Parliament AIIndependent · non-official

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Thursday, April 23, 2026 · sitting No. 109

Commons debates military justice modernization bill as Liberals table amendments

The House spent the largest share of its sitting on the Military Justice System Modernization Act. Conservative MP James Bezan moved motions to delete the short title and several clauses. Liberal MP Maninder Sidhu responded with government amendments to clauses 7, 8 and 40 that would limit military authority over certain Criminal Code offences and adjust suspension procedures for the Director of Defence Counsel Services.

Question Period featured repeated exchanges on taxation and the deficit. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre asked whether the government would remove all fuel taxes, and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne replied that the federal gas tax suspension is already in effect. Poilievre also pressed on the doubling of the deficit since the last election.

Other exchanges covered small business red tape, aerospace spending and climate targets, with members from all parties raising constituent and sector concerns.

From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard

Question Period – April 23, 2026, 2026. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube

Who held the floor · 2026-04-23

Government (Liberal)OppositionOver the day: government 44%, opposition 56% of the words spokenGovernment businessQuestion PeriodGovernment business▲ Government side held the floor▼ Opposition held the floorOpened 10:0011:0012:0013:0014:0015:0016:0017:00Last speech 18:15Time of day, Ottawa · the House sat 8 h 15 min · each dot is a stretch of debate, placed at the minute it began
27Another sitting that went nowhereThe House devoted most of its time to debate on the Military Justice System Modernization Act and proposed changes to the Standing Orders, yet no bills advanced and no votes were held. Question Period produced almost no clear answers, leaving the day heavy on discussion and light on results.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

International Trade

Conservative MP Jim Bélanger said hundreds of workers in Nairn Centre and Gogama face indefinite layoffs because the government has failed to secure a fair softwood lumber deal.

Read the exchange

Health

Conservative MP Dan Mazier said the government spent $300 million on a prescription software program that processed fewer than 5 per cent of prescriptions before it was quietly ended.

Read the exchange

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Conservative MP Burton Bailey said Canadians paid more than $275 million over ten years for health services provided to rejected refugee claimants.

Read the exchange

Mental Health and Addictions

Conservative MP Brad Redekopp said the supervised consumption site in Saskatoon West has closed after bankruptcy and asked the government not to approve a replacement.

Read the exchange

Infrastructure

New Democrat MP Jenny Kwan said the government is cutting $5 billion from promised transit funding to municipalities.

