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Thursday, December 5, 2024 · sitting No. 383

House committees table reports on research funding and postal service

Committees of the House consumed the largest share of sitting time. Ms. Valerie Bradford presented the science and research committee's 12th report on distribution of federal funding among post-secondary institutions. Mr. John Brassard tabled the ethics committee's 16th report on oversight of social media platforms. Mr. Kelly McCauley presented two reports from the government operations committee, including one on supplementary estimates and another on Canada Post services in rural communities.

In Question Period, Conservative MP Jasraj Singh Hallan pressed the government on the size of the federal deficit. Liberal MP Sean Fraser replied that Canada is projected to have the fastest-growing economy in the G7 next year and that wages are rising faster than inflation. Conservative MP John Barlow cited the food price report and linked higher grocery costs to the carbon tax. Liberal MP Ryan Turnbull said the same report identifies climate change as the greatest driver of food price inflation.

Decided that day

  • 20th report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development passed
  • Motion to proceed to Orders of the Day failed
  • Bill C-26 advanced to second chamber

From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard

Question Period – December 5, 2024. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube

Who held the floor · 2024-12-05

Government (Liberal)OppositionOver the day: government 30%, opposition 70% of the words spokenRoutine proceedingsQuestion PeriodGovernment businessOrders of the Day▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 10:0511:0012:0013:0014:0015:0016:0017:00Last speech 18:50Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 8 h 45 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
58Reports Pass Amid Procedural ClashesThe House passed two committee reports and advanced one bill while devoting nearly half its time to committees and supply. Yet 87 points of order or privilege and mostly deflected answers in Question Period limited substantive progress.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 Trade

Bloc Québécois MP Alain Therrien asked all party leaders to urge the Senate to pass Bill C-282 on supply management before Christmas. Liberal MP Karina Gould said the government supports the bill and called on the Conservative leader to ensure Conservative senators do not block it.

Read the exchange

Innovation, Science and Industry

Bloc Québécois MP Rhéal Éloi Fortin said the Prime Minister must unfreeze the zero emission transit fund to help Lion Electric after 400 layoffs. Liberal MP Steven Guilbeault replied that the federal program will enable municipalities to purchase hundreds of electric buses.

Read the exchange

Justice

Liberal MP Tim Louis asked the justice minister why the updated Bill C-63 is essential after the bill was split to advance child protection measures. Justice Minister Arif Virani said the split allows quicker action on removing child sexual abuse material from the Internet.

Read the exchange

Public Safety

Conservative MP Raquel Dancho said gun violence is up 116 per cent under the Liberal government and accused it of targeting law-abiding hunters instead of criminals. Liberal MP Jennifer O'Connell replied that the government is protecting communities and women from guns designed for battlefields.

Read the exchange

Housing

Green MP Mike Morrice said CMHC does not apply income-based affordability criteria to most funded units and urged the minister to adopt such definitions. Liberal MP Sean Fraser said most grant programs already support social and non-profit housing for low-income families.

