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Friday, February 16, 2024 · sitting No. 284
Commons debates child care act amendments from Senate
The House spent the largest share of its time on government orders for Bill C-35, the Canada Early Learning and Child Care Act. Members considered Senate amendments on linguistic duality and heard concerns about the availability of spaces, the treatment of small operators and the differences from Quebec's system.
Question period featured repeated Conservative demands for an RCMP investigation into the ArriveCan app and related contracting. Liberal ministers replied that the Auditor General's report had been received and that recommendations were already being implemented.
From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard
Question Period – February 16, 2024. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube
Who held the floor · 2024-02-16
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
Health
Bloc Québécois MP Marilène Gill said Ottawa was withholding nearly five billion dollars in health transfers from Quebec to impose conditions. Liberal MP Yasir Naqvi answered that the government is investing two hundred billion dollars over ten years and continues to work with Quebec.
Read the exchangeCarbon Pricing
Conservative MP Len Webber called the April 1 increase a foolish hike that will raise grocery and heating costs. Liberal minister Anita Anand replied that rebates return more money to households than the tax costs.
Read the exchangeInfrastructure
Conservative MP Jamie Schmale asked why Parks Canada would not fund replacement of a historic bridge in Bolsover. Liberal MP Peter Fragiskatos listed thousands of federally funded road and bridge projects and asked which ones the Conservatives opposed.
Read the exchangeHealth
New Democrat MP Leah Gazan pressed the government on the closure of Fredericton's only abortion clinic. Liberal MP Jenica Atwin said federal transfers had been withheld to uphold the Canada Health Act and that more work was required.
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 Services and ProcurementMr. Michael Barrett (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.Answer references prior responses and AG report without addressing RCMP call.
I am very pleased to answer this question, which we have heard before and to which we have provided appropriate answers already.
- partly answeredPublic Services and ProcurementMr. Michael Barrett (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.Answer acknowledges AG and notes RCMP contact but avoids endorsing expanded investigation.
As she has said repeatedly, she is also completely willing and able to work with all other partners and institutions across the government, including with the RCMP, with which she is already in touch.
- deflectedPublic Services and ProcurementMr. Michael Barrett (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.Answer praises AG confidence without addressing document access or RCMP expansion.
we are very pleased, obviously, to hear the member clearly state that he has full confidence in the abilities of the Auditor General to keep doing her job, including supporting the RCMP when that is demanded by the RCMP.
- misdirectedPublic Services and ProcurementMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). rhetorical question.Answer accuses opposition of misinformation instead of addressing PM accountability or RCMP.
The misinformation we are hearing from the other side of the House is unfortunately not helpful and can even be counterproductive.
- misdirectedPublic Services and ProcurementMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.Answer shifts to pandemic costs and CBSA failures rather than documents or RCMP access.
Despite how urgent and important this situation was, the Auditor General of Canada clearly indicated that it was unacceptable that public servants from the CBSA did not do their job properly.
- partly answeredHealthMrs. Marilène Gill (Bloc) asked Mr. Yasir Naqvi (Liberal). substantive question.Answer addresses funding commitment and collaboration but not the specific withholding or payment timeline for Quebec.
That is why we are so proud to invest $200 billion over 10 years, to all provinces and territories, to support Canadians in getting the best and excellent health care.
- deflectedHealthMrs. Marilène Gill (Bloc) asked Mr. Yasir Naqvi (Liberal). substantive question.Answer emphasizes shared objectives and Canada Health Act without committing to unconditional payment.
We will continue to work with the Government of Quebec closely so that those shared priorities are met, and Quebeckers, like all Canadians, will get the best health care through the federal government.
- answeredHousingMs. Lori Idlout (NDP) asked Mrs. Jenica Atwin (Liberal). substantive question.Answer directly outlines actions on indigenous housing and references the for-indigenous-by-indigenous approach.
The for indigenous, by indigenous approach that guides our housing strategy will ensure successful approaches for communities in need.
- partly answeredHealthMs. Leah Gazan (NDP) asked Mrs. Jenica Atwin (Liberal). loaded question.Answer acknowledges federal steps taken but concedes more is needed without directly refuting the denial premise.
The federal government actually has stepped up and has supported research projects to support better data collection to inform our provincial partners, who really hold the pen on this issue.
- deflectedPublic Services and ProcurementMr. Michael Cooper (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.Answer restates appreciation for the Auditor General and notes prior implementation without addressing document obstruction or RCMP access.
The Auditor General deserves our appreciation.
- deflectedPublic Services and ProcurementMr. Michael Cooper (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.Answer denies obstruction by claiming Auditor General had documents but avoids confirming RCMP handover or addressing cover-up claims.
On the contrary, the Auditor General must have all the documents she needs to do her job, because the Auditor General's work is critical to the integrity of our democratic and parliamentary system.
- misdirectedPublic Services and ProcurementMichelle Rempel Garner (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.Answer shifts to accusing Conservatives of questioning the Auditor General instead of addressing document release to the RCMP.
it is a little disturbing to hear the Conservative MPs question the integrity of the Auditor General.
- misdirectedPublic Services and ProcurementMichelle Rempel Garner (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.Answer deflects by questioning whether the RCMP's capability is being doubted rather than addressing document withholding.
we are sure that the opposition member is not also suggesting that the RCMP is incapable of doing its work.
- deflectedPublic Services and ProcurementMrs. Dominique Vien (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.Answer pivots to pandemic context and public service challenges without addressing RCMP investigation expansion.
Just a few months ago, Canada experienced the worst pandemic in a century, the worst economic crisis since the 1930s.
- partly answeredPublic Services and ProcurementMrs. Dominique Vien (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.Answer praises Auditor General's work and notes recommendations but does not commit to expanding the RCMP probe.
