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Wednesday, October 30, 2024 · sitting No. 362
House debates housing report concurrence as Poilievre presses GST cut
The House devoted the largest share of its sitting to debate on concurrence in the 12th report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities concerning the housing crisis. Bloc Québécois MP Alexandre Boulerice moved concurrence and highlighted the impact on millions of Canadians while criticizing financialization of housing.
In Question Period, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre repeatedly urged the government to eliminate the GST on new homes under one million dollars and called for a carbon-tax election. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau countered that the Conservative approach would cut billions in housing investments and accused the opposition of refusing security clearances needed to address foreign interference.
Question Period also featured exchanges on seniors benefits, reproductive health services and medical assistance in dying, with Poilievre, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, Bloc Québécois MP Alain Therrien and Liberal MPs pressing the Prime Minister on access and provincial actions.
From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard
Question Period – October 30, 2024. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube
Who held the floor · 2024-10-30
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
Conservative Party of Canada
Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal said Conservative members at the public safety committee focused on issues other than Indian government interference and that Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has not raised the matter in the House.
Read the exchangeLung Cancer
Conservative MP Pat Kelly said lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Canada, kills more Canadians than prostate, breast and colon cancers combined, and receives less research funding partly because of stigma linked to smoking.
Read the exchangeInternational Trade
Bloc Québécois MP Yves Perron pressed the Prime Minister to instruct senators he appointed to pass Bill C-282 without delay to protect supply management in all future trade deals.
Read the exchangePublic Service of Canada
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh asked the Prime Minister to settle the Thompson class-action lawsuit rather than fight Black public servants in court over systemic discrimination documented by the Treasury Board Secretariat.
Read the exchangeVeterans Affairs
NDP MP Rachel Blaney said successive Liberal and Conservative governments overcharged veterans and families for long-term care beds for at least 19 years and asked the Prime Minister to end the practice immediately.
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
- deflectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer attacks opponent's plan instead of addressing the GST proposal.
His idea of a housing solution is to cut billions of dollars from the investments we are making to build more housing faster.
- deflectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer repeats criticism of cuts without engaging the GST or reimbursement question.
the Conservative Party's plan is to cut hundreds of millions of dollars from Quebec and cut investments in housing across the country.
- deflectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer focuses solely on accusing opponent of cuts rather than responding to the GST plan.
He is offering cuts. He is offering austerity.
- misdirectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer shifts entirely to national security and security clearance instead of housing policy.
Unfortunately, the Leader of the Opposition has failed at his responsibility to keep his own MPs safe from foreign interference.
- misdirectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer pivots to security briefings and ignores the GST housing question entirely.
it is extraordinarily difficult to have a leader of the Conservative Party refuse to get the necessary security briefings
- partly answeredSeniorsMr. Alain Therrien (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer defends seniors investments but does not address the specific OAS increase for 65-74 group.
our government invested in seniors by enhancing the guaranteed income supplement by 10%, by increasing old age security for seniors aged 75 and up
- deflectedSeniorsMr. Alain Therrien (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer lists past votes against programs instead of addressing the OAS fairness or election risk question.
the Bloc Québécois and the Conservative Party voted against it.
- answeredHealthMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer directly states agreement with Canada Health Act violation and outlines government actions.
we are the government that has stood up for women's rights unequivocally across this country, including pulling back transfers to provinces where abortion services and reproductive health were not being delivered.
- misdirectedHousingMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer ignores the housing question entirely and pivots to attacking Conservatives on abortion rights.
I want to follow up on the first part of my hon. colleague's question about the fact that the Conservative Party continues to attack women's rights.
- misdirectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer shifts to national security clearance instead of addressing the election call or GST housing plan.
having inexplicably decided not to get his security clearance, the Conservative leader is putting Canadians at risk
- misdirectedGovernment PrioritiesPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer avoids the carbon tax election question and criticizes the Conservative leader on security clearance.
Why has the Leader of the Opposition chosen to not get a security clearance when the safety of his own MPs is in the balance?
- misdirectedGovernment PrioritiesPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer ignores the call for an election and repeats the security clearance attack instead.
It is inexplicable to our security services that they cannot let the leader of the Conservative Party know about the threats facing him
- deflectedDemocratic InstitutionsPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer refuses to release names and lectures on security risks rather than answering directly.
There is a reason we do not disclose classified information in places where our adversaries are watching and paying attention
- misdirectedLiberal Party of CanadaPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer sidesteps the carbon tax election demand and focuses on the opposition leader's refusal of security clearance.
The leader of the Conservative Party chooses to play the pettiest form of politics instead of stepping up on his responsibilities
- misdirectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer ignores the GST housing proposal and pivots to criticizing the Conservative stance on security.
when there is a real threat to Canadians' security and even the security of his own members, the Conservative leader refuses to get his security clearance
- answeredInternational TradeMr. Yves Perron (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly affirms support for supply management and calls on the Senate to pass the bill.
