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Tuesday, November 19, 2024 · sitting No. 371
Commons debates forced labour report amid ethics questions for minister
The House spent the largest share of its sitting on concurrence in the 21st report of the Standing Committee on International Trade. Bloc Québécois MP Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay moved concurrence and said zero shipments seized at Canadian customs for forced labour showed Ottawa was lax compared with Washington. Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux asked why the member was not satisfied with Bill S-211, and Savard-Tremblay replied that the legislation covers only forced labour by adults and children and applies only to large firms.
Question period opened with Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer asking why Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault remained in cabinet after new details emerged about his company. Boissonnault said he did not know the person named in recent reports. NDP MP Laurel Collins later asked the government to impose an excess profits tax on oil and gas companies.
Other exchanges included questions on passport issuance to a human smuggler and on the cost of administering the carbon tax.
Decided that day
- 21st report of the Standing Committee on International Trade passed
- Second report of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs passed with amendment and subamendment
- Bill S-276 advanced in first chamber
- Bill C-419 introduced
From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard
Question Period – November 19, 2024. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube
Who held the floor · 2024-11-19
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
Privilege
Bloc Québécois MP Kristina Michaud said she attended the November 5 public safety committee meeting and was shocked that witness Lauren Chen refused to answer questions despite a unanimous order to do so.
Read the exchangePoints of Order
The Speaker ruled that visual displays such as lapel pins used to illustrate remarks are not permitted in the House.
Read the exchangePetitions
Conservative MP Garnett Genuis tabled petitions on the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and on support for Ukraine.
Read the exchangeCanada Revenue Agency
Bloc Québécois MP Alain Therrien said the Canada Revenue Agency covered up fraud that cost taxpayers more than $100 million this year.
Read the exchangeCarbon Pricing
Conservative MP John Barlow said documents showed the cost of administering the carbon tax will exceed $800 million by 2030.
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
- deflectedEthicsAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Randy Boissonnault (Liberal). loaded question.The answer denies knowledge of the person but does not address the call for firing the minister.
I do not know the person referred to in that article.
- misdirectedEthicsAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the scandals listed and instead attacks the Conservative leader over security clearance.
Why is the Conservative leader refusing to get his security clearance in order to protect himself and his MPs and future candidates in the next election?
- deflectedEthicsAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer criticizes the questioner's behavior instead of engaging with the topic.
I think that little display of disrespect for that place is ubiquitous in how Conservative members treat this place.
- deflectedEthicsMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). loaded question.The answer claims the statements are false and accuses the opposition of games without addressing the contract or identity issues.
It is time for the Conservatives to put an end to these partisan political games that go nowhere.
- deflectedEthicsMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). loaded question.The answer condemns the questioners' conduct and calls it shameful without addressing the demand to fire the minister.
What they are doing and how they are acting today is shameful.
- partly answeredCanada Revenue AgencyMr. Alain Therrien (Bloc) asked Marie-Claude Bibeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly rebuts the cover-up claim and outlines the fraud response steps taken.
We did not hide anything whatsoever.
- partly answeredCanada Revenue AgencyMr. Alain Therrien (Bloc) asked Marie-Claude Bibeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer again denies concealment and repeats the procedures for handling fraud incidents.
- deflectedTaxationMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.The answer agrees on one point but pivots to criticizing Conservative cuts instead of addressing the NDP tax proposal.
for once we agree with the NDP.
- misdirectedTaxationMs. Leila Dance (NDP) asked Jenna Sudds (Liberal). substantive question.The answer attacks Conservatives on cuts instead of addressing the GST removal request.
I do not know what the Conservative leader 's obsession is with these dangerous cuts.
- misdirectedEthicsMs. Melissa Lantsman (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer labels statements falsehoods then pivots to attacking the Conservative leader on security clearance.
One thing we still do not have an answer to is why the Conservative leader , who is usually seated next to the member, did not go get his security clearance so he could protect her and all members of Parliament in time for the next federal election.
- misdirectedEthicsMs. Melissa Lantsman (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). loaded question.The answer claims statements are false then shifts to accusing the Conservative leader of silencing MPs.
What we want to know is why the Leader of the Opposition is silencing his members of Parliament.
- misdirectedEthicsMr. Michael Cooper (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer dismisses allegations as falsehoods and pivots to the Conservative leader's security clearance.
What we still do not know is how the member who just asked the question is going to protect himself from foreign interference in the next election if the Conservative leader refuses to get his security clearance.
- misdirectedEthicsMr. Michael Cooper (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the question about firing the minister and redirects to the Conservative leader needing security clearance.
On many occasions, questions were asked and answers were provided, but the real issue that Canadians are asking at home is why the leader of the Conservatives will not get a security clearance, will not get a briefing and will not do his job.
- misdirectedEthicsMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer mocks the member's expression and diverts to housing projects in the riding.
There is something we would like his thoughts on, and that is the narrative of his Conservative leader , who claims that the agreement we have with the Government of Quebec seeking to build 8,000 social housing units is not currently allowing any social housing to be built.
- misdirectedEthicsMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Jean-Yves Duclos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer claims falsehoods were addressed then diverts to inviting a visit to a housing project.
The Monterosso project is in his riding. Dozens of affordable housing units are being built thanks to the agreement we signed with the Quebec government exactly one year ago.
- answeredPublic SafetyMs. Kristina Michaud (Bloc) asked Marc Miller (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly addresses the passport issuance concern and commits to checking internally.
if the allegations are true, that passport should not have been issued.
