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Monday, October 20, 2025 · sitting No. 39
Commons opens debate on bill to strengthen borders and immigration system
Government orders took the largest share of the sitting as Gary Anandasangaree moved second reading of Bill C-12, An Act respecting certain measures relating to the security of Canada's borders and the integrity of the Canadian immigration system. The minister said the legislation would add lawful-access powers, tighten controls on postal services and raise the money-laundering threshold to $10,000 while hiring 1,000 new CBSA and RCMP officers.
Frank Caputo asked whether the bill merely repaired flaws in an earlier version after public and Conservative pressure. Mario Beaulieu welcomed the removal of privacy-invasive provisions from the previous bill but sought details on the timing of the new officer deployments.
Question period featured repeated exchanges on inflation, food costs and the Stellantis investment, with Pierre Poilievre pressing the government to scrap taxes on groceries and release contract documents while Steven MacKinnon and Mélanie Joly defended the measures and accused the opposition of undermining institutions.
From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard
Question Period – October 20, 2025. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube
Who held the floor · 2025-10-20
37Immigration talk, deficits motion sunkThe sitting focused heavily on the immigration act and other topics but advanced no bills. An opposition motion failed while Question Period produced mostly deflected answers.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
Criminal Code
Frank Caputo moved second reading of Bill C-225 and described it as the most significant legislative intervention yet on intimate-partner violence, insisting the measure had been drafted without partisan intent.
Read the exchangeJustice
Christine Normandin asked the government to remove the Criminal Code exemption that shields hate speech when it occurs in a religious context, citing a visiting preacher previously banned from Canada and the United Kingdom.
Read the exchangeRequest for Emergency Debate
Don Davies requested an emergency debate on Stellantis's decision to shift production from Brampton to Illinois, calling the move a betrayal of 3,000 workers and a threat to Canada's economic independence.
Read the exchangePetitions
Brad Redekopp presented a petition from Saskatoon West residents urging stronger enforcement against tent encampments that have become hubs of criminal activity, while Gord Johns tabled one calling for improved in-person service at the Canada Revenue Agency.
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
- deflectedTaxationPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the taxation question entirely and pivots to demanding an apology on an unrelated matter.
last week, the Leader of the Opposition put into question the independence of our judiciary and the integrity of the very police officers who put their lives on the line to protect him.
- deflectedTaxationPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.The answer dismisses the taxes query as imaginary and again demands an apology instead of addressing policy.
we will have a lot of opportunity to talk about the imaginary taxes the Leader of the Opposition comes up with.
- deflectedTaxationPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.The answer sidesteps the budget and tax question by noting the absence of spending cuts and repeating the apology demand.
the Leader of the Opposition has yet to suggest a single way to reduce spending or identify what spending or support for Canadians he considers to be inflationary.
- partly answeredAutomotive IndustryPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Mélanie Joly (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the plant closure as unacceptable and commits to holding the company accountable but does not address releasing the contract or guarantee.
Stellantis has made solemn commitments to the government and to their workers, and it needs to honour those commitments.
- partly answeredAutomotive IndustryPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Mélanie Joly (Liberal). substantive question.The answer states the government will fight for the jobs and apply pressure but avoids confirming any job guarantee in the contract.
we will make sure that Stellantis faces all consequences, including legal ones.
- partly answeredAutomotive IndustryPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Mélanie Joly (Liberal). substantive question.The answer claims contracts are good and promises to show them later while committing to pressure the company, without confirming a job guarantee.
when the government negotiates contracts, they are good ones, and my colleague will have the chance to see the contracts.
- partly answeredJusticeChristine Normandin (Bloc) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). substantive question.The answer affirms opposition to hate speech and notes existing tools but does not address abolishing the religious exemption in the Criminal Code.
The federal government has a number of tools at its disposal to fight hate speech.
- partly answeredJusticeChristine Normandin (Bloc) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). substantive question.The answer references past legislation on online hate speech and ongoing work but does not commit to removing the religious exemption.
