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Thursday, December 4, 2025 · sitting No. 67

Commons grants justice committee power to travel on hate crimes bill

The House spent the largest share of its sitting considering a Conservative motion to instruct the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights to travel across Canada while studying Bill C-9. Conservative MP Andrew Lawton moved the instruction and defended it as necessary to hear from interested parties. Liberal MP Arielle Kayabaga pressed Lawton to apologize for earlier remarks she described as calling the École Polytechnique attack a hoax.

Question period featured repeated exchanges on food prices. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre asked the government to scrap taxes and deficits he said are driving grocery costs higher. Liberal ministers Julie Dabrusin and Patty Hajdu replied that climate change is the main factor cited in the food price report and accused the opposition of ignoring programs that assist families.

Decided that day

  • Bill S-2 advanced in the first chamber

From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard

Question Period – December 4, 2025. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube

Who held the floor · 2025-12-04

Government (Liberal)OppositionOver the day: government 34%, opposition 66% of the words spokenRoutine proceedingsQuestion PeriodGovernment business▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 10:0011:0012:0013:0014:0015:0016:0017:0018:00Last speech 19:05Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 9 h 5 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
30Talk fills the day, one bill inches aheadThe House spent most of its time debating committee instructions and the budget bill with little visible progress and no recorded votes. Question period produced mostly deflected answers while only one minor bill advanced a stage.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

Justice

Bloc Québécois MP Christine Normandin accused the Liberals of cancelling justice committee meetings to avoid adopting an amendment that would repeal the religious exemption allowing incitement of hatred. Liberal MP Patricia Lattanzio said clause-by-clause consideration had already begun and would continue.

Read the exchange

Automotive Industry

Conservative MP Kyle Seeback said the government had wasted $15 billion on Stellantis after the company cut 3,000 Canadian jobs. Liberal Minister Mélanie Joly replied that the company had broken the deal and that Ottawa would recover the funds.

Read the exchange

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Conservative MP Costas Menegakis called for an end to online citizenship ceremonies conducted by clicking a box. Liberal Minister Lena Metlege Diab said virtual ceremonies began during the pandemic and remain secure with officials present.

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Employment

Conservative MP Garnett Genuis said the government budget had worsened a youth jobs crisis with unemployment above 14 per cent. Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux replied that the government supports apprenticeships and technical training to help young people.

