All sittings← 2025-10-292025-10-31 →
Thursday, October 30, 2025 · sitting No. 47
Commons debates bail reform bill amid clashes over bonuses and trade
The House spent most of the day on second reading of the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act, Bill C-14. Liberal MP Ruby Sahota said the bill would strengthen bail and toughen sentencing while blocking conditional sentences for sexual offences. Conservative MP Larry Brock questioned why the government had clawed back eligibility for conditional sentences only on indictment. Bloc Québécois MP Martin Champoux expressed support for the bill but raised concerns about judicial discretion on reverse onus for crimes such as auto theft.
In Question Period, Conservative MP Andrew Scheer asked why the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation paid out $30 million in executive bonuses. Liberal MP Rechie Valdez said the government is cutting the GST for first-time homebuyers. Conservative MP Michael Cooper asked how much the Prime Minister holds in offshore tax havens. Liberal MP Steven MacKinnon said all members must follow strict ethics rules.
Conservative MP John Barlow pressed the government on new Indian tariffs on Canadian peas. Liberal MP Anita Anand said Pakistan has opened its market to Canadian canola.
From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard
Question Period – October 30, 2025. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube
Who held the floor · 2025-10-30
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
Petitions
Conservative MP Sandra Cobena presented a petition calling for integrity in fiscal reporting. New Democrat MP Gord Johns tabled a petition on humanitarian aid in Gaza.
Read the exchangePoints of Order
Bloc Québécois MP Yves Perron rose on a point of order to respond to government arguments on amendments to Bill C-4.
Read the exchangeForestry Industry
Bloc Québécois MP Mario Simard asked the government to advance 50 per cent of countervailing duties to forestry companies. Liberal MP Steven Guilbeault said the Business Development Bank of Canada is providing $700 million.
Read the exchangeFisheries and Oceans
New Democrat MP Gord Johns said 900 vessels on the British Columbia coast need recycling facilities. Liberal MP Annie Koutrakis said the government is consulting on a regulatory framework.
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
- deflectedThe EconomyAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Rechie Valdez (Liberal). loaded question.Answer ignores the CMHC bonuses and pivots to listing Liberal housing programs while attacking Conservative votes.
While Conservatives are voting down affordability measures, we are stepping up and taking care of young Canadians who are finally getting the keys to their first home.
- deflectedThe EconomyAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). loaded question.Answer ignores the bonuses and youth unemployment question to promote skills training spending.
That is why in our budget we will propose $75 million more for Canada's Building Trades Unions and other unions around the country to train our youth who want to do the work.
- misdirectedThe EconomyJasraj Hallan (Conservative) asked Rechie Valdez (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks the Conservative leader's past record instead of addressing the bonuses or sacrifices.
this is coming from a member whose leader , when responsible for this file, only built six homes in this country.
- misdirectedThe EconomyJasraj Hallan (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). loaded question.Answer changes subject entirely to a meeting about the school food program and ignores bonuses and rents.
this morning, I had the privilege of meeting with Minister Barb Ramsay of the Conservative government in Prince Edward Island.
- misdirectedThe EconomyLuc Berthold (Conservative) asked Joël Lightbound (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks Conservatives for opposing other programs rather than addressing BDC/CMHC bonuses.
my colleague wants to talk about nerve. I would say to him that the Conservatives have the nerve to stand here in the House and preach virtue, but every time they have an opportunity to vote against programs that really help young Quebeckers and young Canadians, they do so.
- deflectedThe EconomyLuc Berthold (Conservative) asked Joël Lightbound (Liberal). loaded question.Answer lists past Liberal programs and criticizes Conservative votes without addressing the call for an affordable budget.
it is simply astounding the way the Conservatives take every opportunity to vote against programs that truly benefit Quebeckers and Canadians.
- deflectedJusticeChristine Normandin (Bloc) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). loaded question.Answer avoids the Clarity Act question by citing election results and promising affordability measures.
Quebeckers and Canadians went to the polls a few months ago, and the people of Quebec elected twice as many Liberals as Bloc Québécois members.
- deflectedJusticeChristine Normandin (Bloc) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). rhetorical question.Answer sidesteps the repeal request by emphasizing unity over division without engaging the democratic choice premise.