In the last Parliament, we introduced a bill to tackle hate speech, particularly online.
- deflectedJusticeRhéal Éloi Fortin (Bloc) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). loaded question.Answer ignores the specific question on section 319 and religious hate speech, pivoting to unrelated bills.
The federal government is very proactive on this issue and will continue to be.
- misdirectedThe EconomyJohn Barlow (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). loaded question.Answer shifts to school food program instead of addressing hidden taxes or grocery costs.
Last week, the Prime Minister announced that we are making the school food program permanent
- deflectedThe EconomyJohn Barlow (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). loaded question.Answer dismisses taxes as imaginary and attacks Conservatives rather than engaging on food costs or food banks.
most Canadians know, or ought to know, that there is not tax on food, and that in fact these are imaginary taxes.
- misdirectedThe EconomyConnie Cody (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks Conservatives' voting record instead of responding to grocery prices or hidden taxes.
every time there is a chance to stand up for Canadian families, the Conservatives vote against their interests.
- misdirectedThe EconomyConnie Cody (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). loaded question.Answer accuses Conservatives of taking food from kids rather than addressing spending or price increases.
The Conservatives vote against families time and time again. They literally take food out of kids' mouths.
- misdirectedCarbon PricingKelly DeRidder (Conservative) asked Stephanie McLean (Liberal). loaded question.Answer pivots to school food and attacks Conservatives on imaginary taxes instead of fuel taxes or carbon pricing.
while the Conservatives continue to suggest that imaginary taxes exist on food, we are ensuring that there is real food for real bellies
- deflectedThe EconomyDominique Vien (Conservative) asked Anna Gainey (Liberal). loaded question.Answer ignores packaging tax and costs, shifting to school food program results.
What we are doing, on this side of the House, is delivering results for Canadian families.
- deflectedThe EconomyDominique Vien (Conservative) asked Anna Gainey (Liberal). loaded question.Answer highlights school food program praise instead of engaging on food bank increases or taxes.
the Canadian Teachers' Federation says that the school food program is fantastic news.
- deflectedFinanceJean-Denis Garon (Bloc) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.The answer sidesteps the specific demands by questioning the Bloc's consistency instead of addressing them.
I think the Bloc Québécois should review the budget and then make its decision.
- partly answeredFinanceJean-Denis Garon (Bloc) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). substantive question.The answer addresses housing and first-time buyers but ignores infrastructure and unconditional transfers.
We acted on all of these fronts without being prompted by the Bloc Québécois.
- deflectedFinancePhilip Lawrence (Conservative) asked Wayne Long (Liberal). substantive question.The answer lists unrelated affordability measures instead of addressing the deficit promise.
We have cut taxes for 22 million Canadians; we have cut the GST for first-time homebuyers, and interest rates are down.
- deflectedFinancePhilip Lawrence (Conservative) asked Wayne Long (Liberal). substantive question.The answer pivots to future budget plans and attacks the opposition leader rather than confirming the deficit cap.
We have a leader who is serious about the economy versus a leader who has never worked in the economy.
- misdirectedFinanceTamara Jansen (Conservative) asked Stephanie McLean (Liberal). substantive question.The answer attacks Conservative policies on seniors and children instead of addressing the deficit question.
They keep expecting us to make decisions that would take food out of children's mouths and would ensure that seniors have no old age security.
- misdirectedFinanceTamara Jansen (Conservative) asked Stephanie McLean (Liberal). substantive question.The answer accuses Conservatives of harming children and seniors rather than addressing fiscal discipline or the deficit.
They want us to achieve the economic goal that they are looking for on the backs of Canadians.
- deflectedFinanceWilliam Stevenson (Conservative) asked Ryan Turnbull (Liberal). substantive question.The answer cites external experts on fiscal sustainability instead of confirming the $42 billion deficit limit.
who said that Canada is fiscally sustainable? It was former parliamentary budget officer Kevin Page.
- partly answeredAutomotive IndustryRaquel Dancho (Conservative) asked Mélanie Joly (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the job issue and states intent to recover them but does not explain the lack of a jobs guarantee in the original deal.
