelerator fund without addressing the rent increase data or bureaucracy criticism.With our housing accelerator fund, we are investing in municipalities' capacity to build more houses faster by speeding up densification, making zoning changes, issuing permits and moving forward in a way that creates more opportunities to build more homes.
  27. deflected
    HousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Trudeau repeats the fund's purpose and claims future homes without addressing the zero homes completed or cost question.Yes, we are investing $4 billion in municipalities across the country to speed up densification and housing construction and cut red tape in order to build more homes faster.
  28. answered
    Natural ResourcesMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Trudeau directly answers that the independent commission assessed safety after consultations.This decision was made by the independent Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, which approves projects only if it determines they are safe for Canadians and the environment, and only after a thorough assessment based on evidence and consultations with indigenous and other affected communities.
  29. deflected
    Natural ResourcesMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Trudeau reiterates trust in the independent commission instead of addressing the nations' safety conclusions.On this side of the House, we trust our experts.
  30. misdirected
    HousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Trudeau attacks Poilievre's plan and voting record rather than addressing rent increases or bureaucracy.If he were really concerned about rents, he would line up behind us and support the removal of the GST on new apartment construction.
  31. deflected
    HousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Trudeau explains the fund's mechanism without addressing the zero homes completed or cost question.The housing accelerator fund is about investing in municipalities across the country to change the frame around which they build homes faster.
  32. deflected
    HousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Trudeau claims half a million homes facilitated without addressing the zero homes completed or bureaucracy criticism.If he wants to talk about a number, half a million new homes are being facilitated by the housing accelerator fund right across the country.
  33. deflected
    Public SafetyPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer discusses the drug crisis and evidence-based approach but avoids addressing the racism accusation or the call to ban hard drugs.We take the safety of all Canadians seriously, which is why, from the beginning, we have approached this from both the public health and public safety perspectives, hand in hand with the B.C. government in this case.
  34. deflected
    Leader of the Liberal Party of CanadaPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer sidesteps the critique of the record by sarcastically repeating the slogan and pivoting to list government achievements.
  35. deflected
    Leader of the Liberal Party of CanadaPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer ignores the specific policy challenges raised and instead lists unrelated government initiatives before being cut off.He is doing nothing but attack—
  36. answered
    Climate ChangeMs. Laurel Collins (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly confirms the commitment to end thermal coal exports by 2030 in response to the question.We are committed to ending thermal coal exports by 2030, as well as ending coal-powered electricity generation.
  37. answered
    JusticeMr. Alain Rayes (Independent) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer explicitly confirms support for the bill and its purpose without evasion.We therefore support Bill C‑273 and its important purpose of protecting our children against violence and abuse.