If the Bloc Québécois wants to continue to focus on division, it is free to do that. On this side, we will continue to focus on unity and on the fact that we are stronger together than apart.
- misdirectedJusticeAlexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Bloc) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks Quebec government on indigenous consultation instead of addressing Clarity Act repeal.
it is rather interesting to hear the Bloc member talk about all peoples when the Quebec government just tabled a draft constitution without even consulting Quebec's indigenous peoples.
- deflectedThe EconomyPierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.Answer changes subject to election threat and talking points rather than addressing defence agency salary or sacrifices.
the only question on everyone's lips is this: Will the Conservatives ruin Christmas for Canadians by triggering a snap election?
- deflectedThe EconomyPierre Paul-Hus (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). substantive question.Answer repeats budget talking points and election threat instead of addressing affordability or mismanagement.
Yes, we will present an affordable budget.
- deflectedThe EconomyTamara Kronis (Conservative) asked Wayne Long (Liberal). loaded question.Answer ignores salary and sacrifices to list future spending plans without addressing the question.
On November 4, we will table a generational budget.
- misdirectedThe EconomyTamara Kronis (Conservative) asked John Zerucelli (Liberal). loaded question.Answer pivots to attacking Conservatives on school food program instead of addressing insider salaries or budget.
how about the Conservative Party apologizes to all the kids who benefit from the national school food program?
- misdirectedPublic Services and ProcurementKelly Block (Conservative) asked Buckley Belanger (Liberal). loaded question.Answer rejects premise and attacks Conservatives on low-income issues instead of addressing consultant spending.
I reject the premise of the question, because we all know, on this side of the House, that the Conservatives never gave a dang about low-income people and never will.
- misdirectedPublic Services and ProcurementMichael Barrett (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.Answer mocks the member about a lozenge and pivots to election threat instead of addressing consultant costs.
this is coming from the member who, when asked about his leader 's comments on the RCMP, said that he had a lozenge in his mouth.
- deflectedPublic Services and ProcurementMichael Barrett (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.Answer lists budget items and urges vote while ignoring consultant spending and sacrifices question.
we will be putting a budget before the House next week.
- deflectedForestry IndustryMario Simard (Bloc) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). substantive question.The answer highlights other funding programs without addressing the specific request to advance 50% of duties.
The Business Development Bank of Canada is providing $700 million, and another $500 million is available for business modernization.
- partly answeredForestry IndustryMario Simard (Bloc) asked Claude Guay (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges the issue and references available funding but stops short of committing to the requested wage subsidy or duty advance.
As the minister said, $1.25 billion is already available, and we want to do even more for workers in the lumber industry.
- misdirectedThe EconomyScott Aitchison (Conservative) asked Evan Solomon (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the bonus question and instead attacks the opposition for criticizing government programs.
Why do they not join us in building up the country, instead of tearing it down?
- misdirectedThe EconomyScott Aitchison (Conservative) asked Evan Solomon (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to listing opposition votes against programs rather than addressing executive bonuses or sacrifices demanded of Canadians.
They vote against affordable housing. They vote against school food programs.
- misdirectedThe EconomyDan Albas (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts to a forthcoming budget and trucking issues while avoiding the question on bonuses and offshoring.
I will tell him that next week, November 4, there is going to be a budget that solves the problem that he and I want solved, which is the problem of Driver Inc.
- misdirectedThe EconomyDan Albas (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.The answer again diverts to budget details and an election warning instead of responding to the bonuses and job-offshoring query.
All of this is going to be in our affordable, great, economy-building budget on November 4.
- misdirectedThe EconomyJacques Gourde (Conservative) asked Joël Lightbound (Liberal). loaded question.The answer counters by accusing the opposition of hypocrisy on sacrifices rather than addressing executive bonuses.
The Conservatives would sacrifice the Canada child benefit, the Canadian dental care plan, the national school food program and a pay raise for the Canadian Armed Forces.
- deflectedThe EconomyGérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Joël Lightbound (Liberal). substantive question.The answer offers a briefing and defends the contract process but does not address the cost overrun or waste of taxpayer money.