We need to make sure that the 3,000 jobs in Brampton come back.
- deflectedAutomotive IndustryRaquel Dancho (Conservative) asked Mélanie Joly (Liberal). substantive question.The answer avoids the yes/no question by pointing to future committee documents instead of confirming any job guarantee.
documents will be presented and produced before the committee.
- deflectedAutomotive IndustryRaquel Dancho (Conservative) asked Mélanie Joly (Liberal). substantive question.The answer changes the subject to US tariffs and collaboration rather than stating any number of guaranteed jobs.
The auto sector in Canada is the victim of unjustifiable and unjustified 25% tariffs by the American administration, period.
- deflectedAutomotive IndustryKathy Borrelli (Conservative) asked Mélanie Joly (Liberal). substantive question.The answer promises to hold the company accountable and produce documents but does not confirm whether a Canada-wide jobs guarantee exists.
the documents will be produced before committee.
- misdirectedAutomotive IndustryRhonda Kirkland (Conservative) asked Dominic LeBlanc (Liberal). substantive question.The answer dismisses the question as conspiracy theories and pivots to meetings with Trump instead of addressing the jobs guarantee.
just because our colleague, with great indignation, asserts a series of conspiracy theories does not mean they are true.
- misdirectedAutomotive IndustryKyle Seeback (Conservative) asked Dominic LeBlanc (Liberal). substantive question.The answer labels the claim a falsehood and shifts to working with Ontario rather than confirming any job numbers in the contract.
Just because our colleagues on the other side assert some falsehood with great indignation does not make it accurate.
- misdirectedAutomotive IndustryKyle Seeback (Conservative) asked Dominic LeBlanc (Liberal). substantive question.The answer attacks the Conservatives for not liking to work with Premier Ford and avoids answering the yes/no question on job guarantees.
we understand that our Conservative colleagues on the other side of the aisle do not like to work with Premier Ford and his government.
- deflectedFinanceLuc Berthold (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). substantive question.The answer states the member must wait for the budget and does not commit to keeping the deficit under $42 billion.
the member opposite will have to wait for the budget to see the numbers and the investments that it will generate.
- deflectedFinanceLuc Berthold (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). substantive question.The answer avoids the deficit limit question by challenging the asker to identify inflationary spending instead.
what strikes me when members opposite rise and speak about inflationary spending is that they never identify the inflationary spending in question.
- misdirectedFinanceLeslyn Lewis (Conservative) asked Wayne Long (Liberal). substantive question.The answer lists G7 stats then pivots to attacking the opposition leader instead of addressing the $42 billion deficit limit.
The leader opposite said he was going to bring it home. He did not bring home the election. He did not bring home his riding and half his party want to send him home.
- misdirectedFinanceLeslyn Lewis (Conservative) asked Wayne Long (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the Conservative leader's experience and ignores the question on future deficits and growth impacts.
Canadians, on April 28, had a clear choice between two leadership styles, one with world economic and business experience, the other having never worked a day outside the House.
- misdirectedFinanceJason Groleau (Conservative) asked Dominic LeBlanc (Liberal). substantive question.The answer ignores the deficit question entirely and instead demands an apology from the opposition leader over RCMP comments.
Why does the Leader of the Opposition, who claims to support the police, not take a minute to apologize to the women and men who serve Canada in the RCMP instead of attacking their integrity?
- deflectedEmploymentGaétan Malette (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.The answer shifts to Kap Paper mill support rather than addressing the Ring of Fire project timeline or approval.
I am surprised the member did not ask about Kap Paper; in fact, Ontario and Canada have worked together to give Kap Paper the breathing room to bring back its employees
- partly answeredNatural ResourcesGord Johns (NDP) asked Tim Hodgson (Liberal). substantive question.The answer confirms the $1.2 billion commitment and notes a liquidity facility but does not detail a broader worker protection plan.
We have committed $1.2 billion to this sector. Just last week, we put the $700-million liquidity facility in place to help this sector.