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Wednesday, October 23, 2024 · sitting No. 357

Privilege debate over SDTC documents dominates Commons sitting

The House spent a third of the day on a privilege motion concerning the Liberal government's refusal to produce documents ordered by the House on the $400-million Sustainable Development Technology Canada fund. Conservative MP Rosemarie Falk said Parliament remained seized by the issue because the government had not complied. Bloc Québécois MP Gabriel Ste-Marie said the government appeared content to let the debate continue rather than return to regular business.

In Question Period, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre pressed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on housing costs, immigration levels and the carbon tax, repeatedly asking for a carbon-tax election. Trudeau said the government would continue investing in dental care, child care and a green economy while accusing Conservatives of offering only cuts.

Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet raised reports of religious indoctrination and corporal punishment at Bedford elementary school in Montreal and asked whether Ottawa would stop challenging Quebec's secularism law. Trudeau said school administration falls under provincial jurisdiction and that the government would defend fundamental freedoms.

Decided that day

  • 16th report of the Standing Committee on Finance passed
  • Bill C-416 introduced

From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard

Question Period – October 23, 2024. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube

Who held the floor · 2024-10-23

Government (Liberal)OppositionOver the day: government 35%, opposition 65% of the words spokenQuestion PeriodOrders of the Day▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 14:0515:0016:0017:0018:00Last speech 18:50Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 4 h 45 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
37Privilege clashes crowd out slim progressThe sitting devoted most time to privilege disputes and procedural points rather than substantive work. Only one committee report passed and a single bill was introduced amid low substantive discussion.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

Grocery Industry

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh asked why the Prime Minister had refused to act on food prices after a survey showed more than half of Canadians struggling with grocery costs. Trudeau said the government had strengthened competition rules and introduced a national school food program.

Read the exchange

Democratic Institutions

Liberal MP Fayçal El-Khoury asked why Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre continued to refuse a security clearance. Trudeau said every other party leader had obtained or was obtaining clearance and asked what Poilievre had to hide.

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Financial Institutions

NDP MP Don Davies asked what the government had done after TD Bank was fined more than $3 billion in the United States for money-laundering offences. Trudeau said the government had strengthened financial oversight and would ensure accountability.

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Carbon Tax

Conservative MP Eric Melillo said the carbon tax was driving up grocery prices and forcing the Kenora food bank to limit visits. He said the Salvation Army had reported difficulty keeping shelves stocked.

Read the exchange

Housing

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Statistics Canada data showed 194,461 housing completions in 2015 when he was housing minister and average rents were half what they are today. Trudeau said Poilievre delivered only six affordable units as Stephen Harper's housing minister.

