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Friday, May 24, 2024 · sitting No. 317

Commons debates Canada Labour Code changes for third of sitting

Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux moved that a motion on amendments to the Canada Labour Code be carried on division and the motion was agreed. The House spent the largest share of the day on the bill, which Lamoureux said would support the economy and reflect long-standing labour priorities.

Conservative MP Kelly McCauley said the government had taken nine years to act on an issue it now called urgent and accused it of political opportunism. Bloc Québécois MP Marilène Gill pressed for the bill to take effect upon royal assent and noted repeated earlier attempts by her party to advance similar measures.

Question period featured repeated Conservative attacks on the government over rising homelessness, food insecurity and mortgage renewal costs, with Liberal ministers pointing to falling inflation and existing housing programs as evidence that the fiscal track remains sound.

From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard

Question Period – May 24, 2024. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube

Who held the floor · 2024-05-24

Government (Liberal)OppositionOver the day: government 38%, opposition 62% of the words spokenGovernment businessQuestion PeriodRoutine proceedingsGovernment business▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 10:0011:0012:00Last speech 13:10Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 3 h 10 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
25Another sitting that went nowhereMost speaking time went to the Canada Labour Code and other topics, yet no bills advanced and no votes were held. Question period produced mostly deflected or misdirected answers.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

Official Languages

Bloc Québécois MP Marilène Gill accused Liberals of rushing to protect the president of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, but was twice interrupted by members before she could finish the question.

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Labour

New Democrat MP Alistair MacGregor warned that more than 9,000 CBSA workers had voted for a strike mandate and said the government had failed to offer them fair pensions or resources.

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Finance

Conservative MP Greg McLean cited the superintendent of financial institutions’ risk outlook and said 76 per cent of mortgages would renew by the end of 2026, urging reversal of inflationary spending.

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Climate Change

Bloc Québécois MP Monique Pauzé said federal scientists reported record water temperatures and declining oxygen levels in the St. Lawrence, threatening shrimp stocks and regional economies.

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Public Safety

Liberal MP Valerie Bradford asked the justice minister to highlight a concrete step in the new national action plan on auto theft aimed at organized crime networks.