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
    FinanceMr. Jasraj Singh Hallan (Conservative) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.The minister deflects by highlighting economic positives instead of addressing the deficit question.what my hon. colleague fails to point out is that Canada is projected to have the fastest-growing economy in the G7 next year.
  2. deflected
    FinanceMr. Jasraj Singh Hallan (Conservative) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.Responds by criticizing the questioner's style rather than providing the deficit figure.my hon. colleague seems to have a penchant for alliteration and personal insults, but what he lacks is an ability to advance policies that will grow the economy or actually help people in need.
  3. deflected
    FinanceMr. Jasraj Singh Hallan (Conservative) asked Jenna Sudds (Liberal). substantive question.The answer addresses child poverty but not the current deficit projection.I would like to remind the member that, the last time Conservatives were in government, more than 16% of kids were living in poverty.
  4. misdirected
    FinanceMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). substantive question.Shifts to criticizing Conservatives' vote on tax break instead of addressing the economic statement.What did the Conservative Party leader do when we offered Canadians a tax break during the holiday season, a measure that he was in favour of just two years ago?
  5. misdirected
    FinanceMr. Luc Berthold (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). substantive question.Diverts to discussing climate change instead of the deficit or economic statement.This same professor believes that climate change is the biggest challenge facing the agri-food sector.
  6. partly answered
    International TradeMr. Alain Therrien (Bloc) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). substantive question.Explains government's support and calls out Conservatives.The only party leader whose position is unknown is the Conservative Party leader.
  7. partly answered
    International TradeMr. Alain Therrien (Bloc) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). substantive question.Reiterates support and suggests action towards Conservatives.Only the Conservatives do not.
  8. deflected
    Grocery IndustryMr. Peter Julian (NDP) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). substantive question.Redirects to NDP supporting a tax break rather than addressing grocery chains.The NDP has an opportunity to help people over the holidays by giving them a tax break.
  9. deflected
    TaxationMr. Alistair MacGregor (NDP) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.The answer promotes a temporary holiday tax cut and school food program instead of addressing permanent GST removal from essentials.we want to remove tax over the holidays.
  10. misdirected
    Carbon PricingMr. John Barlow (Conservative) asked Mr. Ryan Turnbull (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks Conservatives' record on climate and affordability measures rather than addressing the carbon tax's impact on food prices.The Conservatives have no plan to fight climate change.
  11. answered
    Carbon PricingMr. John Barlow (Conservative) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). loaded question.The answer directly rebuts the premise that the cited report links the carbon tax to the $800 food cost increase.the report the member is referring to does not mention that the carbon tax is a factor behind the $800 increase
  12. deflected
    Carbon PricingMr. Jake Stewart (Conservative) asked Jenna Sudds (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts to promoting the school food program instead of addressing the call for a carbon tax election or food price causes.this is a reminder that the member and all Conservatives have had an opportunity to support the work we are doing to provide relief to families
  13. misdirected
    Carbon PricingMr. Jake Stewart (Conservative) asked Karina Gould (Liberal). loaded question.The answer accuses the asker of making things up and pivots to attacking Conservative honesty rather than engaging the carbon tax election question.just because a Conservative member of Parliament makes something up does not mean it is true.
  14. misdirected
    The EconomyMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer attacks the member's votes on GST cuts and school programs instead of addressing pride in the fiscal record or children's letters.he just voted against removing the GST from coats, mittens, children's clothing
  15. misdirected
    The EconomyMr. Gérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.The answer highlights government achievements and criticizes the member's votes rather than addressing the fiscal record or food bank usage.What does my colleague do when we offer a tax holiday on children's clothing, toys, Christmas trees and restaurant meals? He stands up and votes nay.
  16. partly answered
    Innovation, Science and IndustryMr. Rhéal Éloi Fortin (Bloc) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). substantive question.The answer addresses the zero-emission transit fund's role in enabling bus purchases but does not confirm keeping the promise to unfreeze it without delay.The federal program will enable municipalities to purchase hundreds of electric buses thanks to this program
  17. partly answered
    Innovation, Science and IndustryMr. Rhéal Éloi Fortin (Bloc) asked Mr. Ryan Turnbull (Liberal). substantive question.The response commits to future collaboration but does not address the specific subsidy failure or immediate action requested.We know that Lion Electric is a leader in electric buses and electric trucks in this country, and we will make every effort to work with it to get projects across the finish line.
  18. partly answered
    Innovation, Science and IndustryMr. Xavier Barsalou-Duval (Bloc) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.The answer describes the fund and ongoing talks but does not confirm releasing funds or fixing the specific issue raised.I am having conversations with my Quebec counterparts to find solutions.
  19. deflected
