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Wednesday, January 28, 2026 · sitting No. 75

House opens second reading of Canada-Indonesia trade deal

The House devoted its longest portion of the sitting to second reading of Bill C-18, the Canada-Indonesia comprehensive economic partnership agreement implementation act. Minister of Export Promotion International Trade and Economic Development Maninder Sidhu moved the bill and said the agreement would diversify trade and strengthen economic resilience. Conservative MP Adam Chambers said the bill required committee examination and questioned the government's view of the rules-based trading system.

Question period focused on food inflation and the carbon tax. Conservative MP Gérard Deltell said the fuel tax added to grocery costs and asked the government to abolish it. Minister of Innovation Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne said the government had announced a groceries and essentials benefit and supply-chain support. Bloc Québécois MP Yves-François Blanchet pressed the government on whether China had agreed to lift tariffs on Quebec pork.

Decided that day

  • Bill C-19 introduced
  • Bill C-228 second reading failed
  • Opposition motion on economic sovereignty failed

From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard

Question Period – January 28, 2026. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube

Who held the floor · 2026-01-28

Government (Liberal)OppositionOver the day: government 37%, opposition 63% of the words spokenQuestion PeriodGovernment businessPrivate members▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 14:0515:0016:0017:0018:00Last speech 19:05Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 5 h 0 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
54Trade talk dominates, little gets passedThe House devoted most of its time to substantive debate on a trade agreement and economic matters, yet recorded no successful votes. Only one bill advanced while two opposition measures failed.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

Housing

Conservative MP Scott Aitchison said home ownership among 30- to 34-year-olds had fallen and asked when the government would remove the HST on new homes under $1.3 million. Minister of Housing Infrastructure and Communities Gregor Robertson said the government had introduced a first-time homebuyers GST break and record construction in several cities.

Read the exchange

Seniors

Conservative MP Anna Roberts said seniors were choosing between medication and groceries and asked the government to eliminate the industrial carbon tax. Minister of Seniors Stephanie McLean said the government had increased old-age security for those over 75 and created the groceries and essentials benefit.

Read the exchange

Forestry Industry

Conservative MP Jeff Kibble said mill closures on Vancouver Island had cost hundreds of jobs and asked when the government would deliver a softwood lumber trade deal. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources Claude Guay said the government had announced a forestry sector transformation task force.

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Public Safety

Conservative MP Andrew Lawton said the Federal Court of Appeal had ruled the government violated the Charter when it used the Emergencies Act and asked whether it would accept the ruling. Government House leader Steven MacKinnon said the demonstration had been unlawful.

