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Thursday, September 19, 2024 · sitting No. 339

House debates concurrence in housing report as opposition presses Liberals

Conservative MP Scott Aitchison moved concurrence in the 13th report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities, which states that Canada faces a housing crisis requiring urgent action. The motion, which took up the largest share of the sitting, prompted exchanges between Conservative and Liberal members on the federal record since 2015. Liberal MP Mark Gerretsen cited federal investments in his Kingston riding while Conservative MP Dan Mazier interjected on the scale of projects funded.

In question period, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre repeatedly challenged the Bloc Québécois over its continued support for the government, citing immigration levels and centralizing policies. Bloc Québécois members defended their record on seniors' benefits and forestry while accusing Conservatives of undermining Quebec interests. New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh questioned the pace of pharmacare and dental-care rollout and pressed the government on health-care privatization risks.

Other exchanges covered carbon pricing, with Poilievre accusing the NDP of propping up the tax, and seniors' pensions, with Bloc Québécois MP Alain Therrien demanding an increase in old age security for those aged 65 to 74.

Decided that day

  • 13th report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development passed

From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard

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

Who held the floor · 2024-09-19

Government (Liberal)OppositionOver the day: government 31%, opposition 69% of the words spokenRoutine proceedingsQuestion 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
27One Report Passed Amid Ten Points of OrderThe sitting devoted substantial time to committees and points of order while Question Period produced mostly misdirected or deflected answers. Only a single committee report advanced, with no bills moving forward.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

Points of Order

Bloc Québécois MP Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné asked Conservative MP Dominique Vien to withdraw a remark about a lack of courage after a housing exchange.

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Military Justice System Modernization Act

NDP MP Lindsay Mathyssen said the Military Justice System Modernization Act would remove ministerial appointment powers over the director of military prosecutions and strengthen independence for the director of defence counsel services.

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Petitions

Conservative MP Dan Mazier presented a petition from Swan River constituents calling for repeal of Bill C-5 and Bill C-75, which he said created a revolving door for offenders.

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The Economy

Conservative MP Andrew Scheer said NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh had taped back together the carbon tax coalition after claiming to have torn it up before a Winnipeg by-election.

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Forestry Industry

Conservative MP Richard Martel asked why the Bloc Québécois would support the government without demanding withdrawal of the minister's order affecting 1,400 forestry jobs.

