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Wednesday, October 2, 2024 · sitting No. 347
Commons debates order to hand SDTC documents to RCMP
The House spent the largest share of the sitting on a privilege motion concerning the government's refusal to release unredacted Sustainable Development Technology Canada documents to the RCMP as ordered by a committee and the Speaker. Conservative members argued the documents would reveal conflicts of interest involving hundreds of millions in public funds while Liberal members maintained that compliance would breach charter protections and institutional independence. Debate on the motion remained ongoing at adjournment.
Question period featured repeated exchanges on housing costs and the carbon tax. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre pressed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to call an election so a new government could cut red tape and taxes while Trudeau defended federal investments in affordable housing and the price on pollution.
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet challenged the Prime Minister over remarks by the minister of seniors and delays in Senate consideration of supply-management legislation.
Decided that day
- Opposition motion requesting a royal recommendation for Bill C-319 passed
From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard
Question Period – October 2, 2024. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube
Who held the floor · 2024-10-02
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
Seniors
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet called on the Prime Minister to rebuke his minister for suggesting Quebec retiree associations were either naive or conspiring with opposition parties.
Read the exchangeInternational Trade
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said the Prime Minister had failed to resolve U.S. tariffs on softwood lumber after three years while former prime minister Harper had done so in 80 days.
Read the exchangePublic Services and Procurement
Conservative MP Garnett Genuis said the government had failed to take responsibility for contracting irregularities revealed at the government operations committee.
Read the exchangeCarbon Pricing
Conservative MP Kyle Seeback warned that scheduled increases in the carbon tax would eliminate the Canadian steel industry according to producers.
Read the exchangeCanadian Heritage
Liberal MP Francesco Sorbara welcomed members of the Latin American and Hispanic community to Parliament Hill and asked how the government was supporting their traditions.
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
- misdirectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the questioner and changes the subject instead of addressing the election call.
He is here to toss out slogans, offer no solutions and get himself elected.
- misdirectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts to past voting records and personal attacks rather than responding to the election demand.
If any housing was built while he was the minister responsible for housing, it was no thanks to him, because he created only six affordable housing units the entire time he was the minister responsible for housing in Mr. Harper's government.
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer restates government talking points on capital gains without addressing the carbon tax election request.
Once again, the Leader of the Opposition talked about his opposition to our bringing in an increase on capital gains.
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to past court wins and climate policy without engaging the election or tax cost claims.
Canadians have decided that a price on pollution is the right thing.
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer focuses on defending carbon rebate and climate action while ignoring the election call and specific cost figures.
the Conservative leader is proposing that we abandon the fight against climate change.
- deflectedSeniorsMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer avoids addressing the minister's remark and instead criticizes the Bloc's motives.
The Bloc is making threats and trying to pick fights.
- misdirectedSeniorsMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer lists past Bloc votes instead of responding to the request to correct the minister.
When we chose to increase the GIS by $1,000 for the most vulnerable seniors, the Bloc Québécois voted against seniors.
- partly answeredHousingMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer addresses keeping homes affordable but does not explain why conversions continue under the current government.
We have done that with funds put forward to purchase, by non-profit organizations, deeper affordable homes, and we will move forward on converting public lands into affordable homes that will be kept affordable for decades and even a century to come.
- deflectedHousingMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists investments but avoids addressing the specific claim of delay and failure on indigenous housing.
we have tripled investments in indigenous communities since 2015, including $32 billion in investments expected in 2024-25 alone.
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer defends carbon pricing but ignores the call for an election and the food cost claims.
We put forward a price on pollution that not only brings down emissions and creates more solutions and economic growth, but also puts more money in the pockets of eight out of 10 Canadians right across the country.
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer mocks the questioner and pivots to general praise for carbon pricing without addressing the food inflation comparison.
To rely on facts and data is an excellent thing to hear.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the opposition's voting record instead of responding to the food insecurity statistics or election request.
If the Leader of the Opposition actually cared about food security in this country, we might imagine he would have voted for that.
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer accuses the asker of politics and repeats prior points without addressing the food bank or election demand.
if the Leader of the Opposition actually cared about vulnerable Canadians, he would be offering solutions, not just more politics.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts to attacking the opposition's platform rather than engaging with the trucking cost or election question.
He is offering tax breaks for the wealthiest and cuts for services and programs to everyone else.
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer restates carbon rebate benefits and attacks the opposition but does not address the election call or hunger statistics.
the Canada carbon rebate puts more money in the pockets of eight out of 10 Canadians right across the country.
- misdirectedSeniorsMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer accuses the Bloc of obstruction instead of clarifying the vote history on GIS and retirement age.
we can plainly see the Bloc Québécois leader's defensiveness when we point out that the only reason they are here is to pick fights and stand in the way of measures that can improve the well-being of Canadians and Quebeckers.
- deflectedSeniorsMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). rhetorical question.The question attacks rather than inquires and the answer pivots to past actions then dismisses the asker.
