Parliament AIIndependent · non-official

All sittings← 2024-10-302024-11-01 →

Thursday, October 31, 2024 · sitting No. 363

Privilege debate over documents in corruption probe paralyzes Commons

The House spent the largest share of the day on a privilege motion concerning the government's refusal to produce documents related to a $400-million corruption scandal for an RCMP investigation. The debate continued without resolution, leaving other business stalled as Conservatives pressed for compliance and Liberals accused the opposition of obstruction.

In Question Period, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre highlighted Statistics Canada data showing 1 per cent GDP growth in the third quarter and per capita GDP declines, blaming tax increases and calling for a carbon tax election. Liberal ministers countered with figures on falling inflation, interest rates and job growth while criticizing Poilievre's refusal to obtain security clearance.

Bloc Québécois MP Claude DeBellefeuille pressed the government on pension increases for seniors aged 65 to 74, arguing that those under 75 face the same cost pressures as older recipients and accusing Liberals of treating them as second-class citizens.

Decided that day

  • Second report of the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying passed
  • Bill C-20 received royal assent
  • Bills C-244 and C-294 advanced to second chamber

From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard

Question Period – October 31, 2024. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube

Who held the floor · 2024-10-31

Government (Liberal)OppositionOver the day: government 27%, opposition 73% of the words spokenRoutine proceedingsQuestion PeriodOrders of the Day▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 10:0511:0012:0013:0014:0015:0016:0017:00Last speech 18:55Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 8 h 50 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
54Privilege Points Crowd Out Sparse ProgressThe House devoted most of its time to privilege and committee matters while raising 107 points of order or privilege. Only a small share of debate addressed substantive business and Question Period answers were largely misdirected or deflected.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

Committees of the House

Bloc Québécois MP Luc Thériault moved concurrence in the second report of the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying and urged swift legislation on advance requests rather than further national consultations.

Read the exchange

Petitions

New Democrat MP Gord Johns tabled a petition signed by 3,444 Canadians calling for stricter rules on sewage and grey water discharges from cruise ships along the west coast.

Read the exchange

Housing

Conservative MP Michelle Ferreri announced her party's plan to eliminate the GST on new homes under $1 million, citing endorsements from builders and housing advocates.

Read the exchange

Canada Revenue Agency

Bloc Québécois MP Jean-Denis Garon questioned the scale of CRA fraud cases, noting the agency had underreported incidents to the Privacy Commissioner from 113 to more than 31,000.

Read the exchange

Public Safety

Liberal MP Sonia Sidhu asked about RCMP allegations of Indian government agents targeting the Sikh community with intimidation and plots, urging all parties to set partisanship aside.