Her findings are shocking and alarming.
- deflectedPublic Services and ProcurementMs. Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné (Bloc) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.Answer focuses narrowly on documentation issues without addressing the call for an independent investigation into all contracts.
That documentation was flawed, incomplete, improperly stored and unsharable.
- deflectedPublic Services and ProcurementMs. Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné (Bloc) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.Answer praises CBSA role during pandemic but ignores the direct question on third-party management.
Every day, the Canada Border Services Agency plays an essential role in facilitating and allowing the flow of hundreds of thousands of travellers and billions of dollars in goods.
- deflectedPublic Services and ProcurementMr. Rick Perkins (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.Answer avoids addressing document release or cover-up by deferring to institutions without answering the question.
The RCMP, the Auditor General and all of the other independent organizations on which Canadians have the fortune to depend know what to do.
- deflectedPublic Services and ProcurementMr. Rick Perkins (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.Answer redirects to Auditor General's willingness to work with RCMP but does not address voluntary document release.
She has already said in public that she is not only able but very willing to work with the RCMP and any other institution in the government that would like to use her important findings on Monday.
- deflectedPublic Services and ProcurementMr. Dane Lloyd (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.Answer defends Auditor General's independence without addressing call for complete police investigation.
She needs no advice on the part of politicians.
- deflectedPublic Services and ProcurementMr. Dane Lloyd (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.Answer praises Auditor General and notes recommendations implemented but evades call for further investigation.
We have already said that we have taken into account all the recommendations she has provided, and many of them have already been in place for a few weeks now.
- misdirectedGrocery IndustryMr. Daniel Blaikie (NDP) asked Mr. Terry Sheehan (Liberal). substantive question.Answer attacks Conservatives on CPP and ignores question on grocery prices and Loblaws deal.
Meanwhile, we do not know where the Conservatives stand on the CPP.
- partly answeredPublic Services and ProcurementMr. Matthew Green (NDP) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.Answer acknowledges public service role and notes some recommendations implemented but does not address consultant contracts directly.
We obviously took into account her recommendations.
- misdirectedInfrastructureMr. Jamie Schmale (Conservative) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). loaded question.Answer questions which projects member opposes instead of addressing specific bridge funding request.
Which of the almost 4,000 projects in Ontario is he against?
- deflectedInfrastructureMr. Jamie Schmale (Conservative) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer avoids committing on the bridge and instead attacks the opposition on other projects.
which of the almost 4,000 road, bridge or highway projects that have been funded just in the province of Ontario alone, where the member is from, is he against?
- deflectedInfrastructureMr. Todd Doherty (Conservative) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer shifts to voting record and attacks rather than addressing the specific road funding decision.
How many did he vote for? He voted for zero.
- misdirectedInfrastructureMr. Bernard Généreux (Conservative) asked Ms. Pam Damoff (Liberal). substantive question.The answer ignores the road infrastructure question and pivots to auto theft.
I want to talk about something that the government is taking seriously and is doing for Canadians when it comes to cars that are being stolen in their communities
- partly answeredNatural ResourcesMs. Monique Pauzé (Bloc) asked Mr. Marc Serré (Liberal). substantive question.The answer explains the independent commission process but does not directly address reversing the decision.
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission is independent and does not approve projects unless it knows for certain that they are safe.
- deflectedNatural ResourcesMs. Monique Pauzé (Bloc) asked Mr. Marc Serré (Liberal). loaded question.The answer defends the commission's independence without engaging the specific concerns about opposition or conflicts.
There is an independent commission of experts studying the decision.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingMr. Len Webber (Conservative) asked Anita Anand (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer attacks the opposition on climate denial instead of addressing the carbon tax increase.
unlike the Conservatives, who deny that climate change exists, and who want to take money away from Canadians
- deflectedCarbon PricingMr. Len Webber (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer begins to respond but the provided text cuts off without addressing the tax.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingMr. Jeremy Patzer (Conservative) asked Mr. Ryan Turnbull (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the opposition's motives and associations rather than addressing the carbon tax policy.
the hypocrisy of the Conservatives is just off the charts.
- deflectedTaxationMr. Pat Kelly (Conservative) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the specific request to cancel the tax increase and instead pivots to unrelated economic stats and attacks on Conservative policies.
The Conservatives want to cut EI. They want to cut CPP. They want to cut the dental benefit and the child care benefit; all of them, Madam Speaker.
- deflectedTaxationMr. Pat Kelly (Conservative) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer sidesteps the tax question entirely and shifts to criticizing the Conservatives' historical stance on unions.
Throughout the Conservatives' tenure in office from 2006 to 2015, they did everything they could to ensure that unions had no power and no role in this country's decision-making.
- partly answeredTaxationMr. Michael Kram (Conservative) asked Anita Anand (Liberal). loaded question.The answer addresses the carbon tax rebate but ignores the excise tax on alcohol and the request to stop both increases.
what he is effectively saying is that he is not in favour of people in his province receiving $1,500 in the carbon rebate that our government is putting back in the pockets of Canadians.
- answeredForeign AffairsMs. Lindsay Mathyssen (NDP) asked Ms. Pam Damoff (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly addresses the constituent's case, consular efforts, and ongoing advocacy for safe passage.
We are in constant contact with our consular officials in the region.
- partly answeredPublic SafetyMr. Kevin Vuong (Independent) asked Ms. Pam Damoff (Liberal). substantive question.The answer discusses the summit and some funding but does not commit to the specific tools, funding, or personnel requested for police and CBSA.
The only way we will solve the problem of auto theft is by working together, by working with insurance companies and working with border services, and making the kinds of investments like $120 million to Ontario through the initiative to take action against guns and violence