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Friday, April 19, 2024 · sitting No. 303

Commons debates bill to establish national reconciliation council

The House spent the largest share of its time on Government Orders debating the National Council for Reconciliation Act. Liberal MP Mark Gerretsen told the House the legislation would acknowledge past wrongs and shape a better future while New Democrat MP Leah Gazan said the government had barely advanced the Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls to action since 2015. Conservative MP Todd Doherty asked why the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples and the Native Women's Association of Canada were left out of the process.

Question period featured repeated exchanges over the budget and carbon pricing. Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman said former Bank of Canada governor David Dodge had warned that the budget would worsen inflation while Liberal MP Peter Fragiskatos replied that Canada holds the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7. Conservative MP Michael Cooper pressed Public Services and Procurement Minister Dominic LeBlanc on communications between the Deputy Prime Minister's office and GC Strategies ahead of an RCMP raid.

From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard

Question Period – April 19, 2024. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube

Who held the floor · 2024-04-19

Government (Liberal)OppositionOver the day: government 43%, opposition 57% of the words spokenGovernment businessMembers' statementsQuestion PeriodRoutine proceedings▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 10:0011:0012:00Last speech 12:50Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 2 h 50 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
27Another sitting that went nowhereThe sitting devoted most time to debate on reconciliation legislation and carbon pricing yet recorded no votes or bill progress. Question period produced only two clear answers amid widespread deflection.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

Public Services and Procurement

Conservative MP Michael Cooper asked whether the Deputy Prime Minister had been contacted by the RCMP over a proposal linked to GC Strategies and the minister replied that members should not invent facts during an ongoing police investigation.

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Carbon Pricing

Conservative MP Richard Lehoux said farmers in Beauce were protesting the carbon tax on propane and natural gas and Liberal MP Francis Drouin answered that the tax does not apply in Quebec and that the Conservatives had traded away priority for Bill C-234.

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Oil and Gas Industry

New Democrat MP Lisa Marie Barron said the government had allowed oil and gas companies to gouge consumers while Liberal MP Peter Fragiskatos said the budget eliminates inefficient fossil fuel subsidies and taxes share buybacks.

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Veterans Affairs

Liberal MP Mona Fortier asked Veterans Affairs Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor how the budget would expand telemedicine for veterans transitioning to civilian life and the minister said the pilot project had succeeded and would be expanded nationwide.