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. misdirected
    The EconomyPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the economic statistics and policy critique to attack the asker on security clearance.Today is Halloween, and the one thing scaring the kids is the Conservative leader's refusal to get his security clearance to protect Canadians and members of his caucus.
  2. misdirected
    HousingPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer evades the housing cost and policy question by attacking the asker on past record and security clearance.Six is the number of affordable housing units the Conservative leader built, not in my riding, but across the country, during his entire term as minister responsible for housing at the time.
  3. deflected
    The EconomyPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Randy Boissonnault (Liberal). loaded question.The answer begins to address inflation but cuts off and pivots to Halloween dismissal instead of engaging the GDP data.I know the leader of the official opposition does not like facts getting in the way of his good Halloween story, but here are the facts: with 1.6% inflation, the Bank of Canada governor—
  4. misdirected
    The EconomyPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Randy Boissonnault (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores GDP and income comparisons to attack the asker on security clearance and ends with an insult.Shame on him. He should get his security clearance.
  5. deflected
    The EconomyPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Randy Boissonnault (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts from per-capita GDP and tax policy to listing government investments in Alberta without addressing the question.let us talk about the Liberal government's investments in Alberta: $22 billion in clean energy investments for clean electricity, for hydrogen, for greening the grid and for making sure we have the greenest barrel of oil in the world.
  6. misdirected
    SeniorsMrs. Claude DeBellefeuille (Bloc) asked Marc Miller (Liberal). substantive question.The answer evades the seniors pension question by attacking the Bloc's voting record and warning about Conservatives.
  7. partly answered
    SeniorsMrs. Claude DeBellefeuille (Bloc) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer defends the seniors policy record but does not directly address the 65-74 age group disparity raised.We have reduced seniors poverty by roughly 20% through measures that the Bloc and the Conservatives voted against.
  8. answered
    HousingMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly commits to launching the requested investigation into rent collusion software.I am going to write to the Commissioner of Competition today to ask for an inquiry.
  9. answered
    HousingMs. Bonita Zarrillo (NDP) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.The minister directly confirms launching the requested investigation.I am going to write to the competition commissioner today to launch an investigation.
  10. deflected
    The EconomyMichael Chong (Conservative) asked Mr. Ryan Turnbull (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to positive economic indicators without addressing the recession claim.it seems the Conservatives cannot see past their own doomsday narrative.
  11. deflected
    The EconomyMichael Chong (Conservative) asked Mr. Ryan Turnbull (Liberal). substantive question.The response highlights fiscal discipline and growth projections but ignores the emergency declaration.the Bank of Canada governor has reported numerous times that our government has stuck to its fiscal guardrails
  12. deflected
    TaxationMr. Jamil Jivani (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.The minister shifts to praising workers and investment instead of addressing tax hikes.The root cause of our success is Canadian workers.
  13. misdirected
    TaxationMr. Jamil Jivani (Conservative) asked Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Liberal). substantive question.The reply attacks a past Conservative MP and the current leader rather than discussing taxes.10 years ago today, former Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro was found guilty of violating the Elections Act.
  14. misdirected
    The EconomyMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer dismisses the question and demands an unrelated apology from another MP.
  15. misdirected
    The EconomyMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.The response lists unrelated points and again demands an apology instead of engaging the economic data.The third reality is that the member for Brantford—Brant has not yet apologized in the House.
  16. partly answered
    Canada Revenue AgencyMr. Jean-Denis Garon (Bloc) asked Marie-Claude Bibeau (Liberal). substantive question.The minister acknowledges fraud is unacceptable and states measures are taken but provides no specifics on the cases raised.I can assure my colleagues that we are taking the necessary measures to deal with the situation.
  17. deflected
    Canada Revenue AgencyMr. Jean-Denis Garon (Bloc) asked Marie-Claude Bibeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer cites legal limits and general expertise instead of addressing fraud case counts or minister's availability.the law prohibits the Minister of National Revenue from discussing specific cases.
  18. deflected
    Canada Revenue AgencyMr. Jean-Denis Garon (Bloc) asked Marie-Claude Bibeau (Liberal). loaded question.Answer defends overall CERB rollout and employee count rather than addressing internal fraud firings or minister's oversight role.Yes, there are 60,000 employees, but everyone who received CERB was individually checked.
  19. misdirected
    HousingMs. Melissa Lantsman (Conservative) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks the Conservative leader's personality and cites internal party disagreements instead of addressing the GST cut proposal.
  20. misdirected