All of the costs incurred, the $190 million over 10 years, were included in the initial contract, which was good value for money.
- deflectedThe EconomyGérard Deltell (Conservative) asked Joël Lightbound (Liberal). loaded question.Answer promotes Liberal record and urges budget support without addressing waste or affordability timeline.
That is what we will continue to do on November 4. I encourage my colleague to support us.
- deflectedThe EconomyPat Kelly (Conservative) asked Eleanor Olszewski (Liberal). loaded question.Answer shifts to housing investments and urges budget support instead of addressing CRA contract or insider deals.
We are not asking young people to make sacrifices or Canadians to make sacrifices; we are asking the Conservatives to support our generational budget so that we can keep building homes and make life affordable for Canadians.
- deflectedThe EconomyStephanie Kusie (Conservative) asked Eleanor Olszewski (Liberal). loaded question.Answer repeats housing focus and criticizes Conservatives for not supporting budget rather than addressing consultant spending.
The Conservatives can criticize all they want, but if they really wanted to help families with affordability, they would support our budget.
- misdirectedThe EconomyStephanie Kusie (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks Conservatives for not quoting report and lists programs they opposed instead of addressing program effectiveness.
It is because in that report, what Food Banks Canada said is that there are some promising signs from the federal government, with things like the Canada disability payment, done for the very first time, something those guys voted against;
- deflectedEthicsMichael Cooper (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.Answer cites ethics rules compliance without answering how many offshore investments exist.
The Prime Minister has not only met but exceeded his requirements under those ethics guidelines, and he will continue to do so.
- deflectedEthicsMichael Cooper (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.Answer again cites ethics rules and transparency without providing any offshore investment figure.
These requirements are met very transparently, including the Prime Minister 's, which are all available for the public to view.
- misdirectedEthicsMichael Cooper (Conservative) asked Wayne Long (Liberal). loaded question.Answer pivots to election result and leader praise instead of addressing Bermuda funds or tax avoidance.
Canadians spoke loud and clear. They elected a leader who is going to build Canada and invest in Canada.
- misdirectedEthicsMichael Cooper (Conservative) asked Wayne Long (Liberal). loaded question.Answer contrasts focus on leader versus Canada without answering offshore holdings or hypocrisy claim.
while the party opposite is focused on its leader , we are focused on Canada.
- deflectedInternational TradeJohn Barlow (Conservative) asked Anita Anand (Liberal). loaded question.The answer promotes new canola access in Pakistan without addressing India tariffs or the Prime Minister's role.
Pakistan is one of the world's largest importers of canola. This morning, he confirmed to me that Pakistan will open its doors to Canadian canola.
- deflectedInternational TradeJohn Barlow (Conservative) asked Anita Anand (Liberal). loaded question.The response highlights Indo-Pacific engagement and Pakistan instead of addressing specific tariff relief requests.
Not only is Pakistan opening its doors to Canadian canola, but I raised potash, canola, agriculture and seafood in my recent trip to the Indo-Pacific.
- deflectedInternational TradeSteven Bonk (Conservative) asked Sophie Chatel (Liberal). loaded question.The answer acknowledges tariffs but pivots to Pakistan and support programs rather than committing to a China deal.
The Prime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture are currently in Asia diversifying our trade, but also resolving disputes, and Pakistan has now opened its doors to our canola.
- misdirectedThe EconomyAndrew Lawton (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.The response attacks the opposition leader and shifts to budget voting instead of addressing executive bonuses or youth issues.
- answeredHealthDon Davies (NDP) asked Marjorie Michel (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly affirms commitment to universal public health care as requested.
I can assure my colleague that we will defend universal health care for Canadians, both before and after the budget.
- deflectedFinanceJenny Kwan (NDP) asked Steven Guilbeault (Liberal). substantive question.The response cites past funding increases without addressing the proposed cuts in the upcoming budget.
in fact, between 2015 and 2024, the government doubled the funding for the arts and culture sector in this country.
- partly answeredBusiness of the HouseAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer provides the legislative schedule but responds with baseball metaphors and criticism rather than a neutral reply.
Next week, Canadians will have a choice. An affordable budget for an affordable life that would build Canada strong and build the biggest and best economy in the G7 is one choice they have.