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. partly answered
    TaxationPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.Answer addresses gas tax suspension but ignores carbon tax and GST elements of the query.Recently, we suspended the federal gas tax.
  2. deflected
    FinancePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.Answer avoids the deficit question entirely by commenting on repetition of questions.One thing that is true is that we have the most—
  3. deflected
    TaxationPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). loaded question.Answer pivots to criticizing the asker and past votes instead of addressing tax removal.I think the Leader of the Opposition should look at himself in the mirror.
  4. misdirected
    FinancePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks the Conservative party and redefines the question rather than addressing the deficit.if being just another Liberal means that we support single mothers with the cost of child care, then I am just another Liberal.
  5. misdirected
    The EconomyPierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked Patty Hajdu (Liberal). loaded question.Answer shifts to attacking Conservatives on unrelated votes instead of responding to the listed Liberal record.If being Conservative means voting against hungry kids, I guess the Leader of the Opposition is just another Conservative.
  6. deflected
    FinancePierre Poilievre (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.Answer ignores the deficit reversal request and pivots to IMF praise and investment.Canada will have the second-fastest growth in the G7, Canada has the strongest fiscal position in the G7, and Canada has attracted record direct investment in the country.
  7. partly answered
    The EconomyChristine Normandin (Bloc) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.Answer addresses support for SMEs via the strategic response fund but does not commit to the wage subsidy proposal.We established a strategic response fund precisely to enable SMEs across the country, including in Quebec, to pivot.
  8. partly answered
    The EconomyChristine Normandin (Bloc) asked Joël Lightbound (Liberal). substantive question.Answer acknowledges support for forestry and diversification but does not address EI overhaul, OAS increase or specific fixes in the update.we have been there to support forestry, steel, aluminum and auto workers, but we are not stopping there.
  9. deflected
    The EconomyJean-Denis Garon (Bloc) asked Marjorie Michel (Liberal). loaded question.Answer ignores the question on subsidies, cuts and digital giants and pivots to a positive health-care relationship with Quebec.I have a very good working relationship with my Quebec counterpart, and we are making progress on all of the province's files.
  10. misdirected
    FinanceMelissa Lantsman (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.Answer evades the spending question by demanding the asker list cuts instead of addressing Bank of Canada comments or accountability.I would ask the member to table immediately a list of the cuts she would like to make, and we will look into that.
  11. deflected
    FinanceMelissa Lantsman (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). loaded question.Answer sidesteps deficit criticism by attacking the asker and pivoting to IMF praise and construction plans.we can believe the deputy leader of the Conservative Party, or we can believe the International Monetary Fund, which says that Canada has the best fiscal situation in the G7
  12. partly answered
    Small BusinessSandra Cobena (Conservative) asked Marie-Gabrielle Ménard (Liberal). substantive question.Answer acknowledges small-business concerns and cites one supportive measure but does not address red-tape reduction or the claimed failure of tax-and-spend policy.The Canadian Federation of Independent Business welcomed the suspension of the excise tax.
  13. deflected
    Small BusinessSandra Cobena (Conservative) asked Marie-Gabrielle Ménard (Liberal). substantive question.Answer claims red-tape reduction is part of the strategy but offers no commitment to cut regulatory costs or spending as asked.Part of our approach involves reducing red tape for businesses.
  14. misdirected
    The EconomyAmanpreet Gill (Conservative) asked Wayne Long (Liberal). loaded question.Answer ignores spending-control question and launches personal attack on opposition leaders' records and experience.They have been in this House a total of 44 years and have accomplished nothing for Canadians.
  15. deflected
    Aerospace IndustryDan Albas (Conservative) asked David McGuinty (Liberal). loaded question.Answer changes subject to Conservative objections on defence spending instead of addressing the spaceport lease or insider allegations.Why are the Conservatives against rearming, rebuilding and reinvesting in the Canadian Armed Forces?
  16. deflected
    Aerospace IndustryDan Albas (Conservative) asked David McGuinty (Liberal). loaded question.Answer repeats satellite importance and dismisses Conservatives but never answers when a launch will occur or addresses the insider allegations.Despite the Conservatives' objections, we are going to build it.
  17. deflected
    Climate ChangePatrick Bonin (Bloc) asked Nathalie Provost (Liberal). loaded question.Answer pivots to general collaboration without addressing pipeline, carbon pricing or regulations.The only way we are going to be able to deal with it is by working together.
  18. deflected
    Climate ChangePatrick Bonin (Bloc) asked Joël Lightbound (Liberal). loaded question.Answer highlights nature strategy and consultation but ignores the pipeline and climate backtracking claims.I would like to commend the work of the Secretary of State for Nature and the entire team here who have created a nature strategy that will protect 30% of our territory.
  19. partly answered
    Foreign AffairsJason Groleau (Conservative) asked Marc Miller (Liberal). loaded question.Answer concedes the French invitation error but sidesteps the ambassador's views on supply management and immigration.as the Prime Minister has clearly said, the embassy's invitation should have been sent out in French.
  20. misdirected
    FinanceJason Groleau (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). substantive question.Answer challenges the asker to propose cuts instead of addressing deficit or interest costs.we are more than willing to hear what cuts the member opposite might propose
  21. misdirected