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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 EconomyMs. Leslyn Lewis (Conservative) asked Mr. Ryan Turnbull (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to grocery inflation trends and school food programs without addressing mortgage renewals or homelessness.it is certainly well known that grocery price inflation is a problem that all countries are facing around the world.
  2. misdirected
    The EconomyMs. Leslyn Lewis (Conservative) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the questioner's past statements and pivots to housing program stats instead of addressing mortgage renewals or spending.this is the same member who called for Canada to exit the United Nations.
  3. misdirected
    The EconomyMs. Leslyn Lewis (Conservative) asked Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Liberal). loaded question.The answer accuses the asker of disinformation on climate and affordability while ignoring the homelessness statistics cited.We see, yet again, more disinformation from the Conservative members on climate change and affordability, two issues that they either do not understand or simply do not care about.
  4. partly answered
    The EconomyMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Marie-Claude Bibeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges food bank trends and highlights existing programs like the Canada child benefit but does not address the specific deficit or spending critique.We are addressing food security.
  5. partly answered
    The EconomyMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Marie-Claude Bibeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer recognizes economic struggles and attributes them to pandemic effects but avoids discussing deficits, debt, or taxes raised in the question.it is true that people are struggling.
  6. deflected
    Official LanguagesMrs. Marilène Gill (Bloc) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the Bloc for criticizing the APF president instead of addressing the credibility or French-language concerns raised.this unrelenting attack on a representative of Canada's francophonie brings dishonour to the Bloc Québécois.
  7. deflected
    Official LanguagesMrs. Marilène Gill (Bloc) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.The answer defends the APF president and blames the Bloc rather than engaging with the reported insults or assembly credibility issues.what weakens the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, or APF, is not the fact that more members have joined.
  8. answered
    Northern AffairsMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Mrs. Jenica Atwin (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly addresses water advisories, cites lifted advisories, and commits to Inuit-led solutions for Nunavut.We have already lifted 144 long-term drinking water advisories since 2015.
  9. deflected
    LabourMr. Alistair MacGregor (NDP) asked Mr. Anthony Housefather (Liberal). loaded question.The answer promotes general union negotiations without addressing CBSA pensions, resources or strike risk.We urge the union to come to the table. We are happy to negotiate with them.
  10. misdirected
    FinanceMr. Greg McLean (Conservative) asked Mr. Ryan Turnbull (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores spending and mortgage warnings and instead attacks the Conservative leader for disagreeing with experts.Does the Conservative leader intend to fire all the independent experts in the world who disagree with his doomsday narrative?
  11. deflected
    FinanceMr. Greg McLean (Conservative) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer highlights credit ratings and past Conservative positions instead of addressing OSFI-identified mortgage and financial risks.Where were the Conservatives over the years? We wanted to support Canadians. They were never there.
  12. misdirected
    HousingMr. Marty Morantz (Conservative) asked Mr. Ryan Turnbull (Liberal). loaded question.The answer quotes the Bank of Canada governor on fiscal guardrails and pivots to attacking the Conservative leader rather than addressing 2020 mortgage warnings.I wonder if this is why the Conservative leader wants to fire the independent—
  13. misdirected
    HousingMr. Marty Morantz (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.The answer accuses the opposition leader of acting like a dictator and threatening markets instead of addressing mortgage payment shock.The banana republic promise of the Leader of the Opposition to fire the Governor of the Bank of Canada, sending shockwaves to global markets and exposing homeowners, mortgage holders, to intense interest rate risk.
  14. misdirected
    HousingMr. Tom Kmiec (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.The answer focuses on the opposition leader's alleged threat to the Bank of Canada rather than mortgage renewal risks or spending impacts.that member should know better than to stand up and talk about financial markets, when his own leader is the person that has promised to send tremors into the international financial system by taking over, like some dictator, the operations of the Bank of Canada
  15. deflected
    HousingMr. Tom Kmiec (Conservative) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists Liberal benefits and attacks the opposition record instead of addressing mortgage payment pain from high rates.Those same mortgage holders, in years past, benefited from a tax cut to the middle class that the Liberal government introduced.
  16. deflected
    Climate ChangeMs. Monique Pauzé (Bloc) asked Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Liberal). substantive question.The answer discusses marine protection targets without addressing the St. Lawrence temperature, oxygen or pipeline concerns raised.We are investing record amounts, particularly in partnership with indigenous people across the country, to protect more and more of our territory.
  17. deflected
    Climate ChangeMs. Monique Pauzé (Bloc) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer promotes government climate plans without addressing the pipeline investment or St. Lawrence impacts.Members have before them the first government with credible targets and a plan to achieve net zero in 2050.
  18. misdirected
    FinanceMrs. Kelly Block (Conservative) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). loaded question.The response attacks the opposition leader instead of addressing hunger, homelessness or spending policies.in the member's constituency, where individuals might find themselves homeless, she can go back and show them the Leader of the Opposition 's housing plan, which unfortunately says nothing about homelessness, zero.
  19. deflected
    FinanceMrs. Kelly Block (Conservative) asked Mr. Ryan Turnbull (Liberal). loaded question.The answer defends school food programs without addressing the claimed inflationary policies or rising food insecurity.Food Banks Canada said that the national school food program was a vital initiative.
