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Friday, September 26, 2025 · sitting No. 30
Commons debates cyber security bill at second reading
The House devoted the largest share of its sitting to government orders on Bill C-8, An Act respecting cyber security. Liberal MP Gary Anandasangaree moved second reading and referral to committee, stressing threats to critical infrastructure from malicious actors and state-sponsored breaches. Bloc Québécois MP Claude DeBellefeuille raised a point of order on interpretation and later questioned privacy safeguards while confirming her party would support the bill at this stage.
Question period featured sharp exchanges on the firearms buyback program. Conservative MP Luc Berthold cited a leaked recording in which the public safety minister called the program ineffective and politically motivated. Liberal MP Gary Anandasangaree defended the compensation pilot launched in Cape Breton and pointed to border investments and Bill C-2.
Conservatives also pressed the government on Canada Post. Bloc Québécois MP Alexis Deschênes accused the minister of triggering a general strike by announcing reforms without consultation. Liberal MP Steven MacKinnon said the corporation's deficits were unsustainable and urged both sides back to mediation.
Decided that day
- C-11 was introduced
From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard
Question Period – September 26, 2025. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube
Who held the floor · 2025-09-26
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
The Economy
Conservative MP Michael Barrett told the House a constituent in Spencerville relies on deer hunting to feed his family because of rising grocery costs. Liberal MP François-Philippe Champagne replied that the economy is growing and the coming budget will focus on generational investments.
Read the exchangeDemocratic Institutions
Bloc Québécois MP Xavier Barsalou-Duval criticized $52,000 spent on French lessons for the Governor General and questioned the cost of the monarchy. Liberal MP Steven Guilbeault said the Governor General is improving her French and that the institution is central to Canadian democracy.
Read the exchangeInternational Trade
Liberal MP Lisa Hepfner asked about the new free-trade agreement with Indonesia. Liberal MP Maninder Sidhu said the deal opens a $2-trillion market to Canadian exporters and advances trade diversification.
Read the exchangeHealth
Conservative MP Dan Mazier asked whether plasma collected by Canadian Blood Services should remain in Canada after learning a foreign company profits from it. Liberal MP Maggie Chi said the agency operates at arm's length and should honour its 2022 commitments.
Read the exchangeHousing
Liberal MP Abdelhaq Sari asked how the housing department works with municipalities and non-profits. Liberal MP Jennifer McKelvie said the build Canada homes program will cut red tape and improve co-operation with Quebec.
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
- deflectedFirearmsLuc Berthold (Conservative) asked Gary Anandasangaree (Liberal). loaded question.The answer promotes the compensation program without addressing the demand to fire the minister or the recording.
We are making sure that those prohibited weapons are off our streets, but at the same time, we will be ensuring that law-abiding gun owners are able to get fair compensation for turning in or deactivating their prohibited weapons.
- deflectedFirearmsLuc Berthold (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.The answer defends the minister's actions and criticizes Conservatives instead of addressing the firing request or recording.
the Minister of Public Safety is fulfilling our election promise.
- deflectedFirearmsKyle Seeback (Conservative) asked Gary Anandasangaree (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts to program details and border security without addressing the minister's firing or the recording.
As of this week, we have launched the program in Cape Breton, where we are compensating lawful gun owners who are willing to forgo their AR-15 or other harmful weapons.
- deflectedFirearmsKyle Seeback (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.The answer focuses on assault rifles and past Conservative positions without addressing illegal guns or the minister's comments.
On this side of the House, we will put in place meaningful measures to make sure that assault rifles are not available to the people who have perpetrated mass killings and tragedies in this country.
- deflectedFirearmsAlex Ruff (Conservative) asked Gary Anandasangaree (Liberal). loaded question.The answer defends the program by listing available guns but ignores the cost breakdown and focus on legal owners.
What is important is that we are taking lethal weapons off our streets, weapons that have been used in mass killings and weapons that have no place in Canada, including AR-15s, which have been directly linked to mass casualty events over the last 35 years.