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
    Carbon PricingGérard Deltell (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.The answer promotes unrelated measures instead of addressing abolition of the fuel tax.We know that the Conservatives are allergic to good news.
  2. deflected
    Carbon PricingGérard Deltell (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.The answer highlights government actions without addressing removal of the fuel tax.my colleague is known for his rhetoric, but, on this side of the House, we are known for taking action.
  3. misdirected
    Carbon PricingTim Uppal (Conservative) asked Julie Dabrusin (Liberal). substantive question.The answer shifts to defending regulations and attacks the member's representation of farmers rather than addressing relief from taxes.Why is the member not standing up for the farmers in his riding?
  4. deflected
    Carbon PricingTim Uppal (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.The answer repeats benefit announcements without addressing scrapping of the carbon or fuel taxes.the Conservatives are good talkers, but I can tell members they have a short memory, because on Monday, Canadians noticed what will be happening.
  5. deflected
    Carbon PricingLianne Rood (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.The answer criticizes Conservatives for opposing rebates instead of addressing the request to scrap taxes.Why can Conservative MPs not listen to their constituents, get out of the way and help those very Canadians they claim to care about?
  6. deflected
    Carbon PricingLianne Rood (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.The answer defends other programs and attacks Conservative positions without addressing root causes like taxes.They have no answers, not for their constituents, not for any Canadian.
  7. deflected
    International TradeYves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Anita Anand (Liberal). substantive question.The answer discusses general partnerships without confirming or denying the pork tariff agreement.we remain committed in our partnerships with all industry stakeholders in the beef and canola industries, in the agriculture industry.
  8. partly answered
    International TradeYves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked Anita Anand (Liberal). substantive question.The answer references discussions on pork and a friendly agreement but does not confirm the deal status or commit to priority action.we have had discussions with China about several sectors of our economy, including pork, beef and canola.
  9. deflected
    Forestry IndustryYves-François Blanchet (Bloc) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.Answer promotes past spending without addressing the specific claim of rejecting the industry proposal.we have invested hundreds of millions of dollars to help the forestry industry.
  10. deflected
    TaxationSandra Cobena (Conservative) asked Adam van Koeverden (Liberal). substantive question.Answer pivots to a different policy recommendation instead of addressing tax cuts on farmers and truckers.The top recommendation of Food Banks Canada was to create a groceries and essentials benefit.
  11. misdirected
    TaxationSandra Cobena (Conservative) asked Adam van Koeverden (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks Conservatives for denying climate change rather than addressing the tax and competition questions.The Conservatives can continue to bury their heads in the sand and pretend that climate change does not exist
  12. deflected
    TaxationLeslyn Lewis (Conservative) asked Stephanie McLean (Liberal). substantive question.Answer promotes the groceries benefit and accuses obstruction instead of addressing carbon tax removal.I do not understand why the Conservatives want to be obstructionist about feeding 12 million Canadians.
  13. deflected
    TaxationLeslyn Lewis (Conservative) asked Stephanie McLean (Liberal). substantive question.Answer shifts to personal anecdote and accuses opposition to feeding families rather than addressing the tax question.Again, I do not understand why the Conservatives are opposed to feeding families.
  14. deflected
    TaxationMarilyn Gladu (Conservative) asked Rechie Valdez (Liberal). substantive question.Answer lists existing supports without addressing the request to eliminate the industrial carbon tax.With supports like the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, the Canada child benefit, affordable child care, dental care, the national school food program and the fact that we cut taxes for millions of Canadians, this family will save over $50,000 a year.
  15. deflected
    TaxationMarilyn Gladu (Conservative) asked Rechie Valdez (Liberal). substantive question.Answer lists programs and accuses obstruction instead of committing to carbon tax legislation.I do not understand how the Conservatives can look their constituents in the eye when all they do in the House is obstruct what we are doing
  16. deflected
    SeniorsAnna Roberts (Conservative) asked Stephanie McLean (Liberal). substantive question.Answer defends OAS and the groceries benefit without addressing elimination of the carbon tax.We increased OAS for seniors over age 75 when the Conservatives wanted to bring it down to below age 65.
  17. partly answered
    SeniorsAndréanne Larouche (Bloc) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.Answer acknowledges issue and offers general commitment but provides no timeline or specific fix.my department is in the process of transferring benefit delivery to a more modern system.
  18. partly answered
    SeniorsAndréanne Larouche (Bloc) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). substantive question.Answer recognizes the problem and directs to Service Canada but offers no concrete resolution plan.A few people have been affected, and that is a few people too many.
  19. deflected
    HousingScott Aitchison (Conservative) asked Gregor Robertson (Liberal). substantive question.Answer pivots to a new GST break and blames opposition instead of addressing the policy failure question.the good news is that our government has brought forward the first-time homebuyers' GST break, which is up to $50,000 off their first home purchase for young Canadians.
  20. deflected
    HousingScott Aitchison (Conservative) asked Gregor Robertson (Liberal). substantive question.Answer shifts to defending record construction and attacking obstruction rather than addressing HST removal proposal.it starts with first-time homebuyers and not obstructing bills that will deliver relief and affordability for young Canadians.