- deflectedPublic SafetyMrs. Julie Vignola (Bloc) asked Marc Miller (Liberal). loaded question.Minister promises future explanation without addressing how many smugglers received passports.
I will be pleased to address the House in due course and explain exactly what happened.
- deflectedPublic SafetyMrs. Julie Vignola (Bloc) asked Dominic LeBlanc (Liberal). loaded question.Response highlights border investments instead of addressing the specific smuggler passport case.
our government has invested a lot in protecting our border and will continue to do so.
- misdirectedEthicsMr. Michael Barrett (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). loaded question.Answer pivots to Ukraine support instead of addressing the minister's conduct.
what I find really interesting is that today marks 1,000 days since Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine began
- misdirectedEthicsMr. Michael Barrett (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). rhetorical question.Response continues attacking Conservatives on Ukraine rather than engaging the ethics issue.
This time last year, Conservatives were holding up and voting against the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement
- deflectedEthicsMr. Jamie Schmale (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). loaded question.Answer shifts to Conservative record on indigenous services instead of the minister's status.
They do not want to talk about reconciliation when we are talking about investing in first nations housing
- misdirectedEthicsMr. Garnett Genuis (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). loaded question.Response attacks Conservatives on committee tactics instead of defending or addressing the minister.
just moments ago I was speaking with the national chief about the shenanigans that are happening at INAN committee
- deflectedOil and Gas IndustryMs. Laurel Collins (NDP) asked Jonathan Wilkinson (Liberal). loaded question.Answer criticizes NDP on climate instead of responding to excess profits tax proposal.
It is just a shame that the NDP has abandoned its commitment on climate change and is walking away from the price on pollution.
- deflectedTaxationMr. Matthew Green (NDP) asked Jenna Sudds (Liberal). substantive question.Response promotes existing benefits without addressing grocery tax removal request.
when I visit food banks and speak to volunteers here in Ottawa and across the country, they share with me not only the pride and the importance of what they are doing but also the importance of the Canada child benefit
- answeredPublic SafetyMr. Frank Caputo (Conservative) asked Dominic LeBlanc (Liberal). loaded question.The answer directly explains program eligibility and safety record to address the jail access concern.
There are rigorous eligibility criteria in place to participate in this program.
- misdirectedPublic SafetyMr. Frank Caputo (Conservative) asked Dominic LeBlanc (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the member for naming victims rather than addressing policy reversal.
this member does a disservice to and is disrespectful of the victims of these very people he keeps naming in the House of Commons.
- deflectedPublic SafetyMs. Michelle Ferreri (Conservative) asked Dominic LeBlanc (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer dismisses the question by claiming facts are fabricated without engaging the core issue.
the facts that she just alleged are entirely fabricated.
- answeredPublic SafetyMrs. Dominique Vien (Conservative) asked Dominic LeBlanc (Liberal). loaded question.The answer addresses the contact concern by noting program continuity and safety priority since 2011.
at no time will any government allow that kind of thing to happen.
- deflectedCarbon PricingMr. John Barlow (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts to climate damage costs instead of addressing carbon tax administration expenses.
every time the Conservative Party of Canada talks about the issue of climate change, it never talks about how it is costing Canadians
- misdirectedCarbon PricingMr. John Barlow (Conservative) asked Lawrence MacAulay (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to criticizing past Conservative agricultural cuts rather than current carbon tax costs.
If that is the track they want to be on, it is a track of destruction, and we are not on that path as a government.
- deflectedInnovation, Science and IndustryMr. Rick Perkins (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). loaded question.Answer ignores the corruption accusation and pivots to criticizing Conservative obstruction.
Their disrespectful behaviour is just one more example of their inappropriate behaviour here in this place.
- misdirectedHousingMr. Kyle Seeback (Conservative) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks the member's loyalty to his leader instead of addressing housing starts data.
What is fascinating is the member has been banned by his leader from advocating for his community.
- partly answeredHousingMr. Kyle Seeback (Conservative) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). loaded question.Answer rebuts the statistics with counter-data but does not address the housing accelerator policy directly.
This year compared to last year, housing in my home province of Nova Scotia is up 23%.
- answeredForeign AffairsMr. Scott Reid (Conservative) asked Mélanie Joly (Liberal). substantive question.Answer directly acknowledges the case and offers cooperation to secure release.
I cannot give more information due to confidentiality issues, but what I would like to suggest to the member that I work with him to make sure that Mr. Lavery comes home.
- partly answeredMental Health and AddictionsMr. Gord Johns (NDP) asked Ya'ara Saks (Liberal). loaded question.Answer cites existing funding agreements and a new fund but does not commit to integrating mental health into universal health care.
we made sure to put in 200 billion dollars' worth of agreements with every province and territory in this country where mental health and substance use services were a key principal priority.
- misdirectedVeterans AffairsMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked Bill Blair (Liberal). loaded question.Answer condemns the alleged falsehood for political gain rather than addressing veteran service failures.
For someone to take the opportunity, on that particular day, to try to score some cheap political points with a deliberate falsehood is a real shame.
- deflectedUkraineMs. Heather McPherson (NDP) asked Arif Virani (Liberal). rhetorical question.Neither statement poses a question; both are procedural motions for unanimous consent.
That, notwithstanding any standing order, special order, or usual practice of the House, Bill S-13, An Act to amend the Interpretation Act and to make related amendments to other Acts, be disposed of as follows:
- deflectedNaming of MemberMr. Rick Perkins (Conservative) asked Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Liberal). rhetorical question.Exchange is a point of order about respect, not a substantive question or answer.
I rise on a point of order due to the lack of respect that I have been witnessing.