Read the exchange

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
    Liberal Party of CanadaPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer ignores the election call and pivots to criticizing Conservative policies instead.While Conservatives focus on petty politics, we will stay focused on delivering for Canadians.
  2. deflected
    Liberal Party of CanadaPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer avoids the election question and shifts to listing government programs while attacking Conservatives.The Conservatives are offering austerity and cuts.
  3. deflected
    Liberal Party of CanadaPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer sidesteps the election demand and attacks the Conservative leader's offerings instead.it is clear to all Canadians that all the Conservative leader is offering is budget cuts, austerity and empty slogans.
  4. deflected
    Liberal Party of CanadaPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer ignores the election request and pivots to listing government supports while criticizing the opposition.While the Leader of the Opposition tosses around empty slogans and plays politics, we will stay focused on the things that matter to Canadians.
  5. misdirected
    Liberal Party of CanadaPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer turns to attacking the Conservative caucus and leader rather than addressing the question about Liberal MPs or an election.What is interesting is that nobody in the Conservative caucus seemed to have spoken out when one member got an all-expenses-paid trip to an extreme anti-abortion church in Florida.
  6. partly answered
    Diversity and InclusionMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer addresses provincial jurisdiction and freedoms but does not directly engage the specific school situation.We will always be there to defend freedom of expression and the fundamental freedoms afforded to all Canadians.
  7. answered
    Diversity and InclusionMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer directly clarifies the prior statement and restates the position on jurisdiction and values.no, that is not at all what I said.
  8. partly answered
    Grocery IndustryMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer claims actions taken but does not fully address refusal to act on grocery prices beyond existing measures.We have moved forward on increasing competition rules so the Competition Bureau can go after people and companies that are gouging Canadians.
  9. partly answered
    Grocery IndustryMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answers the grocery store query directly and discusses housing investments but does not address the premise of failing to clean up a mess.I have actually been to a grocery store, with you, Mr. Speaker, in your riding a few years ago, Hull—Aylmer, and I have been to many grocery stores since.
  10. deflected
    Carbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Question is not to the government and mixes unrelated attacks; answer pivots to unrelated programs instead of addressing carbon tax and food prices.that was not a question for the government, but let me reiterate that multiple analysts and economists and the Parliamentary Budget Officer have indicated that lowering inflation has made it easier on Canadians
  11. misdirected
    Carbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Both sides engage in personal attacks and unrelated accusations rather than addressing the carbon tax claim.the leader of the Conservative Party should not be bragging that none of his MPs have asked him to get a security clearance so that he can protect his party from foreign interference
  12. deflected
    Carbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Question repeats attacks and demands an election; answer restates carbon rebate benefits without engaging the premise about Liberal MPs.our price on pollution not only decreases emissions and helps fight climate change, but grows the economy and investments and puts more money in the pockets of middle-class Canadians from coast to coast to coast.
  13. misdirected
    HousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks the asker's record as minister instead of addressing the housing accelerator outcomes.when the member opposite was Stephen Harper's failed housing minister, he built six affordable housing units across the country, so we will take no lessons from the Conservatives on housing.
  14. misdirected
    HousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer again pivots to attacking the asker's past record rather than engaging StatsCan data or the plan proposed.it says something about the level of confidence the previous prime minister had in the member when Stephen Harper used to say that the federal government had no responsibility on housing and then asked him to be the housing minister.
  15. partly answered
    HousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Question includes false premise about PM's statement; answer addresses federal housing investments but ignores the immigration and firing demand.we have continued to step up and invest in housing by working with provinces and municipalities right across the country because, of course, we know that previous governments, of Conservative and Liberal stripes, underinvested for many years in housing
  16. partly answered
    JusticeMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Question asks directly about federal involvement in Bill 21 challenge; answer affirms rights defense and notes concern for children without fully addressing intrusion claim.our government will always defend the fundamental rights of all Canadians.
  17. deflected
    JusticeMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Trudeau condemns the reported incident but pivots to defending multiculturalism instead of directly addressing the call for clear condemnation.However, it is also unacceptable to use extreme cases, exceptions like this one, to attack Quebec's diversity and to attack the different backgrounds that tie our country together.
  18. partly answered
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Trudeau acknowledges adjustments to immigration but does not directly answer whether he will reverse course on the policies cited.As we see the situation shift as the labour market shifts, we are making changes to the immigration system so we can keep its support.
  19. deflected
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Trudeau ignores the call for a carbon tax election and instead lists government investments without addressing the immigration or housing failures alleged.In these times of global strife and pressures, that is exactly what we are doubling down on: investing in building homes, investing in strengthening our immigration system so it can match the challenges we are in right now
  20. deflected
    Government PrioritiesPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Trudeau dismisses the question as a 'brokenist vision' and pivots to global factors and government programs rather than addressing the broken promise claim.Yes, Canadians are struggling, like people are all around the world.
  21. misdirected
    Government PrioritiesPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Trudeau attacks Poilievre for offering no solutions and lists programs the Conservatives would cancel instead of addressing the policy reversals requested.He is offering to take away the Canada carbon rebate, which is putting more money in their pockets and fighting climate change successfully while it grows the economy.
  22. partly answered
    Foreign AffairsMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Trudeau states Canada's position on a ceasefire and two-state solution but does not address imposing sanctions on Netanyahu or his ministers.We need to make sure there is a ceasefire in Gaza and in Lebanon.
  23. misdirected
    HealthMs. Heather McPherson (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Trudeau agrees on health care but redirects blame to Conservative premiers and ignores the specific question about standing up for public health care in Alberta.I agree entirely that Conservative governments across this country have weakened our public health care system
  24. deflected
    HousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Trudeau accuses Poilievre of fueling political aspirations and highlights investments without directly addressing the policy reversals on immigration and spending.the Conservative leader is using this information as well as the challenges facing Quebeckers and all Canadians to fuel his political aspirations, but he is not offering any solutions to address this problem.
  25. deflected
    HousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks the plan as baloney and slogans instead of addressing the election call.There is absolutely nothing in that plan that addresses the housing crisis.
  26. deflected
    HousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer accuses asker of personal attacks and insults rather than addressing the plan comparison.this Conservative leader's approach has been to launch personal attacks on the mayors of Montreal and Quebec City and to insult the intelligence of Quebeckers
  27. misdirected
    The EconomyPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks the asker with tinfoil hat remark and shifts to defending institutions instead of economy metrics.every now and then, despite all his efforts, we see a little edge of the tinfoil hat peeking out once again from the Leader of the Opposition
  28. partly answered
    JusticeMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer acknowledges concern and states expectation for provincial action on the reported issues.I am very concerned about the reports that the leader of the Bloc Québécois is talking about.
  29. partly answered
    JusticeMr. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer addresses jurisdiction and legal steps on freedoms while noting Quebec's role on children.Protecting the fundamental freedoms of all citizens is something that Quebeckers and all Canadians expect from their federal government as well.
  30. deflected
    HousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). rhetorical question.Answer pivots to urging Conservative premiers to accept funds instead of addressing the encampment crisis description.I would ask him to use his significant influence over those Conservative premiers to ask them to accept the money that the federal government is putting on the table to help with homeless encampments.
  31. misdirected
    Mental Health and AddictionsPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer accuses asker of blame game and demands responsibility instead of addressing overdose policy reversal.It is about time he started taking responsibility for the members of his caucus and taking responsibility for putting forward solutions that will actually help Canadians
  32. deflected
    Mental Health and AddictionsPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer accuses Conservatives of using people as props and misinformation rather than addressing the drug policy reversal request.Meanwhile, Conservatives are choosing to use struggling people as political props to promote fear and spread misinformation.
  33. misdirected
    Innovation, Science and IndustryPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the deficit, conflicts and evidence request to attack the opposition leader on security clearance.Why is the leader of the Conservative Party not getting his security clearance?
  34. misdirected
    Innovation, Science and IndustryPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.The answer again pivots to security clearance instead of addressing the green slush fund cover-up claim.I recommend, at this point, that he choose to apply those words to explaining to Canadians why he will not get the necessary security clearance
  35. deflected
    Democratic InstitutionsMichael Chong (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer is truncated and offers no response to the briefing details raised.
  36. partly answered
    Financial InstitutionsMr. Don Davies (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer states general oversight efforts but does not detail specific actions taken regarding TD Bank's repeated violations.We have continued to strengthen financial oversight, and we are making sure that there is full accountability for those responsible for this wrongdoing in the United States.
  37. answered
    TaxationMr. Alain Rayes (Independent) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly acknowledges the tax inconsistency and commits to reviewing the proposal.We will continue to look at whether his proposal, which seems to make a lot of sense, has any merit.