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
    TaxationPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Julie Dabrusin (Liberal). loaded question.Answer avoids the tax question by calling taxes imaginary and pivoting to climate change attack.The member is talking about imaginary taxes that have no impact on the price of food.
  2. misdirected
    TaxationPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.Answer shifts to listing programs the asker voted against instead of addressing taxes on groceries.the Leader of the Opposition goes on and on about imaginary taxes, yet he consistently votes against the school food program, the Canada child benefit, dental care and pharmacare.
  3. deflected
    TaxationPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). loaded question.Answer claims the report was misread and pivots to climate change and child care signing.that is another example of the opposition's using a report without actually taking the time to read it.
  4. deflected
    TaxationPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). loaded question.Answer dismisses taxes as imaginary and pivots to child care savings without addressing grocery taxes.instead of focusing on imaginary taxes, we are working to control the things we can, which is putting more money in the pockets of Canadians.
  5. deflected
    TaxationPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Julie Dabrusin (Liberal). loaded question.Answer pivots to Canada child benefit and calls taxes imaginary rather than addressing the food cost question.If he wants to talk about imaginary taxes, that is only an imaginary argument.
  6. deflected
    TaxationPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). loaded question.Answer disputes report reading and lists benefits while ignoring specific tax reversal request.it is clear the Leader of the Opposition has not read the report because, in fact, the report predicts that inflation is actually going to stabilize and go down.
  7. partly answered
    JusticeChristine Normandin (Bloc) asked Patricia Lattanzio (Liberal). substantive question.Answer directly states readiness to continue clause-by-clause work on the file.we started clause-by-clause consideration last Tuesday, and we will continue to work hard on this file.
  8. misdirected
    JusticeChristine Normandin (Bloc) asked Marc Miller (Liberal). substantive question.Answer ignores the exemption question and attacks the Bloc leader on an unrelated loyalty issue.Does he think that Quebec artists lack loyalty to the Quebec nation?
  9. misdirected
    JusticeRhéal Éloi Fortin (Bloc) asked Joël Lightbound (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks Bloc on culture and loyalty instead of addressing justice committee or religious exemption.I understand that the Bloc Québécois members want to create a diversion.
  10. deflected
    TaxationJohn Barlow (Conservative) asked Wayne Long (Liberal). substantive question.Answer lists Liberal measures and attacks Conservatives rather than addressing carbon tax impact on food prices.we have done more for affordability in six months than that leader and that party have done in 20 years.
  11. deflected
    TaxationJohn Barlow (Conservative) asked Wayne Long (Liberal). substantive question.Answer pivots to what Conservatives voted against instead of responding on carbon tax and food prices.The Conservatives have voted against every affordability measure we have brought forth.
  12. deflected
    The EconomyScot Davidson (Conservative) asked Adam van Koeverden (Liberal). substantive question.Answer claims no taxes on food and lists unrelated programs while attacking Conservatives.
  13. deflected
    The EconomyScot Davidson (Conservative) asked Adam van Koeverden (Liberal). substantive question.Answer uses food metaphors to promote programs and dismisses the question without addressing price increases.if he wants something to put on his hot dog, here are four things: dental care for Canadians
  14. deflected
    The EconomyCarol Anstey (Conservative) asked Joanne Thompson (Liberal). substantive question.Answer attacks the member for votes against programs instead of addressing food price inflation.instead of repeating the same canned lines, I would ask the member from Newfoundland and Labrador
  15. deflected
    The EconomyCarol Anstey (Conservative) asked Joanne Thompson (Liberal). substantive question.Answer promotes programs and accuses the asker of politicizing while avoiding the question on affordability.I will never politicize the struggles of moms in my province.
  16. deflected
    The EconomyAnna Roberts (Conservative) asked Stephanie McLean (Liberal). substantive question.Answer uses metaphors to attack Conservatives on votes instead of addressing grocery prices or taxes.those Conservatives clearly can talk until the cows come home, but they are all hat and no cattle.
  17. deflected
    Intergovernmental AffairsMario Simard (Bloc) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). rhetorical question.Answer ignores the referendum question and pivots to economy while attacking the asker.On that side, they are all about breaking up, division and separation.
  18. misdirected
    Intergovernmental AffairsMartin Champoux (Bloc) asked Joël Lightbound (Liberal). rhetorical question.Answer attacks Bloc voting record instead of addressing Quebec jurisdiction or language issues.When they had the opportunity to vote for a budget that is good for Quebec, a budget that includes $4 billion for Hydro-Québec,
  19. deflected
    The EconomyLuc Berthold (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.Answer avoids the grocery cost question by demanding a definition of inflationary spending.Does he mean school nutrition? Does he mean dental care?
  20. deflected
    The EconomyLuc Berthold (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.Answer redefines expenditures positively without addressing the grocery price increase or verdict.For us, an important expenditure leads to job creation.
  21. deflected
    The EconomyEric Lefebvre (Conservative) asked Joël Lightbound (Liberal). loaded question.Answer shifts to dental care program instead of responding to grocery prices or PM's record.Is that what the member means by inflationary spending?
  22. misdirected
    The EconomySandra Cobena (Conservative) asked John Zerucelli (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks Conservative voting record on child benefit rather than addressing food price increases.They voted against it every time.