  20. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. Stephen Ellis (Conservative) asked Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists benefits and programs while ignoring the carbon tax and meal-skipping statistics.It recommends more supports for the working poor, like our Canada workers' benefit.
  21. misdirected
    Carbon PricingMr. Stephen Ellis (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.The response criticizes the member for not opposing austerity instead of addressing the carbon tax or food affordability.The member should stand up for once to the leader who has an austerity agenda and wants to cut the very supports that are keeping his constituents and helping his constituents meet the current cost of living issue.
  22. partly answered
    The EnvironmentMs. Laurel Collins (NDP) asked Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges concerns about cruise ship waste and endangered species but offers no specific action or regulation change.Her concerns with respect to the coast and the dangers to whale species and waterborne mammals are important to us and our government.
  23. deflected
    Canadian HeritageMr. Blake Desjarlais (NDP) asked Mr. Taleeb Noormohamed (Liberal). substantive question.The answer blames Conservatives for blocking legislation without addressing support for CKUA specifically.Much of the support for small communities would have been flowing had Conservatives not chosen to obstruct the passage of legislation that would have had money flowing to small community broadcasters across this country.
  24. misdirected
    The EconomyMr. Branden Leslie (Conservative) asked Mr. Ryan Turnbull (Liberal). loaded question.The response attacks the Conservatives' empathy instead of addressing housing costs, hunger or government policies in Manitoba.I apologize in advance for not being able to take the Conservative Party seriously with its new-found empathy for Canadians who are struggling with the cost of living.
  25. deflected
    The EconomyMr. Gerald Soroka (Conservative) asked Jenna Sudds (Liberal). loaded question.Answer pivots to school food program praise and opposition criticism instead of addressing carbon tax or spending.On that side of the House, they need to explain to Canadians why they will not support feeding children.
  26. deflected
    The EconomyMr. Kevin Waugh (Conservative) asked Randy Boissonnault (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks past Conservative record and accuses them of cuts rather than addressing current food insecurity or government messaging.this is rich coming from people who sat in a government that led through Canada's worst economic performance in the last 30 years after the 2008 financial crisis.
  27. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. Colin Carrie (Conservative) asked Gudie Hutchings (Liberal). loaded question.Answer promotes fall economic statement and other programs while urging passage instead of addressing carbon tax pain or housing issues.I would ask the Conservatives to please pass the FES.
  28. partly answered
    Official LanguagesMr. Martin Champoux (Bloc) asked Arif Virani (Liberal). substantive question.Answer explains program history and protections for official languages but does not address the rejected amendment or compliance with the Official Languages Act.As for protecting the French language and official bilingualism across Canada, we are there for official language minority communities, just as we are there to protect both official languages, which are enshrined in the Constitution.
  29. partly answered
    Official LanguagesMr. Martin Champoux (Bloc) asked Arif Virani (Liberal). loaded question.Answer reiterates program protections for both languages but avoids addressing refusal to require compliance with the Official Languages Act or differing situations in Quebec.This program is designed to protect French outside Quebec and protect English in Quebec, for example.
  30. misdirected
    FinanceMr. Bernard Généreux (Conservative) asked Marie-Claude Bibeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks Bloc and Conservatives while defending Liberal help instead of identifying a minister or defending the spending policies.I am always astonished when I hear my colleagues from Quebec dare to say such things.
  31. misdirected
    FinanceMr. Bernard Généreux (Conservative) asked Marie-Claude Bibeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer questions what to cut and lists benefits rather than addressing empathy for Quebeckers or inflationary policies.What should we do exactly? Should we drop the dental care benefits when they are helping not only seniors, but also young people and persons with disabilities who need it the most?
  32. deflected
    Agriculture and Agri-FoodMr. Richard Lehoux (Conservative) asked Marie-Claude Bibeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer contrasts with past Conservative cuts and highlights current investments instead of addressing 4-H funding cuts or farm debt issues.The last time the Conservatives were in office, they made cuts to agricultural programs.
  33. deflected
    Democratic InstitutionsMr. Corey Tochor (Conservative) asked Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer avoids the specific accusation of new redactions by citing prior agreement on terms and attacks the opposition instead.it is pretty insincere for Conservatives to agree to the process and now criticize that very process.
  34. deflected
    Democratic InstitutionsMr. Corey Tochor (Conservative) asked Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer mocks the questioner's slogans and reiterates the same process point without addressing the broken promise claim.I am curious as to what point-percentage system the member opposite operates off for repeating Conservative slogans in one question.
  35. partly answered
    HealthMr. Scott Reid (Conservative) asked Mr. Yasir Naqvi (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the question and offers to investigate the drug but diverts to promoting unrelated pharmacare legislation.In relation to the particular medication the member is speaking of, I look forward to looking into it and working with him so that I can give him a more precise answer on the approval process for that particular medication.
  36. deflected
    Indigenous AffairsMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked Mrs. Jenica Atwin (Liberal). substantive question.The answer speaks generally about ongoing conversations without addressing the specific claim that the minister broke her word on building a hospital.Conversations are ongoing with all partners as every level of government has a role to play to ensure health care for remote communities.
  37. answered
    Foreign AffairsMs. Elizabeth May (Green) asked Ms. Pam Damoff (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly addresses the kidnapping case by confirming awareness, family contact, and the reason for limited disclosure.We are aware of reports that a Canadian citizen was kidnapped in the Democratic Republic of Congo.