- deflectedFirearmsAlex Ruff (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.The answer criticizes Conservatives and references tragedies instead of addressing illegal guns or service impacts.
what is mystifying is that Conservatives repeatedly stand in the way of sensible measures to control the propagation of assault rifles in this country, specifically in the face of mass tragedies, mass shootings, Polytechnique, the Quebec City mosque and the tragic incidents in Nova Scotia.
- partly answeredCanada PostAlexis Deschênes (Bloc) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges failed negotiations and explains the reform goal but does not detail steps to resolve the strike.
it is indeed disappointing that both parties were unable to reach an agreement despite the intense mediation efforts that have been going on for two years.
- partly answeredCanada PostAlexis Deschênes (Bloc) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). substantive question.The answer addresses rural services and sustainability but does not commit to preserving specific services mentioned.
yesterday, my colleague spoke eloquently about the importance of ensuring services in remote, indigenous and rural communities across Quebec and Canada.
- deflectedCanada PostMarilène Gill (Bloc) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). substantive question.Mentions mediators but pivots to finances without addressing restoring dialogue.
federal mediators are, of course, available to ensure that both parties are on track to reach an agreement.
- deflectedThe EconomyMichael Barrett (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.Ignores the deer hunt and inflation question to praise government growth plan.
The Canadian economy is growing.
- deflectedThe EconomyMichael Barrett (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.Avoids GDP shrinkage and PBO concerns by promoting future budget and investments.
What we are proposing to Canadians is generational investment in our future
- deflectedThe EconomyMichael Guglielmin (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.Dismisses concerns and pivots to July growth and tax cuts instead of addressing PBO or deficits.
- deflectedThe EconomyMichael Guglielmin (Conservative) asked Mélanie Joly (Liberal). loaded question.Ignores food prices and PBO warnings to list tax cuts and urge support for agenda.
we cut taxes on the middle class.
- deflectedThe EconomySandra Cobena (Conservative) asked Leslie Church (Liberal). loaded question.Attributes rate cut to understanding economics but sidesteps spending and deficit criticisms.
the Bank of Canada cut interest rates last week because it actually understands economics.
- misdirectedThe EconomyGabriel Hardy (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.Refuses to align with Conservatives and attacks opposition instead of addressing food prices.
If there is one thing we will never do, it is align ourselves with the Conservatives.
- deflectedThe EconomyGabriel Hardy (Conservative) asked Mélanie Joly (Liberal). substantive question.Ignores 40% price rise and health impacts to repeat tax cut talking points.
we cut the taxes of 22 million Canadians.
- partly answeredDemocratic InstitutionsXavier Barsalou-Duval (Bloc) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). loaded question.The answer disputes the mocking claim and notes improvement but sidesteps the core appointment criticism.
I admire her efforts to improve her French, and I would point out that her French is improving.
- deflectedDemocratic InstitutionsXavier Barsalou-Duval (Bloc) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to Bloc Québécois power prospects and Canada Post deficit instead of addressing the monarchy cost comparison.
I think that we have a good example why the Bloc Québécois will never be in power.
- misdirectedThe EconomyGrant Jackson (Conservative) asked Leslie Church (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists unrelated programs rather than addressing the food tax and inflation claims.
We have also established a national school food program for over 400,000 kids across the country.
- deflectedThe EconomyGrant Jackson (Conservative) asked Leslie Church (Liberal). substantive question.The answer promotes existing programs but avoids the specific motion to end food taxes.
These are the things we are doing.
- misdirectedThe EconomyDave Epp (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer lists past benefits and criticizes Conservative votes instead of grading the listed statements.
All of those things, every single one, was resisted and voted against by the Conservative Party.
- deflectedThe EconomyDave Epp (Conservative) asked Leslie Church (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts to a personal anecdote about dental care without engaging the tax explanation.
Mya said that she moved back to Toronto to be closer to family, which meant leaving a corporate job and its benefits behind.
- misdirectedThe EconomyDavid Bexte (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks Conservative voting record on unrelated programs rather than addressing the industrial tax question.
The Conservatives would be slightly more credible if they had not voted against pharmacare.