    The EconomyMr. Stephen Ellis (Conservative) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). loaded question.The response ignores the food-insecurity question and instead attacks the Conservatives for opposing a tax measure.it is hard to take seriously that question from Conservative Party members when they are literally opposing a tax cut on food.
  20. misdirected
    The EconomyMr. Stephen Ellis (Conservative) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the questioner and Conservatives rather than addressing food-bank statistics or the carbon-tax election demand.Conservatives just do not care about people.
  21. deflected
    The EconomyMr. Warren Steinley (Conservative) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). loaded question.The reply dismisses the question with accusations instead of engaging on carbon-tax costs or food prices.this feigned sympathy and these crocodile tears on behalf of the Conservatives are fooling no Canadian.
  22. answered
    HealthMs. Bonita Zarrillo (NDP) asked Mr. Yasir Naqvi (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly explains the federal health-care investments intended to address primary-care access.That is why we are making unprecedented investments in our health care system, $200 billion over 10 years, across the country, to every province and territory
  23. deflected
    TaxationMr. Taylor Bachrach (NDP) asked Dan Vandal (Liberal). substantive question.The response lists unrelated tax and program measures instead of addressing restoration of the northern residents tax deduction for Haida Gwaii.We have brought in a tax cut for groceries, for diapers and for essential items last week.
  24. misdirected
    Public SafetyMs. Raquel Dancho (Conservative) asked Ms. Jennifer O'Connell (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts to attacking Conservatives on gun policy rather than addressing the specific claim about targeting criminals versus lawful owners.While Conservatives work for the gun lobby, we serve Canadians in keeping them safe.
  25. deflected
    Public SafetyMs. Raquel Dancho (Conservative) asked Arif Virani (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer starts defending the record instead of addressing the demand for an election.our track record on protecting people from violence, on guns—
  26. deflected
    Public SafetyMs. Raquel Dancho (Conservative) asked Arif Virani (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer pivots to child protection legislation and ignores the bail and election questions.We have a proposal to do exactly that, by taking child pornography and child sex abuse material off the Internet.
  27. misdirected
    FirearmsMr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). loaded question.The answer defends policy but then attacks the Conservatives instead of addressing the criminals-versus-lawful-owners question.I think it is shameful that, on the 35th anniversary of the Polytechnique shooting, the Conservatives are standing up to repeat the falsehoods of the gun lobby.
  28. partly answered
    JusticeMr. Martin Champoux (Bloc) asked Arif Virani (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the suggestion and points to existing legislation but does not explain the rejection of the motion.The Bloc Québécois's suggestion is quite welcome. It is a good suggestion, and we would like to study it thoroughly.
  29. partly answered
    JusticeMr. Martin Champoux (Bloc) asked Arif Virani (Liberal). loaded question.The answer notes rising hate and references Bill C-63 but avoids addressing Liberal MPs' stance on religious exemptions.it is important to note that we already have a bill on the table, Bill C‑63 , which addresses the same sections of the Criminal Code.
  30. misdirected
    Public SafetyMrs. Tracy Gray (Conservative) asked Arif Virani (Liberal). loaded question.The answer disputes the premise on C-75 then pivots to attacking the Conservatives' position on child pornography bills.What the Leader of the Opposition has said, and what his justice critic has reiterated, is that no matter what progress we make
  31. misdirected
    Public SafetyMrs. Tracy Gray (Conservative) asked Arif Virani (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the premiers' call and instead labels the Conservative position morally bankrupt.That might deter some people. It sure as heck is not going to deter me.
  32. partly answered
    Public SafetyMr. Jamil Jivani (Conservative) asked Arif Virani (Liberal). substantive question.The answer cites specific police voices on resources and JP training but does not commit to changing bail policy.Deputy chief in Vaughan, Alvaro Almeida, has said specifically that without investments in resources like courts and Crown attorneys, we cannot keep the bad guys in jail.
  33. deflected
    FinanceMichael Chong (Conservative) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). substantive question.The answer avoids stating the deficit figure and instead pivots to G7 comparisons plus an attack on Conservatives.we have the lowest deficit of all our G7 peers.
  34. deflected
    FinanceMichael Chong (Conservative) asked Ms. Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). substantive question.The answer disputes the recession premise and quotes a past governor to criticize Conservatives rather than addressing policy impact.I am quite disappointed in the Conservative member opposite.
  35. misdirected
    FinanceMrs. Stephanie Kusie (Conservative) asked Anita Anand (Liberal). substantive question.The answer ignores the deficit question entirely and attacks the opposition's stance on social programs.what we hear on the other side of the House is not resonating with Canadians.
  36. deflected
    EmploymentMr. Charlie Angus (NDP) asked Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Liberal). substantive question.The answer states general workforce priorities but does not address the Alberta-specific claims or Danielle Smith.our government's priority is to provide Canadians with good, well-paying jobs.
  37. answered
    HousingMr. Mike Morrice (Green) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly engages the CMHC criteria issue and affirms respect for the cited expert while outlining program design.I have great respect for my hon. colleague, as I do Dr. Whitzman