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Friday, November 29, 2024 · sitting No. 379

Privilege debate on document production dominates House sitting

The House spent the largest share of its time on a privilege debate over the government's refusal to produce documents ordered by the Speaker two months ago. Conservative MP Raquel Dancho said the Liberals had worked to circumvent their constitutional obligation while the Bloc Québécois and NDP also pressed the point. Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux countered that the opposition was engaged in political theatre rather than substantive debate.

Question period featured repeated clashes over the economy. Conservative MP Michael Chong cited Statistics Canada data showing six straight quarters of declining per capita GDP and asked when the government would cut taxes on investment. Liberal MP François-Philippe Champagne replied that Conservatives had voted against a tax cut the previous evening.

Border security also drew sharp exchanges. Conservative MP Michael Chong pointed to U.S. data showing more terror-watchlist encounters on the northern border than the southern one and warned of impending tariffs. Liberal MP Jennifer O'Connell said the previous Conservative government had cut border and counterterrorism staff.

From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard

Question Period – November 29, 2024. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube

Who held the floor · 2024-11-29

Government (Liberal)OppositionOver the day: government 38%, opposition 62% of the words spokenOrders of the DayQuestion PeriodOrders of the Day▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 10:0511:0012:0013:00Last speech 14:10Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 4 h 5 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
15Another sitting that went nowhereThe House spent the vast majority of its time on privilege matters and recorded 107 points of order or privilege, leaving only 27 percent of words for substantive business. No bills advanced and no votes were held.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

International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

Liberal MP Chandra Arya renewed his call for Canada to recognize a sovereign Palestinian state while NDP MP Matthew Green offered a poetic reflection on the suffering in Gaza.

Read the exchange

Taxation

Bloc Québécois MP Gabriel Ste-Marie said the temporary GST pause would give nothing to low-income households whose main costs are not taxed and would instead subsidize expensive wine purchases.

Read the exchange

Labour

NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice accused the government of allowing Canada Post to lay off striking workers and cut medical benefits for members with cancer.

Read the exchange

Justice

Bloc Québécois MP Christine Normandin urged the government to repeal the Criminal Code provision that allows hate speech when framed as religious expression.

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Privilege

NDP MP Lindsay Mathyssen rose on a question of privilege concerning events at the end of the previous sitting and said the Speaker's earlier statement did not go far enough.