  21. deflected
    HousingJacob Mantle (Conservative) asked Gregor Robertson (Liberal). substantive question.Answer promotes Build Canada Homes and criticizes opposition instead of engaging with the Missing Middle solutions.the good news is that we have Build Canada Homes starting up, a one-stop shop for affordable housing, delivering housing for young Canadians in particular.
  22. misdirected
    HousingTako Van Popta (Conservative) asked Kody Blois (Liberal). substantive question.Answer attacks Conservatives for obstructing and tells member to answer to constituents rather than addressing policy adoption.The Conservatives obstruct at every single pass.
  23. deflected
    HousingBernard Généreux (Conservative) asked Rachel Bendayan (Liberal). substantive question.Answer highlights a new benefit and blames Conservatives for blocking instead of addressing affordable housing access.It is true. We have seen the statistics that show that one in five households has trouble paying their rent, so I am wondering why the Conservatives are blocking the work of Build Canada Homes.
  24. misdirected
    The EconomyKyle Seeback (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). substantive question.Answer dismisses Conservative proposal by referencing election results and pivots to Liberal plan without engaging the bill.The Conservatives' proposals were tested. They had the ultimate test, a general election, which did not go so well.
  25. deflected
    The EconomyKyle Seeback (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists government projects instead of addressing the call to adopt the Canadian sovereignty act.We are building this country. We are building it big. We are building it strong.
  26. deflected
    The EconomyBlaine Calkins (Conservative) asked John Zerucelli (Liberal). loaded question.The answer dismisses the motion by referencing the election loss and pivots to government priorities without addressing the vote request.the Conservatives' ideas were tested in the election, and guess what, they lost.
  27. partly answered
    The EconomyBlaine Calkins (Conservative) asked Heath MacDonald (Liberal). loaded question.The answer addresses the research station closures by explaining the mandate for streamlining but ignores the affordability and new world order claims.we know this is going to be a difficult time for some, but this was the mandate that Canadians elected us for: streamlining research, collaboration with academia and the private sector, prioritizing high-impact areas, reducing duplication and aligning projects with the needs of farmers and ranchers across this country.
  28. deflected
    The EconomyColin Reynolds (Conservative) asked Wayne Long (Liberal). substantive question.The answer rejects the bill as Conservative policy and accuses obstruction without engaging the request to pass the sovereignty act.The Conservatives are focused on obstruction.
  29. misdirected
    The EconomyJonathan Rowe (Conservative) asked Joanne Thompson (Liberal). substantive question.The answer attacks the question as canned notes and obstruction rather than addressing project approvals or the sovereignty act.here we go again with another round of canned notes that do not address what the government is actually doing.
  30. deflected
    The EconomyDavid McKenzie (Conservative) asked Corey Hogan (Liberal). substantive question.The answer dismisses the motion as recycled ideas and points to existing actions without committing to the sovereignty act.It feels like the Leader of the Opposition found it in a jacket he has not worn in a while.
  31. partly answered
    The EconomyGaétan Malette (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). substantive question.The answer addresses regulatory barriers indirectly by highlighting supports for northern Ontario industries but does not engage the sovereignty act proposal.We will be there for northern Ontario, whether it is through the capacity of FedNor, direct supports to the lumber industry or supports for critical mining.
  32. deflected
    The EconomyRichard Martel (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). substantive question.The answer references the election result and lists projects instead of addressing the request to vote for the sovereignty act or remove barriers.
  33. deflected
    JusticeTamara Jansen (Conservative) asked Ruby Sahota (Liberal). substantive question.The answer shifts focus to lawful access measures and accuses the opposition of obstruction instead of addressing mandatory minimums or catch-and-release laws.the Conservatives need to decide whether they are going to help us stop extortions or whether they are going to obstruct us giving law enforcement the tools they need to prevent these crimes from happening.
  34. deflected
    JusticeMichael Guglielmin (Conservative) asked Ruby Sahota (Liberal). substantive question.The answer pivots to IP address tools and accuses Conservatives of obstruction rather than addressing the requests on mandatory minimums and specific bills.In order to catch these criminals, the police need the tools to do so.
  35. misdirected
    Public SafetyAndrew Lawton (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). substantive question.The response attacks the questioner's stance on the occupation instead of addressing the court ruling or decision on appeal.as a proud resident of the national capital region, I can only lament this member's repeated, and he has been consistent on this, endorsement of the occupation of this downtown and of the disturbance and unbelievable annoyance this created for residents of downtown Ottawa.
  36. partly answered
    Forestry IndustryJeff Kibble (Conservative) asked Claude Guay (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges mill closures and mentions federal support but does not address the softwood lumber trade deal timeline.The federal government has come forward with support for the sector.
  37. deflected
    LabourElizabeth May (Green) asked Shafqat Ali (Liberal). substantive question.The response discusses general public service renewal without addressing specific layoffs in marine emergency responses or public safety threats.Canada's new government is taking a responsible approach to renewing the public service focused on efficiency, sustainability and respect for those who serve Canadians.