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Friday, September 20, 2024 · sitting No. 340
House debates homelessness report as parties clash over coalitions
The House spent the largest share of the day on the 31st report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts concerning chronic homelessness. Conservative MP John Nater moved concurrence in the report and criticized the government's record, while Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux defended federal efforts and questioned prior Conservative action on the file.
Question period featured repeated exchanges on government accountability. Conservative MP Luc Berthold asked how the Liberal government retained confidence after recent defeats and coalition shifts, while Liberal MP Jean-Yves Duclos highlighted Canada child benefit payments and accused Conservatives of seeking cuts.
New Democrat MP Leah Gazan pressed for a guaranteed basic income framework amid rising food bank use, and Liberal MP Ryan Turnbull listed government supports including a grocery rebate and competition reforms.
From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard
Question Period – September 20, 2024. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube
Who held the floor · 2024-09-20
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
Strengthening the Port System and Railway Safety in Canada Act
Conservative MP Philip Lawrence moved multiple amendments to delete clauses in Bill C-33, including the short title and provisions on port and railway safety.
Read the exchangeSeniors
Bloc Québécois MP Christine Normandin called for equal old age security payments for all seniors aged 65 and over, rejecting two classes of retirees based on age.
Read the exchangeCarbon Pricing
Conservative MP Pat Kelly asked whether the Prime Minister would call a carbon tax election, citing repeated NDP support for the levy.
Read the exchangeForestry Industry
Conservative MP Dominique Vien urged the government to scrap an environment minister order affecting Saguenay communities and accused the Bloc Québécois of weak bargaining.
Read the exchangeNational Defence
Conservative MP James Bezan said troops training in Alaska had to use 1960s sleeping bags after the government bought unsuitable new ones for $35 million.
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
- deflectedGovernment AccountabilityMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer ignores the confidence question and pivots to child benefits while attacking Conservatives.
Unfortunately, it is always the same old story. The Conservative Party wants to cut everything, including the Canada child benefit, according to the member's leader.
- misdirectedGovernment AccountabilityMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). substantive question.The answer attacks the Conservatives on the economy instead of addressing the call for a non-confidence vote.
Does he really believe all the nonsense that comes out of his mouth? Does everything boil down to politics for them?
- deflectedGovernment AccountabilityMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer shifts to a Conservative leader remark on school meals rather than addressing the non-confidence motion or Quebec representation.
The Conservative leader had a brilliant idea about two days ago, when he said that helping children go to school in the morning on a full stomach is all about feeding bureaucracy.
- deflectedGovernment AccountabilityMr. John Barlow (Conservative) asked Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Liberal). substantive question.The answer pivots to Conservative pensions and economic claims instead of addressing the carbon tax election request.
it is pretty rich for the Conservatives to be talking about pensions as they are actively committed to cancelling Canadians' pensions, while their pensions and the leader of the Conservatives' pension are worth more than $2 million.
- deflectedThe EconomyMr. John Barlow (Conservative) asked Mr. Ryan Turnbull (Liberal). substantive question.The answer accuses Conservatives of rooting for economic failure and lists rebates instead of addressing the carbon tax election call.
time and again in this House, the Conservatives cite food bank line-ups and food insecurity to try to signal that they care about Canadians, while every day they stand up in this House, cheer on bad news and really root for the failure of our economy in Canada.
- partly answeredSeniorsMs. Christine Normandin (Bloc) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer explains the rationale for higher OAS at 75 but does not address ending the two-tier system for 65-74.
we increased assistance for seniors aged 75 and up. As my colleague may know, even if it is not from personal experience, when people age, their needs increase and their income goes down.
- deflectedSeniorsMs. Christine Normandin (Bloc) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer repeats dental care statistics and ignores the request to extend OAS increases to ages 65-74.
as of July 22, 8,022 seniors in her riding were able to get affordable and accessible dental care.
- answeredHousingMs. Lori Idlout (NDP) asked Mrs. Jenica Atwin (Liberal). loaded question.The answer directly addresses indigenous housing funding and actions taken since 2016.
Since 2016, we have taken a different approach, working closely with partners to determine the scope and scale of housing needs on reserve.