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
    The EconomyMichael Chong (Conservative) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). substantive question.Answer ignores the call for specific tax cuts on investment and pivots to attacking Conservatives over a different vote.yesterday they had an opportunity to cut taxes for Canadians, all Canadians, and they said no.
  2. deflected
    The EconomyMichael Chong (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.Answer avoids the question on reversing tax hikes and instead attacks Conservatives for voting against a consumption tax cut.why the Conservatives would vote against a tax cut.
  3. misdirected
    Border SecurityMichael Chong (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.Answer completely changes subject from border security and tariffs to affordability and attacks Conservatives over a tax vote.our plan is very simple: to tackle affordability.
  4. deflected
    The EconomyMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.Answer sidesteps the demand for an election and GDP recession by repeating talking points about a tax cut vote.Yesterday, the Conservatives missed an opportunity to show which side they are on.
  5. deflected
    The EconomyMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Mélanie Joly (Liberal). substantive question.Answer ignores the call to end economic policies and instead questions why the member opposed a tax measure.Why, then, is my Conservative colleague from Quebec so opposed to us cutting taxes?
  6. partly answered
    JusticeMs. Christine Normandin (Bloc) asked Arif Virani (Liberal). substantive question.Answer acknowledges the issue and offers to work together but does not commit to repealing the exemption.I am perfectly willing to work with the member, with the Bloc Québécois and with the Government of Quebec to fight hate.
  7. partly answered
    JusticeMs. Christine Normandin (Bloc) asked Arif Virani (Liberal). substantive question.Answer points to existing bill but does not directly address repealing the religious exemption as requested.there is already a way to do that here in the House.
  8. deflected
    LabourMr. Alexandre Boulerice (NDP) asked Mr. Stéphane Lauzon (Liberal). substantive question.Answer avoids calling Canada Post to order and instead urges both sides to negotiate without addressing the accusation.We encourage both parties to continue working together to resolve the problems.
  9. deflected
    LabourMr. Matthew Green (NDP) asked Mr. Terry Sheehan (Liberal). substantive question.The answer avoids the specific claims of illegal layoffs and benefit cuts by redirecting to general bargaining advice.The special mediator has suspended mediation services and the minister has asked both parties to go and create new proposals that will work and get back to the bargain table because Canadians are expecting them to come back and make a deal that works for all.
  10. misdirected
    The EconomyMrs. Tracy Gray (Conservative) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the Conservatives' voting record instead of addressing the per capita GDP recession data.Yesterday, Conservatives had a chance to vote for a tax cut for Canadians, and what did they do? They did what they always did.
  11. misdirected
    The EconomyMrs. Tracy Gray (Conservative) asked Arif Virani (Liberal). loaded question.The answer accuses the asker of duplicity rather than responding to the GDP decline, dollar value, or tariff concerns.Canadians respect principle, but they have challenges with duplicity.
  12. misdirected
    The EconomyMr. Michael Barrett (Conservative) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts to past Conservative positions on Trump and tax votes instead of addressing the recession or tariff plan.I remember back when I was first elected in 2016. What did we see with the rise of Donald Trump in the United States?
  13. misdirected
    The EconomyMr. Michael Barrett (Conservative) asked Mr. Maninder Sidhu (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to criticizing Conservatives' tax vote rather than outlining a plan for tariffs or economic issues.What Canadians want to know is where the Conservatives were last night with their axe.
  14. deflected
    The EconomyMr. Corey Tochor (Conservative) asked Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Liberal). loaded question.The answer counters with historical GDP growth figures and unrelated programs instead of addressing the current per capita decline.Over 10 years of Stephen Harper, we saw GDP per capita grow by $1,810. After eight years of this Liberal government, we have seen it grow by over $11,000.
  15. misdirected
    The EconomyMr. Corey Tochor (Conservative) asked Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Liberal). loaded question.The answer labels the Conservatives as hypocrites for their tax vote rather than addressing the economic data or tariffs.They abandoned their principles, they demonstrated what hypocrites really look like and they voted against a tax break for the holiday season
  16. deflected
    TaxationMr. Gabriel Ste-Marie (Bloc) asked Mélanie Joly (Liberal). substantive question.The answer criticizes the Bloc and Conservatives for voting against the GST cut instead of addressing why low-income households are excluded.people on this side of the House and across Quebec still cannot understand why the Bloc Québécois and the Conservatives voted against reducing the GST.
  17. misdirected
    TaxationMr. Gabriel Ste-Marie (Bloc) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the Bloc Québécois for betraying Quebeckers rather than addressing the GST holiday or wine tax break criticism.Yesterday, the Bloc Québécois betrayed Quebeckers.
  18. deflected
    International TradeMr. Michael Kram (Conservative) asked Mr. Irek Kusmierczyk (Liberal). substantive question.The answer lists government job and investment stats while attacking Conservatives instead of outlining a plan for US tariffs.Conservatives, in their track record, lost 300,000 manufacturing jobs.
  19. misdirected