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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. misdirected
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the question about Bloc support and instead congratulates pages then attacks the asker.As for the Leader of the Opposition, what he is saying is laughable.
  2. misdirected
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Pascale St-Onge (Liberal). loaded question.The answer avoids the question on Bloc support and instead attacks Legault, PQ and Conservatives over CBC.
  3. deflected
    SeniorsMr. Alain Therrien (Bloc) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). substantive question.The answer lectures on question style rather than addressing the OAS increase for seniors aged 65-74.It would be nice if all members of the House could keep that in mind.
  4. misdirected
    SeniorsMr. Alain Therrien (Bloc) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the member's past votes instead of answering whether OAS will be increased for ages 65-74.Some may be surprised to learn that he voted against lowering the retirement age to 65
  5. deflected
    HealthMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Mark Holland (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists government achievements and attacks NDP rather than addressing privatization concerns.Unfortunately the NDP has made a choice.
  6. deflected
    HealthMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Mark Holland (Liberal). substantive question.The answer lists past NDP choices and attacks rather than addressing the age well at home promise for Quebec seniors.did the New Democrats choose to continue the work on pharmacare?
  7. misdirected
    The EconomyAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). loaded question.The answer avoids the question on NDP support and instead attacks Conservative pensions.At a time when they will be getting millions of dollars in government pensions, they also look to cut the pensions of everyday Canadians.
  8. misdirected
    The EconomyAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the question on NDP meetings and instead attacks the asker over past Conservative pension policy.How dare the member for Regina—Qu'Appelle stand in the House and talk to us about pensions?
  9. deflected
    Carbon PricingMrs. Tracy Gray (Conservative) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the opposition with insults rather than addressing the demand for an election on carbon tax.It is so ridiculous that, after 300 economists have said it and the Leader of the Opposition refuses to talk to any one of them, that Conservatives can get up and make up these fairy tales.
  10. deflected
    Carbon PricingMrs. Tracy Gray (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). loaded question.The answer provides counter-statistics on rebates and emissions but ignores the call for a carbon tax election.The Conservative Party of Canada has a non-plan.
  11. misdirected
    Carbon PricingMr. Eric Melillo (Conservative) asked Jenna Sudds (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots entirely to child care achievements instead of addressing carbon tax or the NDP's support for the government.Do members know what is up? The number of child care spaces available for families across this country is up.
  12. misdirected
    SeniorsMs. Andréanne Larouche (Bloc) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). substantive question.The answer attacks the Bloc's voting record on dental care rather than addressing the request to raise OAS for seniors aged 65-74.The Bloc Québécois voted against the national dental care program that is currently under way in the member's riding.
  13. misdirected
    SeniorsMs. Andréanne Larouche (Bloc) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.The answer accuses the member of seeking an election and lists past votes instead of responding to ending two classes of seniors.once again, the member is raising the spectre of an unnecessary election instead of taking concrete action, like voting to help Quebec seniors, which is something she has not done since she arrived here.
  14. deflected
    SeniorsMr. Mario Simard (Bloc) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). substantive question.The answer defends the federal pilot project and shifts blame to Quebec rather than committing to an agreement.That is where the Government of Quebec is blocking things.
  15. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. Warren Steinley (Conservative) asked Arif Virani (Liberal). loaded question.The answer reviews carbon price facts and attacks the NDP but avoids the demand for a carbon tax election.What that does is it signals voter cynicism.
  16. misdirected
    The EconomyMr. Don Davies (NDP) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). loaded question.The answer quotes past NDP statements on carbon tax instead of addressing elite influence versus working Canadians.In June 2024, she said, "economists, journalists and members of Parliament have made it very clear that the carbon tax is not what is responsible for the cost of food increasing so much."
  17. partly answered
    HousingMs. Bonita Zarrillo (NDP) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). loaded question.The answer disputes the funding claim and notes investments but does not address the 99.8% figure or discrimination premise.We have spent all of our housing allotment every year.
  18. deflected
    Government AccountabilityMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). rhetorical question.The response ignores the sarcastic question and pivots to attacking Conservative cuts instead.the Conservatives certainly cannot be counted on to defend Quebec's interests, and certainly not those of the Quebec government.
  19. misdirected
    Government AccountabilityMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the Conservative leader on dental care rather than addressing the Bloc-Liberal alliance question.In my colleague's riding, 11,000 seniors have registered for the Canadian dental care plan, yet he stands by while his leader claims that the Canadian dental care plan does not exist.
  20. deflected
    Government AccountabilityMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). rhetorical question.The response sidesteps the question by criticizing the Conservative lieutenant instead of addressing the Bloc alliance claim.A few weeks ago, he had a good idea. He said that the money for modern public transit should go to the people of Quebec City.
  21. misdirected
    Government AccountabilityMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the Conservative leader on dental care rather than responding to the Bloc lieutenant or third link points.He said that the Canadian dental care plan does not exist.
  22. deflected
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Bloc) asked Marc Miller (Liberal). loaded question.The answer gives a vague proverb instead of addressing the question about Conservative premiers and asylum seekers.I listened very closely to the question and I would say that there is no smoke without fire.
  23. answered
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Bloc) asked Marc Miller (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly addresses the lack of a plan and discusses ongoing provincial distribution efforts.We will keep working with the provinces to make sure they are doing their fair share.
  24. partly answered
    Forestry IndustryMr. Richard Martel (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). loaded question.The answer defends the order by referencing past precedent but does not address job impacts or Bloc support.It was not radical then, but suddenly it is radical now because we are the ones using it.
  25. deflected
    Forestry IndustryMr. Richard Martel (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). loaded question.The answer avoids promising not to impose the order by shifting blame to Quebec's inaction instead.The order is being developed, and there is a very simple way for us not to have to impose our order.
  26. misdirected
    FinanceMr. Richard Lehoux (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks Conservatives for criticizing rather than addressing Carney's committee appearance or conflict rules.It is possible to disagree without attacking Canadians.
  27. misdirected
    The EconomyMr. Frank Caputo (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). loaded question.The answer mocks the question style and defends Carney without addressing the conflict of interest claim.I guess the member opposite will only get half a gold star from his leader today, because all he did was announce the slogans, but he forgot to attack the other political parties.
  28. misdirected
    The EconomyMr. Frank Caputo (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). loaded question.The answer counters by attacking the Conservative leader's entitlements instead of addressing the Carney contract or food bank issues.if that member wants to talk about entitlements, he should talk to the leader of his party who has a calculated $2 million pension and who lives in government housing
  29. misdirected
    FinanceMrs. Shannon Stubbs (Conservative) asked Kamal Khera (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to past Conservative policies on childcare and abortion rather than addressing the finance minister's role or Carney's appointment.The Conservatives were against $10-a-day child care.
  30. answered
    Mental Health and AddictionsMr. Gord Johns (NDP) asked Ya'ara Saks (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly addresses the need for mental health resources by citing the new emergency treatment fund for communities.That is why, in budget 2024, this government pledged to work directly with communities through the emergency treatment fund, $150 million, over the next three years
  31. partly answered
    The EnvironmentMr. Alain Rayes (Independent) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the program importance and offers to discuss specific cases but does not confirm systemic changes to processing times.However, if there are problems in my colleague's riding, I will be happy to discuss it with him to try to find a solution.