    HousingMs. Melissa Lantsman (Conservative) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). loaded question.Answer pivots to personal friendship gossip about Conservative MPs rather than responding to housing record or tax cut request.His best friend, as I understand it, is the MP for St. Albert—Edmonton
  21. deflected
    HousingMr. Eric Melillo (Conservative) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). loaded question.Answer criticizes Conservative slogans and lists HAF uses without addressing the GST removal or affordability numbers raised.We hear more slogans, Mr. Speaker.
  22. partly answered
    Indigenous AffairsMs. Leah Gazan (NDP) asked Gary Anandasangaree (Liberal). substantive question.Answer acknowledges the report and states it will be studied but gives no commitment on the bill or Criminal Code change.It puts forward some very compelling issues that should be discussed and studied.
  23. answered
    Climate ChangeMs. Lisa Marie Barron (NDP) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). substantive question.Answer directly states Canada has eliminated fossil fuel subsidies and offers further briefing.the good news is that Canada is the only G20 country to have eliminated fossil fuel subsidies, thanks to the NDP.
  24. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. James Bezan (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). loaded question.Answer disputes PBO interpretation and attacks Conservative climate stance instead of addressing carbon tax cost or election call.What do the Conservatives have to say about that? Let the planet burn.
  25. deflected
    The EconomyMr. James Bezan (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). loaded question.Answer changes subject to Jasper instead of addressing the election call or food bank issues for troops.
  26. misdirected
    The EconomyMr. Stephen Ellis (Conservative) asked Mr. Ryan Turnbull (Liberal). loaded question.Answer ignores the question and attacks the Conservative leader with Halloween metaphors and security clearance claims.What else is truly spooky? The Conservative leader refuses to get his security clearance to protect Canadians against foreign interference.
  27. deflected
    The EconomyMr. Larry Maguire (Conservative) asked Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Liberal). loaded question.Answer claims the question was already answered then pivots to foreign interference instead of the carbon tax election.this question has already been answered.
  28. partly answered
    International TradeMr. Yves Perron (Bloc) asked Marie-Claude Bibeau (Liberal). substantive question.Answer directly states support for the bill, calls on the Senate to act, and notes institutional limits.We are calling on them loudly and clearly to do their due diligence.
  29. misdirected
    International TradeMr. Yves Perron (Bloc) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). substantive question.Answer attacks the Bloc for aligning with Conservatives rather than addressing the request for Prime Minister intervention on the bill.If any party in the House is against supply management, it is the Conservative Party.
  30. misdirected
    The EconomyMr. Richard Martel (Conservative) asked Diane Lebouthillier (Liberal). loaded question.Answer ignores the food bank question and attacks Conservatives on cuts without engaging the election demand.They are going to make cuts in dental care, in help for families, in the Canada child benefit, in small craft harbours, in pharmacare.
  31. misdirected
    The EconomyMr. Richard Martel (Conservative) asked Diane Lebouthillier (Liberal). loaded question.Answer sidesteps the election question and challenges Conservatives on cuts and security clearance instead.We also encourage them to get their house in order and get their security clearance.
  32. misdirected
    The EconomyMr. Joël Godin (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks the Conservative leader over comments on the Breakfast Club rather than addressing food bank demand or the election call.How can my Conservative colleagues from Quebec sit there while their Conservative leader insults the Breakfast Club partners, for example, and calls them bureaucratic?
  33. answered
    Mental Health and AddictionsMr. Ryan Williams (Conservative) asked Ya'ara Saks (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly points to the open emergency treatment fund as the mechanism for support.That is exactly why we launched the emergency treatment fund, which is already open and accepting applications from municipalities and indigenous communities across the country.
  34. misdirected
    Mental Health and AddictionsMr. Ryan Williams (Conservative) asked Ya'ara Saks (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the carbon tax question and instead attacks the Conservatives on unrelated addiction policies.Why does he allow the leader of the Conservatives to use those who struggle with addiction and substance use as props in fundraising rather than standing by those who need help?
  35. deflected
    Public SafetyMs. Raquel Dancho (Conservative) asked Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Liberal). substantive question.The answer discusses general funding for places of worship but avoids any mention of Bill C-411 or blocking it.This is why we have provided more funding to help religious institutions and places of worship right across this country put in place additional measures to help keep them safe.
  36. partly answered
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMs. Lindsay Mathyssen (NDP) asked Marc Miller (Liberal). substantive question.The answer notes overall departures from Sudan but does not address the low approval rate or fixes for the specific family reunification program.since the war broke out, we have facilitated the departure of 9,000 people from Sudan.
  37. deflected
    Foreign AffairsMs. Elizabeth May (Green) asked Robert Oliphant (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the situation but cites privacy to avoid addressing the requested investigation or repatriations.Unfortunately I am not able to comment further due to privacy concerns, but we will continue to keep the House updated.