  23. misdirected
    The EconomySandra Cobena (Conservative) asked John Zerucelli (Liberal). loaded question.Answer lists government programs and criticizes opposition votes instead of admitting failure on grocery prices.They are the ones who have to be embarrassed about their track record of voting against dental care
  24. deflected
    The EconomyGabriel Hardy (Conservative) asked Mélanie Joly (Liberal). loaded question.Answer highlights positive economic stats without addressing grocery prices or ending spending.GDP growth is at 3.2%. Inflation is under control at 2.2%.
  25. deflected
    The EconomyGabriel Hardy (Conservative) asked Mélanie Joly (Liberal). loaded question.Answer accuses asker of selective figures then pivots to wages and programs without addressing food taxes.my colleague is engaging in wilful blindness because he is selectively choosing the figures he wants to report.
  26. misdirected
    The EconomyConnie Cody (Conservative) asked Leslie Church (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks opposition rhetoric instead of addressing grocery costs or spending.The Leader of the Opposition stood up in the House today and called them "costly promises".
  27. misdirected
    The EconomyConnie Cody (Conservative) asked Leslie Church (Liberal). loaded question.Answer lists programs then insults the member rather than addressing food affordability for seniors.The member opposite is spewing nonsense.
  28. deflected
    The EconomyGrant Jackson (Conservative) asked Rebecca Chartrand (Liberal). loaded question.Answer shifts to listing desired programs without tackling grocery price increases or taxes.If he was talking to Manitobans, he would know that they want $10-a-day day care.
  29. misdirected
    The EconomyGrant Jackson (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.Answer mocks the member and pivots to lecturing about single mothers instead of food bank access.That member needs to talk to more single mothers.
  30. answered
    Automotive IndustryKyle Seeback (Conservative) asked Mélanie Joly (Liberal). loaded question.Answer directly states the government will recover funds after contract breach.They broke it, and we will make sure that we get our money back, period.
  31. misdirected
    Automotive IndustryKyle Seeback (Conservative) asked Mélanie Joly (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks past Conservative record on auto bailouts instead of addressing current contract enforcement.In 2009, when the Harper government decided to bail out and shake hands with GM and Chrysler.
  32. deflected
    Automotive IndustryAdam Chambers (Conservative) asked Maninder Sidhu (Liberal). loaded question.Answer pivots to unrelated nuclear investments without addressing Stellantis job losses.The Prime Minister committed $2 billion to build small modular reactors in Ontario
  33. deflected
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipCostas Menegakis (Conservative) asked Lena Metlege Diab (Liberal). substantive question.The answer denies the described practice and pivots to unrelated border security layers instead of addressing virtual ceremonies.When it comes to citizenship ceremonies, there is no such thing as that.
  34. deflected
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMichelle Rempel Garner (Conservative) asked Lena Metlege Diab (Liberal). substantive question.The answer discusses pandemic origins and general benefits of virtual options without committing to ending the practice.We are always looking for opportunities to celebrate our citizenship, to bring people together, to celebrate and build the Canadian economy and make it strong.
  35. partly answered
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMichelle Rempel Garner (Conservative) asked Lena Metlege Diab (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges ongoing virtual ceremonies and asserts they remain secure but does not address unification or ending them.However, for all new Canadians, it is still being done under a secure, fully fledged citizenship ceremony, with officials present.
  36. answered
    JusticeAndrew Lawton (Conservative) asked James Maloney (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly explains the chair's decision to cancel and the intent to allow regrouping.Acting in the best interest of the committee members, the members of the House and the members of the public who want this bill to pass, I decided to cancel the meeting so the members could regroup to find a path forward.
  37. partly answered
    HousingLori Idlout (NDP) asked Rebecca Chartrand (Liberal). substantive question.The answer lists federal funding commitments but does not explain why only 700 homes were promised versus the full need.We are also partnering to deliver over 700 new homes and fast-tracking them.
  38. deflected
    FinanceElizabeth May (Green) asked Julie Dabrusin (Liberal). substantive question.The answer highlights positive aspects of the MOU without addressing the deficit recalculation or enhanced oil recovery tax credits.These are all steps that are incredibly important for us as we try to build a clean economy and build our country strong for the future.
  39. misdirected
    Points of OrderChristine Normandin (Bloc) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). substantive question.The answer attacks the Bloc and Conservatives instead of addressing the point of order on irrelevant responses.Members of the Bloc Québécois are suffering from the same disease as the Conservatives, that is, repeating questions without even thinking them through.
  40. deflected
    Points of OrderLuc Berthold (Conservative) asked The Speaker (Liberal). substantive question.The Speaker's answer addresses a separate point of order on props rather than the raised issue of cancelled meetings and ministerial absences.House of Commons Procedure and Practice , fourth edition, section 13.26, notes: Props of any kind have always been found to be unacceptable in the chamber, especially when they cause disorder.
  41. misdirected
    Business of the HouseLuc Berthold (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). substantive question.The answer attacks the opposition's conduct rather than addressing the committee cancellation or food costs raised.It is precisely the outbursts of Conservative members, true to their leader 's example, with their three-word slogans and determination to upend the work of the House and committees, that prompted the decision by the member for Etobicoke—Lakeshore to cancel this morning's committee work.