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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
    The BudgetMs. Melissa Lantsman (Conservative) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer promotes government policies without addressing the call to stop spending.we have the lowest debt and deficit in the G7, a AAA credit rating and a budget that presents a message of fairness for this country, for current and future generations.
  2. misdirected
    The BudgetMs. Melissa Lantsman (Conservative) asked Mr. Ryan Turnbull (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer attacks the opposition instead of addressing the budget's fairness or affordability issues.How cruel and heartless do people have to be, as a party, to vote against feeding kids in schools?
  3. answered
    Public Services and ProcurementMs. Melissa Lantsman (Conservative) asked Dominic LeBlanc (Liberal). loaded question.The answer directly addresses recovering misallocated funds and supports ongoing investigations.Of course we will seek to recuperate all money that has been misallocated.
  4. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. Richard Lehoux (Conservative) asked Mr. Francis Drouin (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer shifts blame to Conservatives and notes Quebec inapplicability instead of addressing the carbon tax impact on farmers.The Conservatives had a chance to make Bill C-234 a priority for next week.
  5. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. Richard Lehoux (Conservative) asked Mr. Francis Drouin (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer repeats that the tax has no impact in Quebec and blames the Conservatives for bill prioritization.The carbon tax has no impact on Quebec.
  6. deflected
    The BudgetMrs. Marilène Gill (Bloc) asked Ms. Iqra Khalid (Liberal). loaded question.The answer discusses secularism and consultations without explaining the budget inclusion of halal mortgages.secularism does not mean exclusion, and that is why we really need to make sure that we protect Canadians with products that already exist within our financial institutions, in private companies.
  7. misdirected
    The BudgetMrs. Marilène Gill (Bloc) asked Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the Bloc Québécois instead of addressing the budget's halal mortgage provision.I think the Bloc Québécois is losing it a little.
  8. deflected
    Oil and Gas IndustryMs. Lisa Marie Barron (NDP) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer highlights government tax measures on oil and gas without addressing why they are allowed to make record profits.by eliminating inefficient fossil fuel subsidies and introducing a tax on share buybacks, the government has presented a vision that says to the corporate sector and to the oil and gas sector that they have responsibilities from a tax perspective.
  9. misdirected
    The EconomyMr. Matthew Green (NDP) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). loaded question.Answer ignores corporate greed question and attacks NDP on carbon pricing instead.I have heard the member for a number of years talk about the issues he raised but also about a vision for the environment.
  10. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. Jamie Schmale (Conservative) asked Ms. Julie Dabrusin (Liberal). substantive question.Answer addresses carbon tax impact via economists but avoids when tax will be axed.most families receive more in rebates than they pay in carbon pricing.
  11. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. Jamie Schmale (Conservative) asked Mr. Marc Serré (Liberal). substantive question.Answer cites Boris Johnson and PBO but pivots to attacking Conservatives on climate denial.The Conservatives' only plan is to let the planet burn.
  12. partly answered
    Carbon PricingMichelle Rempel Garner (Conservative) asked Ms. Julie Dabrusin (Liberal). loaded question.Answer defends emission targets and cites economist but does not address affordability or axing tax.carbon pricing is definitively not to blame for affordability challenges.
  13. deflected
    Carbon PricingMichelle Rempel Garner (Conservative) asked Ms. Julie Dabrusin (Liberal). loaded question.Answer shifts focus to Alberta gas tax instead of responding to federal carbon tax criticism.the premier, who, on April 1, increased the Alberta gas tax.
  14. misdirected
    FinanceMr. Greg McLean (Conservative) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). loaded question.Answer notes debt-to-GDP ratio but attacks Conservatives on social programs instead of addressing debt plan.What he is really saying by raising these issues is that they do not stand in favour of a vision of fairness for this country
  15. misdirected
    FinanceMr. Greg McLean (Conservative) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). substantive question.Answer questions member's economics knowledge and pivots to budget vote on social programs.I have to really question the member's understanding of economics.
  16. misdirected
    SeniorsMr. Gabriel Ste-Marie (Bloc) asked Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal). loaded question.Answer claims seniors are priority but redirects to why Bloc will vote against other priorities.I have a question for my colleague.
  17. misdirected
    HousingMr. Gabriel Ste-Marie (Bloc) asked Pablo Rodriguez (Liberal). substantive question.The response criticizes the Bloc Québécois voting record instead of addressing the timing of housing investments.The members of the Bloc Québécois are saying that this is important, but they are voting against these measures.
  18. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. Gerald Soroka (Conservative) asked Ms. Julie Dabrusin (Liberal). substantive question.The answer explains the rebate mechanism but avoids any response to calling an election.I want to be clear about the affordability piece to the way the carbon price works.
  19. misdirected
    FinanceMr. Terry Dowdall (Conservative) asked Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Liberal). loaded question.The response attacks the prior Conservative record on veterans rather than addressing current spending or debt issues.We will take no lessons from the Conservative Party of Canada.