    FinanceLuc Berthold (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). substantive question.Answer lists programs and questions what is inflationary rather than addressing spending control or fiscal update.Is dental care an inflationary expense?
  22. misdirected
    FinanceLuc Berthold (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). substantive question.Answer poses multiple-choice examples of spending instead of responding to deficit or interest charges.Is it the Canada child benefit?
  23. misdirected
    FinanceBernard Généreux (Conservative) asked Joël Lightbound (Liberal). substantive question.Answer cites IMF ranking and lists benefits while avoiding spending-control question.the International Monetary Fund is clear: Canada has the strongest fiscal position of any G7 country.
  24. deflected
    International TradeConnie Cody (Conservative) asked Evan Solomon (Liberal). loaded question.Answer attacks Conservatives for talking down the economy and lists projects instead of addressing trade deadlines or tariffs.all these guys do every day in the middle of a trade war is talk down the economy and tear down the country.
  25. deflected
    International TradeFred Davies (Conservative) asked Ali Ehsassi (Liberal). loaded question.The answer promotes a new advisory committee without addressing the timeline or delivery of tariff relief.This will serve as a forum for knowledge sharing, expertise and feedback on all issues.
  26. deflected
    International TradeRob Moore (Conservative) asked Ali Ehsassi (Liberal). loaded question.The answer highlights consultations and a good deal but avoids any timeline for results on tariffs.The member can rest assured that we will only agree to a very good deal.
  27. misdirected
    International TradeKyle Seeback (Conservative) asked Maninder Sidhu (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts to non-U.S. trade diversification and port records instead of addressing the delay strategy or job losses from U.S. tariffs.Non-U.S. trade is up by 17%, which is a record in 2025.
  28. deflected
    International TradeKyle Seeback (Conservative) asked Tim Hodgson (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists domestic projects and rejects a bad deal without addressing return to U.S. tariff negotiations.what we have said is that we will not do a bad deal.
  29. partly answered
    HealthDan Mazier (Conservative) asked Marjorie Michel (Liberal). loaded question.The answer explains the decision to stop funding due to low provincial use but does not detail where the $300 million was spent.When we evaluated the program, it was not being used by the provinces, so the government stopped the funding.
  30. deflected
    HealthDan Mazier (Conservative) asked Marjorie Michel (Liberal). loaded question.The answer notes the money was spent and usage was low but sidesteps accountability for the program's failure or recipients.However, doctors did not use the program enough for us to continue, so we ended it.
  31. partly answered
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipBurton Bailey (Conservative) asked Lena Metlege Diab (Liberal). loaded question.The answer addresses the volume decline and Bill C-12 but does not directly respond to stopping health benefits for rejected claimants.If we compare the first two months of this year to 2024, it has gone down by two-thirds.
  32. misdirected
    Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipBurton Bailey (Conservative) asked Lena Metlege Diab (Liberal). loaded question.The answer accuses the opposition of fearmongering and minimizes the spending share instead of addressing control of immigration or benefits for rejected claimants.I think the Conservatives had better get their facts straight and stop fearmongering off of the backs of people who are vulnerable and need to be protected.
  33. deflected
    Public SafetyArpan Khanna (Conservative) asked Sean Fraser (Liberal). loaded question.Answer promotes own bill then pivots to criticize Conservative obstruction instead of addressing the bail/drug deaths query.The only question that I have is whether the Conservatives, after months of obstruction in the justice committee, will finally be collaborative now that they know there is a majority Liberal government that will implement the strongest criminal reforms we have seen in years, with or without their assistance.
  34. deflected
    Public SafetyArpan Khanna (Conservative) asked Ruby Sahota (Liberal). loaded question.Answer claims strongest laws but blames Conservatives for delays rather than addressing RCMP staffing shortages or border failures.Lawful access should have been passed months ago.
  35. partly answered
    Mental Health and AddictionsBrad Redekopp (Conservative) asked Marjorie Michel (Liberal). substantive question.Answer addresses the injection site approval process and provincial role but does not promise no new site.
  36. deflected
    International TradeClifford Small (Conservative) asked Maninder Sidhu (Liberal). loaded question.Answer highlights unrelated trade wins with China instead of explaining the limited tariff exemptions for seafood.In our trip in January, we unlocked billions of dollars of opportunities for our agriculture and seafood sector.
  37. deflected
    InfrastructureJenny Kwan (NDP) asked Gregor Robertson (Liberal). loaded question.Answer claims expanded funding but does not address the alleged $5 billion cut to transit.The good news is that we have expanded the opportunities for funding on public transit, not only from the Canada public transit fund, which is the first permanent dedicated public transit fund in Canadian history, but also from the build communities strong fund, which is $51 billion of funding for infrastructure in communities across Canada
  38. partly answered
    PharmacareDon Davies (NDP) asked Marjorie Michel (Liberal). substantive question.Answer denies cuts and restates commitment to provinces but does not confirm funding in the spring update or expansion.The government remains committed to working with the provinces and territories to determine how best to support Canadians in the area of health care, based on their needs.
  39. answered
    PharmacareAndrew Lawton (Conservative) asked François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal). substantive question.Answer directly admits the action and agrees to delete the photo.
  40. partly answered
    Business of the HouseAndrew Scheer (Conservative) asked Steven MacKinnon (Liberal). substantive question.Answer lists upcoming business but ignores the request for grocery relief legislation.Tomorrow we will continue consideration at second reading of Bill C-25 , the strong and free elections act.