- deflectedThe EconomyAaron Gunn (Conservative) asked Mélanie Joly (Liberal). substantive question.The answer pivots to job creation and trade without outlining a plan for grocery prices.
The government's plan is clear: It seeks to protect and create jobs and invest in major national projects that will have economic benefits across the country
- deflectedThe EconomyAaron Gunn (Conservative) asked Leslie Church (Liberal). loaded question.The response highlights poverty reductions rather than addressing the proposed tax cuts on fuel and food.
Since the time when the Leader of the Opposition was the minister of employment and social development, the Liberal policies that the member opposite referred to have reduced seniors poverty by 30% and child poverty by 38%.
- deflectedThe EconomyZiad Aboultaif (Conservative) asked Julie Dabrusin (Liberal). substantive question.Responds by redefining the tax issue instead of addressing grocery prices directly.
The regulations are not a tax, but a technology-enabling regulation.... This supports investments in emission reduction technologies.
- deflectedThe EconomyZiad Aboultaif (Conservative) asked Julie Dabrusin (Liberal). loaded question.Diverts to costs of pollution and climate change instead of food taxes.
After a single hour, there was $3 billion in costs.
- misdirectedFirearmsDane Lloyd (Conservative) asked Gary Anandasangaree (Liberal). loaded question.The answer addresses legal firearms for hunting but ignores the call to fire the minister or the program's logic.
I would like to note that there are 19,000 legal firearms that could be used for hunting and farming.
- misdirectedFirearmsDane Lloyd (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.Turns to criticizing Conservatives' past votes and demanding their proposals instead of addressing the minister's resignation.
That was a pretty embarrassing moment for them.
- deflectedFirearmsJacob Mantle (Conservative) asked Gary Anandasangaree (Liberal). loaded question.Focuses on the compensation program rollout without addressing the minister's confidence or resignation.
We brought forward a pilot program in Nova Scotia to ensure that the systems we have put in place as part of the compensation program work.
- misdirectedFirearmsJacob Mantle (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.Responds by criticizing the opposition's lack of proposals rather than addressing the minister's position.
We refuse to accept the gun regime in the United States, where we see repeated tragedies happening in the streets.
- deflectedFirearmsMichael Cooper (Conservative) asked Gary Anandasangaree (Liberal). loaded question.Shifts focus to border investments and other initiatives instead of the minister resigning.
in addition to the compensation program pilot that we launched this week in Nova Scotia, we have invested $1.3 billion in our borders.
- deflectedInfrastructureDan Albas (Conservative) asked Jennifer McKelvie (Liberal). substantive question.The answer avoids any funding commitment and pivots to vague ongoing discussions.
We look forward to ongoing discussions in this regard continuing so that we can find a solution that works for everyone.
- deflectedHealthDan Mazier (Conservative) asked Maggie Chi (Liberal). substantive question.The answer refuses the yes-or-no question and redirects responsibility to an arm's-length agency.
Canadian Blood Services is responsible for managing Canada's blood system outside Quebec at arm's length.
- deflectedHealthDan Mazier (Conservative) asked Maggie Chi (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the personal accusation and repeats the arm's-length talking point.
Canadian Blood Services is responsible for managing Canada's blood system outside Quebec at arm's length.
- misdirectedTaxationScott Reid (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.The answer attacks the opposition instead of explaining the tariff's ongoing rationale.
we have stood with Ukraine every step of the way, unlike the Conservatives.
- partly answeredCanada Post CorporationJenny Kwan (NDP) asked Jenna Sudds (Liberal). substantive question.The answer addresses Canada Post's finances and reform needs but does not engage the specific proposals raised.
Our government has directed Canada Post to take concrete steps.
- deflectedInternational TradeElizabeth May (Green) asked Maninder Sidhu (Liberal). substantive question.The answer discusses general standards without providing any timeline for the ombudsperson appointment.
Canada's National Contact Point is part of our commitment to further the effectiveness of OECD guidelines.
- deflectedPoints of OrderJacob Mantle (Conservative) asked John-Paul Danko (Liberal). substantive question.The answer reclassifies the remark instead of addressing the request to withdraw or clarify.
I believe it was a question, not an accusation.