We will always be there for seniors, but we will not get involved in the Bloc Québécois's squabbles.
- deflectedThe EconomyPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer shifts to foreign investment and climate policy instead of addressing the per-capita income gap cited.
one of the reasons why foreign direct investment is up by 60% since 2015 is that, contrary to what the Harper government put forward, we are actually leading on the fight against climate change
- deflectedThe EconomyPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The response lists social programs without engaging the investment and GDP-per-capita comparison.
Canadians are facing difficult times right now, which is why we made the choice to invest in things like dental care and to cut child care fees in half for families right across the country
- deflectedThe EconomyPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer cites IMF projections and fiscal metrics while ignoring the specific per-capita GDP decline versus the United States.
the International Monetary Fund projects that Canada will have stronger growth than the United States next year.
- partly answeredThe EconomyPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The reply directly attributes slower per-capita growth to high population growth, though it then pivots to fiscal comparisons.
in recent years, Canada has been experiencing a much higher population growth than other G7 countries.
- partly answeredHousingMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges federal investments and shared jurisdiction but does not address the specific call for new measures on encampments.
we have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in municipalities across the country to help them invest and assist those who are experiencing homelessness.
- misdirectedHousingMs. Lisa Marie Barron (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The question embeds an unsupported equivalence and the answer responds by attacking the Conservatives rather than addressing veteran housing funding delays.
after the Conservatives nickelled and dimed veterans and shuttered veterans services offices, we not only reopened them, but also invested tens of billions of dollars in more supports for veterans right across the country.
- deflectedEmergency PreparednessPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the opposition's climate stance instead of addressing the parks department warnings on Jasper fire prevention.
it is always astonishing to hear the Leader of the Opposition talk about the impacts of the extreme weather events related to climate change, while he opposes any climate action at all.
- deflectedEmergency PreparednessPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts focus to climate change instead of addressing the controlled burns and warnings mentioned.
It is a result of climate change, climate change that he does not want to fight.
- misdirectedEmergency PreparednessPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The response attacks the opposition leader rather than addressing the specific warnings about clearing wood.
That is completely irresponsible and shameful, but we have all seen that from the Conservative leader, who would rather try to rile people up and point fingers than actually solve any of the challenges that Canadians are facing
- deflectedEmergency PreparednessPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answers by discussing climate change and options but does not address the specific cancellation for political optics.
in this era of droughts, rising temperatures and climate change, there are certainly reasons for which most reasonable people could imagine why the opting for a mechanical removal of underbrush, instead of setting it on fire, might be a better option.
- answeredInternational TradeMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly states that the Senate is independent and they will protect supply management as promised.
The Senate is independent, and it is doing its job. We are going to allow democracy to function without interference.
- deflectedInternational TradeMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The response attacks the Bloc for political games instead of addressing the request to instruct senators on the bills.
While the Bloc Québécois tries to pick fights and play political games, we will go on keeping our commitments for the good of Canadians
- deflectedForestry IndustryPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer discusses protecting the environment and jobs but avoids the call for an election or the specific order on forestry.
That is exactly what we are doing, working with the forest industry and the Quebec government to ensure that we protect endangered species, but that we also protect jobs and good careers
- deflectedInternational TradePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer discusses NAFTA negotiations instead of addressing the unresolved softwood lumber tariffs.
during the NAFTA renegotiations, when aluminum worker and steelworker jobs were in jeopardy across the country, we stood our ground to negotiate in the best interest of Canadians
- deflectedFinancePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer discusses past Conservative austerity instead of addressing the current spending and Bloc support.
Quebeckers are well aware of the cost of austerity and Conservative cuts. They experienced that during the Harper years.
- deflectedGovernment AccountabilityPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the specific yes/no question on lobbying clearance and pivots to attacking Conservative policies instead.
The fact is that the Leader of the Opposition is offering cuts to services that Canadians are relying on and offering tax breaks to the wealthiest, like Conservatives always do.
- deflectedInnovation, Science and IndustryPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer avoids the request to hand over documents and instead accuses the opposition of undermining institutions.
Both the RCMP and the Auditor General have raised concerns about how this motion jeopardizes their independence in serving Canadians.
- deflectedInnovation, Science and IndustryPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer sidesteps the demand to release documents and instead labels the opposition's request as banana-republic behaviour.
The reality is that this is banana republic-style behaviour that the Conservative Party is pushing.
- misdirectedHousingMs. Bonita Zarrillo (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the NDP's record rather than addressing why the government partnered to shield the CEO from committee.
I will take no lessons on progressive politics from a party that ran away when the pressures got hot from the Conservative Party of Canada.
- partly answeredForeign AffairsMr. Kevin Vuong (Independent) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer addresses the trust issue by stating a commitment to accountability and reforms for UNRWA while pivoting to broader Gaza policy.
we are committed to ensuring full accountability, decisive action and the implementation of necessary reforms to UNRWA.