  20. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. Dave Epp (Conservative) asked Mr. Francis Drouin (Liberal). substantive question.The answer focuses on Conservative absences and politicization instead of the bill or election call.If it is so important, I would advise my colleague to lobby his colleagues and stop politicizing this issue.
  21. misdirected
    FinanceMr. Jacques Gourde (Conservative) asked Mr. Ryan Turnbull (Liberal). substantive question.The response accuses Conservatives of cruelty for opposing the budget rather than discussing spending restraint.How cruel and heartless do they have to be to vote against feeding hungry kids
  22. answered
    Oil and Gas IndustryMs. Laurel Collins (NDP) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer directly explains the pipeline's purpose and the planned divestment process.That is why the TMX pipeline is so important.
  23. partly answered
    HousingMs. Lori Idlout (NDP) asked Ms. Yvonne Jones (Liberal). substantive question.The answer cites past territorial investments but does not address the specific $600-million request.We have invested billions of dollars, over $3 billion in fact, in housing across the territories
  24. deflected
    Public Services and ProcurementMr. Michael Cooper (Conservative) asked Dominic LeBlanc (Liberal). substantive question.The answer references the ongoing RCMP investigation to avoid discussing specific communications.That is why I would urge people to be careful before they invent and ascribe things to what is an ongoing police investigation.
  25. misdirected
    Public Services and ProcurementMr. Michael Cooper (Conservative) asked Dominic LeBlanc (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the questioner for inaccuracy and urges not making up stuff rather than addressing RCMP contact or cooperation.He should stick to the basic facts.
  26. deflected
    Public Services and ProcurementMr. Michael Kram (Conservative) asked Dominic LeBlanc (Liberal). loaded question.The answer restates general commitments to investigations and repayment without addressing the timeline for recovering funds.Anybody who has misused taxpayers' money will be required to repay it, and anybody who has misused taxpayers' money will face the consequences.
  27. deflected
    Public Services and ProcurementMr. Michael Kram (Conservative) asked Dominic LeBlanc (Liberal). loaded question.The answer repeats that reviews will determine reimbursement but avoids any timeline or commitment on recovering the funds.a responsible government allows the internal reviews and audits, which are under way, to determine exactly what money might be subject to the reimbursement
  28. misdirected
    Oil and Gas IndustryMr. Xavier Barsalou-Duval (Bloc) asked Mr. Marc Serré (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to attacking Conservatives and their alleged ties to oil and gas instead of addressing subsidies or profits.The Conservatives take their orders from the oil and gas sector.
  29. misdirected
    Oil and Gas IndustryMr. Xavier Barsalou-Duval (Bloc) asked Ms. Julie Dabrusin (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts to lecturing Conservatives on the carbon tax and emissions rather than responding on oil subsidies.The Bloc Québécois should talk to the Conservatives about this, because the Conservatives cannot seem to get that through their heads.
  30. deflected
    Public Services and ProcurementMr. Bernard Généreux (Conservative) asked Dominic LeBlanc (Liberal). loaded question.The answer accuses the questioner of repeating falsehoods about transparency and pivots to ongoing processes without addressing repayment.my hon. colleague knows very well that the idea that the government has not been transparent is untrue.
  31. partly answered
    Public Services and ProcurementMr. Bernard Généreux (Conservative) asked Dominic LeBlanc (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly states that facts from the internal investigation must be determined before demanding repayments.We have to wait for the facts before demanding repayments.
  32. deflected
    Public Services and ProcurementMr. Pat Kelly (Conservative) asked Dominic LeBlanc (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists oversight changes and scrutiny but avoids any commitment or timeline on recovering the funds.We will continue to do what is necessary to ensure taxpayers' money is well spent, and we will continue to obviously hold those to account who do not follow the rules.
  33. deflected
    Public SafetyMr. Dane Lloyd (Conservative) asked Mr. James Maloney (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer discusses car theft statistics instead of naming anyone accountable for the past nine years.Car theft is going down and the recovery of stolen cars is going up.
  34. partly answered
    Public SafetyMr. Joël Godin (Conservative) asked Dominic LeBlanc (Liberal). loaded question.The answer mentions upcoming Criminal Code changes targeting car theft but avoids addressing the call to jail repeat offenders.the government and my colleague the Minister of Justice are committed to making changes to the Criminal Code, specifically to target those who steal cars
  35. deflected
    Mental Health and AddictionsMr. Todd Doherty (Conservative) asked Mrs. Élisabeth Brière (Liberal). loaded question.The answer calls for partners to work together without addressing responsibility for safe supply or ending the policies.we need all partners working together to address the illegal toxic drug supply in our communities.
  36. partly answered
    Indigenous AffairsMs. Niki Ashton (NDP) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.The answer cites increased spending and budget allocations but does not commit to specific infrastructure projects requested.budget 2024 dedicates over $9.5 billion to indigenous priorities.
  37. deflected
    Oil and Gas IndustryMr. Mike Morrice (Green) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists other tax measures instead of justifying the decision to drop an excess profit tax on oil and gas.We are eliminating inefficient fossil fuel subsidies and introducing a tax on share buybacks.
  38. misdirected
    Points of OrderMike Lake (Conservative) asked Ms. Yvonne Jones (Liberal). substantive question.The answer shifts to housing investment numbers rather than addressing the point of order on language restrictions.we have invested close to $1.2 billion across the three territories in housing and have supported over 18,000 units.