All sittings← 2024-02-162024-02-27 →
Monday, February 26, 2024 · sitting No. 285
House debates replacement-worker ban in labour code overhaul
The House spent the largest share of its sitting on debate of amendments to the Canada Labour Code that would prohibit replacement workers during strikes or lockouts in federally regulated workplaces. New Democrat MP Taylor Bachrach pressed the government on the scope of the bill while Liberal MP Chandra Arya defended the measure as a long-standing platform commitment.
Question period featured repeated Conservative attacks on spending for the ArriveCAN application, with Conservative MP Andrew Scheer accusing the Bloc Québécois and NDP of enabling cost overruns through repeated support for supplementary estimates. Liberal MP Jean-Yves Duclos replied that the Auditor General’s recommendations had already been acted upon.
Further exchanges in question period centred on the scheduled April 1 increase in the carbon tax, with Conservative MPs John Barlow and Andrew Scheer claiming it penalizes farmers and raises living costs while Liberal MP Anita Anand said the opposition denies climate change.
Decided that day
- C-63 introduced
From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard
Question Period – February 26, 2024. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube
Who held the floor · 2024-02-26
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
Points of Order
The Speaker ruled on a February 8 point of order from the parliamentary secretary to the government House leader concerning amendments adopted by the human resources committee to Bill C-318.
Read the exchangeCriminal Code
Conservative MP Garnett Genuis paid tribute to Senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu for advancing Bill S-205 on intimate-partner violence while New Democrat MP Leah Gazan and Bloc Québécois MP Kristina Michaud voiced support.
Read the exchangeGovernment Business No. 35—Extension of Sitting Hours and Conduct of Extended Proceedings
Liberal MP Steven MacKinnon moved a motion to allow extended sitting hours for the remainder of the session, drawing interruptions from opposition members.
Read the exchangePublic Safety
Conservative MP Michael Chong asked when the government would release the Winnipeg lab documents, and Liberal MP Mark Holland said the material would be tabled imminently.
Read the exchangeNorthern Affairs
New Democrat MP Jagmeet Singh pressed the government to reform the Nutrition North subsidy so that northern retailers pass savings to consumers rather than retaining them as profit.
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 ProcurementAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer avoids the question about the Bloc by claiming it was already answered and pivoting to the Auditor General.
that question has already been answered several times.
- misdirectedPublic Services and ProcurementAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer refuses to respond and redirects the question to the Bloc instead of addressing the substance.
I do not feel I can properly answer questions directed to the Bloc Québécois.
- misdirectedPublic Services and ProcurementAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer dismisses the question as already answered and suggests the asker direct it elsewhere while noting the source is strange.
The fact that it is coming from the former speaker of the House is obviously a bit strange.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Anita Anand (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer ignores the carbon tax question and instead attacks the Conservatives on climate denial and cuts.
unlike the Conservatives, who deny that climate change exists and want to take money away from the Conservatives
- deflectedCarbon PricingAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Anita Anand (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer sidesteps the carbon tax hike by noting opposition on climate and listing government supports instead.
are not standing up for future generations of Canadians by protecting sustainability and acting on climate change.
- deflectedGovernment PrioritiesMr. Alain Therrien (Bloc) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer avoids the cost question by praising Quebec inspiration and highlighting a Moderna plant investment.
What has surprised me this morning is that the Bloc Québécois is not talking about investments, particularly Moderna's investment in Laval this week.
- deflectedHealthMr. Alain Therrien (Bloc) asked Mark Holland (Liberal). loaded question.The answer reframes the issue as seeking cooperation rather than addressing the delay in transfers or opt-out.
That can be achieved through co-operation, not through bickering or this sort of debate.
- answeredNorthern AffairsMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Dan Vandal (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly addresses the call to reform Nutrition North by committing to pass 100% of the subsidy to northerners.
our government is absolutely committed to ensuring that 100% of the retail subsidy is passed directly to northerners.
