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Thursday, February 15, 2024 · sitting No. 283

Commons debates three-year MAID pause at third reading

The House spent most of the day at third reading of Bill C-62, which would delay expansion of medical assistance in dying to persons whose sole condition is mental illness. Liberal MP Yasir Naqvi told the House the three-year pause would allow the medical profession and provincial systems to prepare safeguards. Conservative MP Todd Doherty said provinces and territories had asked for an indefinite delay because they are not ready.

In Question Period Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre pressed the government to release all documents on the ArriveCAN app to the RCMP and parliamentary committees. Liberal MP Jean-Yves Duclos said the Auditor General's recommendations were already being implemented and all information had been shared. Poilievre also questioned the housing accelerator fund after Housing Minister Sean Fraser told the finance committee no homes had yet been completed under the program.

Decided that day

  • Bill C-62 passed third reading and adoption

From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard

Question Period – February 15, 2024. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube

Who held the floor · 2024-02-15

Government (Liberal)OppositionOver the day: government 37%, opposition 63% of the words spokenGovernment businessQuestion PeriodGovernment business▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 10:0511:0012:0013:0014:0015:0016:0017:00Last speech 18:40Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 8 h 35 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
55Bill advances while answers dodgeThe House passed Bill C-62 at third reading after devoting most of its time to Criminal Code amendments. Question Period produced few direct answers and several calls to order.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

Situation in Ukraine

New Democrat MP Heather McPherson sought unanimous consent for a motion condemning Russia's aggression against Ukraine and calling for continued Canadian military assistance.

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Privilege

The Speaker ruled on a question of privilege raised by Conservative House leader Andrew Scheer concerning allegedly misleading statements by the Prime Minister about invitations during President Zelenskyy's visit.

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Housing

Liberal MP Peter Fragiskatos told the House the opposition leader insults mayors rather than working with municipalities on housing supply.

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Foreign Affairs

New Democrat MP Heather McPherson said the government must stop arms sales to Israel and reinstate funding to UNRWA.

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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Bloc Québécois MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe cited the Quebec French language commissioner's report that temporary immigration is harming French and called for spreading asylum seekers across provinces.