We are defending supply management and we expect the Senate to pass this bill to ensure that supply management will always be protected in Canada in the future.
- deflectedInternational TradeMr. Yves Perron (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer affirms Senate independence without addressing the request to call the senator.
we recognize the Senate's independence and the important work it does in considering bills and making recommendations.
- misdirectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer pivots to attacking the asker on security clearance instead of addressing the GST plan or homelessness.
That being said, it is interesting to see the Conservative leader absolutely refuse to answer such a simple question.
- misdirectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer shifts entirely to national security and security clearance rather than the GST housing proposal.
the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada refuses to get his security clearance so that he can keep Canadians safe
- misdirectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer criticizes the plan as cuts and attacks on security clearance instead of engaging the housing tax proposal.
the fine print on this one is that it would be cutting billions of dollars of investments in housing
- misdirectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer redirects to premiers accepting funds and again attacks on security clearance, avoiding the GST plan.
maybe he could give a call to his fellow Conservatives, the premiers of Saskatchewan and Ontario
- deflectedPublic Service of CanadaMr. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer highlights general anti-Black initiatives without addressing the specific lawsuit or court fight.
this government has done more to recognize systemic bias, systemic discrimination, unconscious bias and anti-Black racism than any other.
- partly answeredHealthMs. Bonita Zarrillo (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer affirms pro-choice stance and enforcement but pivots to attacking Conservatives rather than fully detailing Canada Health Act actions.
This government is unequivocally pro-choice. We will always defend a woman's right to choose, full stop.
- misdirectedHousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer ignores the GST election proposal and instead attacks the asker on women's rights and security clearance.
Canadians watching today will see that the Leader of the Opposition is refusing to stand up to take a strong position in protecting women's rights unequivocally in the House.
- misdirectedGovernment PrioritiesPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Question embeds attacks on PM's motives and housing record before asking about an election; answer ignores the ask and attacks Conservatives on women's rights instead.
Conservative Party members do not stand up for women's rights, so nor does the Conservative leader.
- deflectedGovernment PrioritiesPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Question mixes personal attack with call for election; answer begins by commenting on the spectacle rather than addressing any point raised.
what is fascinating is the spectacle of watching—
- misdirectedGovernment PrioritiesPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Question accuses PM of various failures and asks about a free vote on non-confidence; answer pivots to criticizing Conservative positions on defence and security briefings.
Why will he not trust our national security agencies?
- partly answeredJusticeMr. Luc Thériault (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Question asks for Criminal Code amendment on advance MAID requests; answer addresses the request by stating a national conversation will occur and no legal action against Quebec.
We are therefore launching a national conversation and will not initiate legal proceedings against Quebec's Bill 11.
- deflectedJusticeMr. Luc Thériault (Bloc) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Question presses for immediate action and warns of Conservative risk; answer agrees on the risk but restates need for time without committing to amendment.
we must not hurry through an issue as fundamental as medical assistance in dying.
- misdirectedFirearmsPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Question asks why PM rejects Conservative gun plan; answer attacks that plan and pivots to security clearance demand.
why will the leader of the Conservative Party not get the necessary security clearance
- deflectedFirearmsPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Question challenges gun policy outcomes and asks for border and criminal focus; answer dismisses slogans and again demands security clearance.
why it is that the leader of the Conservative Party continues to refuse to get the appropriate clearances
- deflectedMental Health and AddictionsPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Question asks for specific action to close a consumption site under existing law; answer restates general public-health approach without addressing the request.
Our approach is rooted in science, facts and research, as well as compassion and the work we can do on the ground
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer ignores the carbon tax and food price claims entirely and pivots to security clearance.
The Leader of the Opposition is also refusing to get the security clearance necessary to keep Canadians safe by getting the briefings from our security agencies that talk about foreign interference.
- deflectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer repeats rebate claim but shifts to security clearance attack instead of addressing food bank or price data.
At the same time, we know the Leader of the Opposition will not listen to experts.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer accuses the asker of politicizing the issue and pivots to school food program and security clearance rather than responding to the election call.
if the Conservative leader actually cared about food insecurity, instead of just wanting to politicize and instrumentalize it, he would have supported our national school food program.
- partly answeredVeterans AffairsMs. Rachel Blaney (NDP) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer states an investigation was requested but does not address identifying who overcharged or immediately ending the practice.
the Minister of Veterans Affairs has asked her officials to investigate this matter further.
- misdirectedDemocratic InstitutionsMr. Kevin Vuong (Independent) asked Justin Trudeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks the question as disgraceful and redirects to the Conservative leader's clearance instead of addressing ministers and foreign interference.
that was an absolutely disgraceful display of irreverence and unseriousness in a place that deserves a serious contemplation of issues of national security