- partly answeredNorthern AffairsMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Dan Vandal (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges high prices and commits to ensuring subsidies reach northerners but offers no timeline or admission of failure.
We are working with the territorial government, our indigenous partners and the people who live in the north and the Arctic to make progress on this issue.
- deflectedCarbon PricingMr. John Barlow (Conservative) asked Lawrence MacAulay (Liberal). loaded question.The response discusses general climate investments with farmers instead of addressing the carbon tax increase or its impact on farmers.
That is why we, as a government, have invested $1.5 million to help farmers and processors reduce their environmental footprint and stay on the cutting edge.
- deflectedCarbon PricingMr. John Barlow (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). loaded question.The answer begins describing a farm visit on regenerative agriculture but does not engage with the carbon tax question.
just last week, in fact, I was visiting a farmer in Peterborough who is working on regenerative agriculture, but I find it—
- misdirectedCarbon PricingMrs. Rachael Thomas (Conservative) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). loaded question.The minister attacks the Conservatives' climate record with insults rather than addressing the carbon tax increase.
It is to leave an impoverished environment and an impoverished economy for the future of our children. Shame, shame, shame.
- deflectedCarbon PricingMrs. Rachael Thomas (Conservative) asked Anita Anand (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer promotes the carbon rebate without repeating or acknowledging the prior off-record comment invited.
Because of the Canada carbon rebate, we are putting money back in the pockets of Canadians.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingMr. John Williamson (Conservative) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). loaded question.The response accuses the questioner of hypocrisy instead of addressing the carbon tax policy or increase.
We would say they are acting hypocritically.
- deflectedCarbon PricingMr. John Williamson (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.The answer avoids the question by noting a colleague asked something instead of responding on the carbon tax.
my colleague, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources just asked this minister, the member a question.
- partly answeredImmigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Bloc) asked Marc Miller (Liberal). substantive question.The answer notes past payments and willingness to work with Quebec but does not commit to reimbursing the current $1 billion owed.
We are prepared to sit down and work with Quebec.
- deflectedImmigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Bloc) asked Marc Miller (Liberal). substantive question.The answer avoids any commitment on repayment and instead criticizes the Bloc while claiming negotiations are ongoing.
guess who is not at the negotiating table and never will be? It is the Bloc Québécois.
- misdirectedImmigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Bloc) asked Marc Miller (Liberal). loaded question.The response ignores the asylum-seeker distribution question and instead accuses the Bloc of seeking fights with both governments.
Given his line of questioning, it seems to me that the Bloc Québécois is still looking to pick a fight with the federal government.
- deflectedPublic Services and ProcurementMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer dismisses the debt and ArriveCAN question by pivoting to unrelated government achievements like vaccination rates and jobs.
If my Conservative colleagues are running out of ideas, they could ask why Canada had the highest vaccination rate of all comparable countries;
- deflectedPublic Services and ProcurementMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.The response sidesteps the debt and spending accusations to highlight government investments instead of addressing the Bloc's role.
when Quebeckers and Canadians across the country watch us on television, they surely realize what the Conservatives are up to.
- misdirectedPublic Services and ProcurementMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer ignores the question about the Bloc's purpose and counters by attacking the Conservative leader's comments on Quebec City.
Will he come to the city council meeting next week to explain to Quebec City and all its partners why his Conservative leader insulted everyone by calling them incompetent?
- partly answeredLabourMs. Bonita Zarrillo (NDP) asked Mr. Terry Sheehan (Liberal). substantive question.The answer references worker legislation and promises to address issues but does not specifically tackle unpaid flight attendant hours.
We have continued to change the legislation to make sure there is a level playing field, and we will continue to address the issues the member just brought up, as well as a whole slew of other issues.
- answeredFisheries and OceansMr. Gord Johns (NDP) asked Mr. Vance Badawey (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly states that concerns will be addressed shortly through ongoing work with the NDP and committee.
We will continue to work on this issue and ensure that a lot of the concerns the member has will be addressed shortly.