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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 Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer praises the Auditor General without addressing the request to hand over documents.all this information is transparent and has been shared, including with the RCMP.
  2. deflected
    Public Services and ProcurementPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer defends the Auditor General instead of answering whether documents will be released.our colleague would certainly not want to pretend that she is not able to do her job.
  3. deflected
    Public Services and ProcurementPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Dominic LeBlanc (Liberal). substantive question.The answer claims cooperation but does not confirm handing over every document requested.the government is collaborating with parliamentary committees and the Office of the Auditor General.
  4. misdirected
    Public Services and ProcurementPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Dominic LeBlanc (Liberal). loaded question.The question attacks the NDP rather than asking the government a direct question; the answer dismisses the premise and pivots to the government's actions.on this side of the House, we thought that this level of exaggeration would be exclusive to the Leader of the Opposition
  5. misdirected
    HousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Soraya Martinez Ferrada (Liberal). substantive question.The answer attacks the asker on an unrelated point about mayors instead of addressing housing policy.I would like to remind my hon. colleague that on this side of the House we do not insult the mayors of cities in Quebec.
  6. partly answered
    Public Services and ProcurementMr. Alain Therrien (Bloc) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges problems and the need for investigation but does not commit to a full review since 2010.It is unacceptable that public service employees did not do their jobs properly.
  7. deflected
    Public Services and ProcurementMr. Alain Therrien (Bloc) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer praises the Auditor General's work without addressing administrative supervision of CBSA.She had access—and rightfully so—to all the necessary information to do her work.
  8. misdirected
    Foreign AffairsMs. Heather McPherson (NDP) asked Ahmed Hussen (Liberal). loaded question.The question assumes insufficient action and attacks the government; the answer attacks the NDP instead of addressing specific requests.only the NDP would consider that being the first western government to move on humanitarian aid is not enough.
  9. deflected
    Employment InsuranceMr. Daniel Blaikie (NDP) asked Randy Boissonnault (Liberal). substantive question.The answer references court proceedings and pivots to unrelated programs instead of addressing the specific EI discrimination fix requested.this particular issue is before the courts, but make no mistake: We are supporting families, parents and women.
  10. misdirected
    HousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer attacks the questioner's approach and character rather than addressing the housing accelerator program's effectiveness.What is the Leader of the Opposition's approach? He insults the mayors of Quebec City, Montreal and throughout Canada.
  11. misdirected
    HousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer attacks the questioner's bill and motives instead of responding to the accelerator fund admissions.it is shame; he should follow the proceedings of the finance committee more closely because just a few months ago, officials there testified that his private member's bill, supposedly meant to build more housing, would do exactly the opposite.
  12. partly answered
    Public Services and ProcurementAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Dominic LeBlanc (Liberal). substantive question.The answer addresses RCMP independence but does not commit to ordering documents or a full investigation.We have complete faith in the RCMP's independence and in its ability to look into all these matters.
  13. deflected
    Public Services and ProcurementAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Dominic LeBlanc (Liberal). substantive question.The answer restates transparency claims and prior actions without addressing the warrant or document access request.it does not take a warrant for Canadians to see that the government has been transparent, both with the Auditor General and with parliamentary committees.
  14. deflected
    Public Services and ProcurementMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer praises the Auditor General's report but avoids addressing the vote against investigation or releasing documents.The good news is that she tabled a report on Monday with some troubling findings and solid recommendations that we are now implementing or continuing to implement.
  15. deflected
    Public Services and ProcurementMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer praises the Auditor General while avoiding the question about the prior vote against investigation.not only did the Auditor General do her job, she did a very good job.
  16. partly answered
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Bloc) asked Marc Miller (Liberal). substantive question.The answer notes existing transfers and burden-sharing but does not address the commissioner's specific recommendation on asylum seekers.We are well aware that more work needs to be done to share the burden that is falling on Quebec.
  17. partly answered
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Bloc) asked Marc Miller (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the language proposal but qualifies it as secondary without endorsing the full idea.The language criterion is one of many, but should not be the main criterion.
  18. deflected
    Official LanguagesMr. Mario Beaulieu (Bloc) asked Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal). loaded question.The answer defends appointments while attacking the Bloc instead of addressing the francophone appointment statistics.While the Bloc Québécois is pouting, complaining and picking fights, we are doing what we need to do, and that is appointing more francophones.
  19. deflected
    Public Services and ProcurementMr. Larry Brock (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to parliamentary committees without addressing the call for an RCMP investigation.the member is correct to point to the important work of parliamentary committees
  20. deflected
    Public Services and ProcurementMr. Larry Brock (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer highlights the Auditor General report instead of responding to the RCMP request.The good news is that there was an investigation by the Auditor General just a few weeks and months ago.
  21. deflected
    Public Services and ProcurementMr. Bernard Généreux (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer discusses general crisis responsibilities without addressing accountability or recovering funds.In times of crisis, a responsible government has two responsibilities.
  22. partly answered
    InfrastructureMs. Lori Idlout (NDP) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer lists northern infrastructure examples but does not address opposition to Nunavut road paving.I will give examples of northern infrastructure investments.
  23. deflected
    InfrastructureMs. Niki Ashton (NDP) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer lists projects without retracting the minister's comments or committing to new northern roads.I have mentioned already northern examples.
  24. deflected
    InfrastructureMr. Dan Muys (Conservative) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer criticizes Conservative record and lists projects rather than addressing the minister's road comments.it is a bit rich to continue to hear the Conservatives talk about road infrastructure in particular
  25. misdirected
    InfrastructureMr. Dan Muys (Conservative) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores Highway 6 and instead attacks Conservatives on unrelated projects.The Conservatives have let down the people of Windsor.
  26. misdirected
    InfrastructureMr. Mark Strahl (Conservative) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to accusing the asker of hypocrisy rather than addressing the new road policy.It is an example of Conservative hypocrisy on the other side.
  27. misdirected
    InfrastructureMr. Mark Strahl (Conservative) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the opposition's sincerity and funding votes instead of addressing the road policy.Why is it a slogan? It is because there is no sincerity, and there is no sincerity because Conservatives want to cut funding to cities.
  28. partly answered
    Natural ResourcesMs. Monique Pauzé (Bloc) asked Mr. Marc Serré (Liberal). substantive question.The answer explains the CNSC process and judicial review but does not directly address saying no to the project.After conducting consultations with indigenous communities and others concerned, Natural Resources Canada plays no role in the commission's decisions.
  29. deflected
    Natural ResourcesMs. Monique Pauzé (Bloc) asked Mr. Marc Serré (Liberal). loaded question.The answer repeats the independence claim and criticizes the Bloc without committing on the project.it is incredible that the Bloc Québécois does not want to recognize the independence of a nuclear safety commission
  30. misdirected
    InfrastructureMr. Jamie Schmale (Conservative) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the opposition leader and lists other projects instead of addressing the Bolsover bridge.However, such is the approach of the Leader of the Opposition that even someone like him has taken a decidedly partisan approach to such critical issues.
  31. deflected
    InfrastructureMr. Jacques Gourde (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists past investments but avoids addressing the third link or the minister's policy.We will continue to do so, as we did in Kamouraska, for example, with Highway 185 and as we will surely do with other projects in his riding that he will surely vote against.
  32. misdirected
    InfrastructureMr. Jacques Gourde (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.The answer accuses the member of voting against investments instead of addressing the third link policy.However, that member consistently votes against our highway investments.
  33. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. John Nater (Conservative) asked Anita Anand (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks Conservatives and promotes rebates instead of addressing axing the tax.I have a question for my hon. friend: Will he cut the $1,100 for Ontario families?
  34. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. Rick Perkins (Conservative) asked Anita Anand (Liberal). loaded question.Answer lists rebates without addressing the call to axe the carbon tax.let us focus on what Canadians are actually getting back.
  35. deflected
    Carbon PricingMrs. Laila Goodridge (Conservative) asked Randy Boissonnault (Liberal). loaded question.Answer promotes carbon pricing benefits and rebates instead of addressing axing the tax.We will continue to fight climate change and make sure that Albertans have more money in their pockets
  36. partly answered
    HousingMr. Blake Desjarlais (NDP) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). substantive question.Answer addresses federal housing measures but does not directly tackle lowering rents in Edmonton.$470 million is the amount the federal government has allocated through, among other things, the Canada housing benefit
  37. answered
    Climate ChangeMs. Elizabeth May (Green) asked Mary Ng (Liberal). substantive question.Answer directly addresses using WTO meeting to advance climate commitments.While there I will continue to always fight for climate change while we grow the economy and create great green jobs.
  38. answered
    Business of the HouseMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). substantive question.Answer directly lists planned House business for the requested periods.Later today, we will be voting on third reading of Bill C-62 , medical assistance in dying.