- deflectedHousingMs. Bonita Zarrillo (NDP) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). loaded question.Answer avoids the question on corporate landlords by criticizing the NDP's lack of a plan.
Where is the NDP on these issues?
- misdirectedGovernment AccountabilityMrs. Tracy Gray (Conservative) asked Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Liberal). loaded question.Answer diverts entirely to attacking a Conservative member instead of addressing the election question.
He was having cocktails and flirting with fascists who interrupted a Terry Fox memorial.
- misdirectedGovernment AccountabilityMrs. Tracy Gray (Conservative) asked Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Liberal). loaded question.Answer shifts to gun control and attacks Conservatives rather than responding to the election or crime question.
They take on the talking point of the gun lobby over Canadian women who are saying that we need to keep our communities safe
- deflectedGovernment AccountabilityMr. Philip Lawrence (Conservative) asked Mrs. Élisabeth Brière (Liberal). substantive question.Answer ignores the question about the NDP-Liberal agreement and pivots to thanking military families.
I will take the opportunity on this Military Family Appreciation Day to recognize the sacrifices and the service of the families of the Canadian Armed Forces members
- misdirectedThe EconomyMr. Philip Lawrence (Conservative) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks Conservatives as cynical instead of addressing food insecurity or the election call.
cynical politicians, like the Conservatives, have tied their political fortunes to the failure of the Canadian economy.
- misdirectedForestry IndustryMrs. Dominique Vien (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.Answer redirects to the Bloc leader and dental care while attacking the Conservative leader.
- misdirectedForestry IndustryMrs. Dominique Vien (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.Answer again attacks the Conservative leader on insults and dental care instead of addressing the forestry order.
Will she call her Conservative leader to order and also ask him to recognize that the Canadian dental care program
- answeredSeniorsMs. Sylvie Bérubé (Bloc) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.Answer directly explains the status of funding approvals and the required step for Quebec to release funds.
All the Government of Quebec has to do is press the "M‑30 button" and the money will flow to the community organizations in her riding and many other ridings.
- misdirectedSeniorsMs. Sylvie Bérubé (Bloc) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks a premise not stated in the question and redirects blame to Quebec instead of addressing federal funding transfer timing.
I am a bit surprised. We just heard that supporting seniors should not be the Canadian government's job and that members of the House should not be helping seniors in their ridings.
- deflectedGovernment AccountabilityMr. Pat Kelly (Conservative) asked Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Liberal). loaded question.Question builds on unproven coalition claims and demands election; answer ignores the yes/no query and attacks Conservative focus with insults.
while the Conservative Party is so focused on slogans and bumper stickers, we in government will continue to be focused on the real concerns that Canadians have
- deflectedCarbon PricingMr. Pat Kelly (Conservative) asked Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Liberal). loaded question.Question assumes quadrupling carbon tax and NDP agreement then demands election; answer dismisses with counter-claims on inflation without addressing the election call.
the Conservatives will never let the truth or good news get in the way of their shameless exploitation of the challenges that Canadians are facing these days
- deflectedGovernment AccountabilityMr. Dane Lloyd (Conservative) asked Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Liberal). loaded question.Question repeats coalition and cost claims then asks for election; answer pivots to praising Canada and labeling Conservatives far-right instead of addressing timing.
what we see is that the Conservative Party, the far-right MAGA party, is being led by a leader who does nothing but spread negative news.
- deflectedGovernment AccountabilityMr. Dane Lloyd (Conservative) asked Mr. James Maloney (Liberal). loaded question.Question cites electoral losses and policy failures then demands election; answer mocks Conservative rhetoric without engaging the substance or yes/no request.
Conservative rhetoric is up, Conservative nonsense is up, rhyming is certainly up and Canadians are getting fed up.
- partly answeredThe EconomyMs. Leah Gazan (NDP) asked Mr. Ryan Turnbull (Liberal). substantive question.Question asks if Liberals will support basic income bill; answer lists existing measures but does not address the bill itself.
We have offered on grocery prices, with elevated inflation, a grocery rebate; 50% reduction in child care fees; and a grocery code of conduct.