    International TradeMr. Michael Kram (Conservative) asked Mr. Maninder Sidhu (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to demanding security clearance from the Conservative leader instead of addressing the tariff plan or GDP decline.Every party leader in the House has security clearance except for the leader of the Conservative Party.
  20. deflected
    The EconomyMr. Terry Dowdall (Conservative) asked Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal). substantive question.The answer defends government record and attacks Conservative voting history without addressing the GDP decline or tariff plan.They continue to talk about economic issues these days.
  21. deflected
    The EconomyMr. Terry Dowdall (Conservative) asked Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Liberal). loaded question.The answer compares GDP figures and accuses Conservatives of caring only for oil donors instead of stating a plan.It is because they do not care about affordability for Canadians.
  22. partly answered
    Northern AffairsMs. Lori Idlout (NDP) asked Mr. Terry Sheehan (Liberal). substantive question.The answer mentions a school food program but does not address food price relief, Jordan's Principle, or corporate greed in Nunavut.our school food program, which is going to put, on average, about $800 in the pockets of the people that are affected.
  23. answered
    InfrastructureMs. Bonita Zarrillo (NDP) asked Mr. Jaime Battiste (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly states the government's commitment and funding figures to close the infrastructure gap by 2030.Since 2016, we have put more than $25 billion into infrastructure, which has meant more than 9,000 infrastructure projects in Canada for indigenous people.
  24. misdirected
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Tom Kmiec (Conservative) asked Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the Conservatives' past border record instead of presenting a current plan for temporary residents or enforcement.They slashed over a thousand jobs from the CBSA even when they were warned it would increase human trafficking, drugs and guns in this country.
  25. deflected
    Public SafetyMichael Chong (Conservative) asked Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Liberal). substantive question.The answer criticizes past Conservative cuts instead of outlining a current plan for border protection.They cut over 1,000 employees from the CBSA and have the nerve to try to lecture us about border management.
  26. deflected
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Tony Baldinelli (Conservative) asked Mr. Paul Chiang (Liberal). substantive question.The response promotes the levels plan but ignores the question on enforcing departures.The levels plan is doing just that. We are reducing the number of temporary and permanent resident visas to alleviate pressure on housing and infrastructure.
  27. misdirected
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMr. Tony Baldinelli (Conservative) asked Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Liberal). substantive question.The answer attacks the opposition's record rather than addressing enforcement of visa expirations.How does the member, who represents a border town, talk to his constituents about the fact that the Conservatives slashed 600 RCMP employees
  28. deflected
    SeniorsMs. Sylvie Bérubé (Bloc) asked Mr. Stéphane Lauzon (Liberal). substantive question.The answer highlights Bloc voting history instead of addressing inclusion of low-income pensioners.Yesterday, the Bloc Québécois voted against a measure to cut the GST.
  29. misdirected
    SeniorsMs. Sylvie Bérubé (Bloc) asked Mr. Stéphane Lauzon (Liberal). substantive question.The response attacks the Bloc's past votes rather than explaining the priority for seniors.I would invite my colleague to look her constituents in the eye and tell them where the Bloc Québécois was when our government lowered the age of retirement eligibility for seniors from 67 to 65.
  30. partly answered
    Public SafetyRob Moore (Conservative) asked Arif Virani (Liberal). loaded question.The answer acknowledges the incident and cites bail law but shifts emphasis to provincial judges without reversing policies.The federal bail law is very clear. If someone is at serious risk of reoffending, they are not to be given bail.
  31. deflected
    Public SafetyRob Moore (Conservative) asked Arif Virani (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer avoids federal accountability by stressing provincial roles in justice.I am going to point out what Premier Ford just said.
  32. deflected
    Public SafetyMr. Dane Lloyd (Conservative) asked Arif Virani (Liberal). rhetorical question.The response reiterates provincial responsibilities without addressing federal policy failures.All of that relates to the province. The province needs to do its part and invest in resources for cops, Crowns, JPs and detention centres so we can keep Canadian cities safe.
  33. misdirected
    Carbon PricingMr. Branden Leslie (Conservative) asked Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer ignores the carbon tax and election question entirely to launch personal attacks on the asker.This is coming from an MP who sent homophobic mail to households during an election to attack an opponent.
  34. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. Branden Leslie (Conservative) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer sidesteps the call for a carbon tax election by pivoting to Conservative voting record and unrelated program cuts.Last night, Conservatives literally voted to keep a tax on Christmas.
  35. partly answered
    TaxationMr. Bernard Généreux (Conservative) asked Marie-Claude Bibeau (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the HST issue for Quebec RV dealers and notes ongoing discussions but offers no timeline or resolution.We have looked at it from all sides.
  36. partly answered
    Indigenous AffairsMs. Leah Gazan (NDP) asked Mr. Jaime Battiste (Liberal). loaded question.The answer addresses the MMIWG issue by citing the red dress alert but does not engage with the UN report or specific failures listed.That is why one of the key budget items in the last budget was a red dress alert.