- deflectedPublic Services and ProcurementMr. Michael Barrett (Conservative) asked Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Liberal). loaded question.The response avoids stating any NDP deal and instead emphasizes taking allegations seriously and promising consequences.
we are doing the work to get to the bottom of what happened here because, for anyone who acted inappropriately, there will be consequences, and we have already committed to that.
- deflectedPublic Services and ProcurementMr. Michael Barrett (Conservative) asked Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the question about NDP promises and pivots to supporting the Auditor General.
We want to get to the bottom of what happened here.
- misdirectedPublic Services and ProcurementMr. Larry Brock (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.The answer changes the subject to an unrelated bill instead of addressing the NDP-Liberal coalition claim.
On the Order Paper is Bill C-35 , which would guarantee lower child care costs for every single mother and father in this country.
- misdirectedPublic Services and ProcurementMr. Larry Brock (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.The answer again redirects to passing a dental care bill rather than answering about NDP funding of ArriveCAN.
I would again encourage my hon. colleague to, instead of taking all the inbound invective and all the rage farming from the leader 's office, trudge back down that long hallway to his leader's office and tell him that what the Conservatives can do today is bring down dental costs for Canadians by passing the bill on the fall economic statement that will help seniors, poor families and children in our country.
- partly answeredPublic Services and ProcurementMrs. Julie Vignola (Bloc) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer addresses the context of the pandemic but does not specify when the Prime Minister was informed of cost overruns.
The first was to act quickly and effectively to save hundreds of thousands of lives and millions of jobs, and the second was to act properly by following the rules in place, which unfortunately was not done.
- deflectedPublic Services and ProcurementMrs. Julie Vignola (Bloc) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer avoids the question about government awareness and instead praises the Auditor General.
She plays an essential role in our democracy, because Parliament and parliamentarians rely on her efforts to force governments to do the right thing and ensure that all public servants follow the rules.
- deflectedPublic Services and ProcurementMr. Garnett Genuis (Conservative) asked Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Liberal). loaded question.The answer sidesteps the demand for missing documents by reiterating support for the Information Commissioner.
That is precisely why we support the Information Commissioner's decision to review this matter.
- answeredPublic SafetyMichael Chong (Conservative) asked Mark Holland (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly states the documents will be released imminently.
It is going to happen right away.
- deflectedPublic SafetyMichael Chong (Conservative) asked Mark Holland (Liberal). loaded question.The answer defends the process and blames Conservatives for non-participation instead of admitting the motive for withholding documents.
I would remind us that the Conservatives did not want to participate in this process.
- partly answeredJusticeMrs. Dominique Vien (Conservative) asked Arif Virani (Liberal). loaded question.The answer references recent bail legislation targeting violent offenders but sidesteps the crime statistics and reversal timeline in the question.
with Bill C‑48 , which was just enacted two months ago and deals with bail, we focused specifically on the most violent offenders who used a firearm in the commission of their crime.
- deflectedJusticeMrs. Dominique Vien (Conservative) asked Arif Virani (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to mandatory minimums and overrepresentation instead of addressing the specific home-sentencing case or message to the victim.
When it comes to mandatory minimum sentences, however, we are at the complete opposite end of the spectrum from the Conservative Party.
- misdirectedJusticeKerry-Lynne Findlay (Conservative) asked Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the Conservatives' past RCMP cuts rather than explaining the priority on sport shooters versus the machine-gun incident.
As they yell out, it would be interesting for Canadians to know that during their time in office, they cut 600 RCMP employees from being able to operate across the country.
- partly answeredNorthern AffairsMs. Niki Ashton (NDP) asked Dan Vandal (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges northern challenges like food prices and infrastructure but does not address competition, CEO subsidies or all-weather roads.
we are working with provincial governments, territorial governments, indigenous governments and communities in the north to address the very real challenges that are in the north: isolation, lack of infrastructure, the high price of food and the high price of absolutely everything.