- partly answeredNorthern AffairsMr. Richard Cannings (NDP) asked Dan Vandal (Liberal). substantive question.Question asks if Liberals will fund Mackenzie road; answer acknowledges discussions but provides no commitment or timeline.
We had great discussions on the Mackenzie highway, and that is going to come up in the future.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingMr. Tom Kmiec (Conservative) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). loaded question.Question repeats coalition and cost claims then demands election; answer attacks Conservative leader's alleged advisors instead of addressing the election question.
I am quite concerned about where the Conservatives are getting many of their ideas these days, because records show that the Conservative leader got his advice on how to help Canadians struggling with the cost of living from a Loblaws lobbyist.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingMr. Tom Kmiec (Conservative) asked Mr. Ryan Turnbull (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the carbon tax election demand and instead attacks Conservatives for not cheering on the economy and Olympics.
Only the Conservative Party in this House did not cheer for Canada's economy, just like, this summer, when they could not bear it when our athletes did well at the Olympics, winning gold medals.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingMr. Martin Shields (Conservative) asked Mr. Ryan Turnbull (Liberal). loaded question.The answer sidesteps the carbon tax question entirely and pivots to inflation stats plus an attack on Conservatives for not supporting athletes.
That is really disgusting. We should all be on the side of Canada.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingMr. Michael Kram (Conservative) asked Mr. Anthony Housefather (Liberal). loaded question.The answer avoids the carbon tax election call and instead lectures Conservatives on having a team Canada approach while listing unrelated stats.
Why do Conservatives not try to work with us and make things better?
- deflectedDiversity and InclusionMr. Maxime Blanchette-Joncas (Bloc) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer deflects from the call for resignation by praising Quebec universities' autonomy without addressing the representative's mandate.
I have every confidence in the ability of Quebec universities to make the right decisions.
- deflectedDiversity and InclusionMr. Maxime Blanchette-Joncas (Bloc) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer avoids eliminating the position and instead gives a general lecture on uniting Canadians rather than dividing them.
What is harder and more important is bringing people together.
- misdirectedGovernment AccountabilityMr. Marc Dalton (Conservative) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the election demand and switches to attacking Conservatives on union dues and workers' rights.
On the one hand, they talk about workers. We scratch the surface and we find a party that is the same old thing.
- misdirectedGovernment AccountabilityMr. Ziad Aboultaif (Conservative) asked Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Liberal). loaded question.The answer evades the carbon tax election question and instead attacks the Conservatives' past pension record plus accuses the asker of hypocrisy.
- deflectedFinanceMr. Richard Lehoux (Conservative) asked Pascale St-Onge (Liberal). loaded question.The answer sidesteps calling an election and pivots to reminding Quebeckers of past Conservative austerity versus current investments.
Quebeckers wanted nothing to do with the Conservatives' austerity before, and they still do not.
- deflectedFinanceMr. Michael Barrett (Conservative) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). loaded question.Answer ignores the mortgage and carbon tax conflict query entirely and pivots to attacking Conservative advisors.
The leader of the Conservative Party gets his advice on how to help Canadians with the rising cost of food from a Loblaw lobbyist.
- misdirectedGovernment AccountabilityMr. Michael Barrett (Conservative) asked Mr. James Maloney (Liberal). loaded question.Answer responds by condemning the questioner for character assassination rather than addressing the ethics or funding allegations.
It is unacceptable to come into this chamber and time after time go after individuals' character.
- deflectedGovernment AccountabilityMr. Greg McLean (Conservative) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). loaded question.Answer sidesteps the conflict-of-interest exemption question and instead criticizes Conservatives for doubting the economy.
when will the Conservatives stop betting against the success of Canadians?
- partly answeredFisheries and OceansMs. Rachel Blaney (NDP) asked Mr. Mike Kelloway (Liberal). substantive question.Answer confirms the 2029 ban and upcoming plan release but does not address funding for impacted communities.
Work on the draft transition plan is under way and will be released in the coming weeks.
- partly answeredPublic SafetyMr. Kevin Vuong (Independent) asked Mr. Sameer Zuberi (Liberal). substantive question.Answer acknowledges concern and states the matter is under review but offers no specific action on arrest or listing.
We are looking into the situation in this matter.