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Friday, October 9, 2026 · sitting No. 149
Commons debates first nations clean water bill as jobs fall
The House devoted the largest share of its sitting to second reading of Bill C-37, the first nations clean water act. Minister of Indigenous Services Mandy Gull-Masty moved the bill and said the legislation targets the 38 remaining boil water advisories through capital planning and community investment. Conservative MP Billy Morin asked whether the government would meet its 2015 promise to end the advisories.
Question period focused on employment and affordability. Conservative MP Garnett Genuis cited Statistics Canada data showing the lowest labour force participation in 29 years and 110,000 jobs lost in two months. Parliamentary Secretary Ryan Turnbull said global trade tensions created the volatility and pointed to tax cuts and trade agreements as the government's response.
Decided that day
- C-37 advanced to second reading
From the Hansard record of the sitting. Full Hansard
Question Period – October 9, 2026. Video from CPAC. Watch on YouTube
Who held the floor · 2026-10-09
AI-rated The sitting score and the rating of each answer come from a language model reading Hansard. How the AI rates this
Provisional score. Question Period for this sitting has not been rated yet, so the score rests only on what was decided and how much time went to the business at hand. It will change when the exchanges are read.
Other moments
The Environment
Bloc Québécois MP Gabriel Ste-Marie accused the Liberals and Conservatives of joining forces on Bill C-39 to favour oil companies and bypass environmental assessments.
Read the exchangeFinance
Conservative MP Gabriel Hardy charged that the Prime Minister's announcement of $2 billion in heat pump subsidies created a conflict because Brookfield, in which the Prime Minister holds shares, owns Enercare.
Read the exchangeVeterans Affairs
Conservative MP Michael Barrett asked Veterans Affairs Minister Jill McKnight for a date when the backlog of nearly 10,000 overdue disability benefit applications would be cleared.
Read the exchangeIndigenous Affairs
Conservative MP Ellis Ross asked whether the Prime Minister would approve the Pacific link pipeline if even one of the 129 first nations along the route withheld consent.
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
- deflectedEmploymentGarnett Genuis (Conservative) asked Ryan Turnbull (Liberal). substantive question.The response emphasizes government actions and trade war volatility without addressing policy reversal.
What we are doing is controlling what we can. We have cut taxes on income, housing, fuel and new business investment.
- misdirectedEmploymentGarnett Genuis (Conservative) asked Ryan Turnbull (Liberal). substantive question.The answer attacks the opposition's motives instead of addressing the job loss concerns.
while the Conservatives focus on QP skits and clips for their online social media feeds to scare Canadians
- deflectedEmploymentVincent Ho (Conservative) asked Leslie Church (Liberal). loaded question.The answer provides government achievements but avoids addressing the admission of failure.
Global volatility, economic uncertainty and trade tensions are having a direct impact on Canadian families, workers and businesses, but we are focused on what we can control.
- deflectedEmploymentVincent Ho (Conservative) asked Leslie Church (Liberal). rhetorical question.The response promotes government programs without engaging with the youth unemployment question.
my colleague opposite had the chance to vote in support of team Canada strong, which is making generational investments to hire up to 100,000 new Red Seal trade workers
- deflectedEmploymentJason Groleau (Conservative) asked Caroline Desrochers (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer highlights positive projects instead of responding to the job loss claim.
Because of this co-operation, this summer, we were able to launch the Churchill Falls project, which will save Quebec taxpayers $200 billion and create 23,000 jobs.
- misdirectedEmploymentJason Groleau (Conservative) asked Caroline Desrochers (Liberal). substantive question.The response defends policies and criticizes opposition voting rather than addressing foreign aid.
It is hard to take what they are saying seriously.
- deflectedThe EnvironmentGabriel Ste-Marie (Bloc) asked Julie Dabrusin (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts to clean energy efforts without addressing the bill's environmental impact.
yesterday, I was in Sherbrooke to celebrate a great program that will help Quebeckers and Canadians access heat pumps.
- deflectedThe EnvironmentGabriel Ste-Marie (Bloc) asked Julie Dabrusin (Liberal). loaded question.The response denies lowering standards but does not engage with the bill's criticism.
There will be no lowering of environmental standards or indigenous consultation requirements.
- deflectedThe EnvironmentPatrick Bonin (Bloc) asked Nathalie Provost (Liberal). rhetorical question.The answer affirms environmental concern but pivots to general collaboration without addressing Bill C-39 criticisms or specific examples raised.
We do care about the environment.
- deflectedEmploymentMichael Cooper (Conservative) asked Ryan Turnbull (Liberal). substantive question.The answer focuses on government affordability measures rather than addressing responsibility for the reported job losses.
this Thanksgiving, Canadians should know that we are stepping up to support them with the cost of living.
- deflectedEmploymentMichael Cooper (Conservative) asked Evan Solomon (Liberal). substantive question.The answer highlights specific projects instead of acknowledging any mismatch between promises and unemployment data.
That is exactly what we are doing.
- deflectedFinanceGabriel Hardy (Conservative) asked Julie Dabrusin (Liberal). loaded question.The answer emphasizes heat pump savings but avoids any discussion of Brookfield links or conflicts of interest.
On average, Canadians will see a reduction of $1,400 per year in the cost of heating their homes.
- deflectedFinanceGabriel Hardy (Conservative) asked Nathalie Provost (Liberal). substantive question.The answer defends affordability programs but sidesteps the call for a non-partisan ethics mechanism.
We are working to promote affordability through the heat pump program.
- deflectedFinanceJohn Brassard (Conservative) asked Julie Dabrusin (Liberal). loaded question.The answer promotes the heat pump savings but does not address the alleged conflict or breach of trust.
That is a lot of money in the pockets of Canadians in all of their communities and all of our communities.
- misdirectedFinanceJohn Brassard (Conservative) asked Kevin Lamoureux (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the Conservatives for character assassination instead of responding to the cronyism or self-dealing allegations.
- deflectedFinanceAndrew Lawton (Conservative) asked Julie Dabrusin (Liberal). loaded question.The answer explains the heat pump application process but ignores the stock portfolio and Brookfield benefit claims.
What we have done is created a program that will give all homeowners access to $2,000 to $10,000 to buy a heat pump so they can lower their bills.
- deflectedIntergovernmental RelationsXavier Barsalou-Duval (Bloc) asked David Myles (Liberal). loaded question.The answer ignores the question about the Governor General entirely and pivots to unrelated economic priorities.
Quebeckers' priorities are focused on building a stronger economy, making life more affordable, protecting workers from American tariffs and preserving the French language.
- deflectedIntergovernmental RelationsXavier Barsalou-Duval (Bloc) asked David Myles (Liberal). loaded question.The answer again sidesteps the monarchy and Governor General issue to restate economic and language talking points.
as I explained, Quebeckers' priority is to build a stronger economy.
- misdirectedThe EconomyRhonda Kirkland (Conservative) asked Ryan Turnbull (Liberal). loaded question.The answer attacks the member's voting record instead of addressing the affordability crisis or Thanksgiving dinner costs.
what would lower food costs is if the member actually stood up and supported jobs in the Durham region.
- deflectedThe EconomyRhonda Kirkland (Conservative) asked Jennifer McKelvie (Liberal). loaded question.The answer highlights government investments and rent trends but avoids any timeline or admission regarding grocery prices.
our government cares deeply about affordability, whether it be prices at the grocery store or rent.
- deflectedThe EconomyZiad Aboultaif (Conservative) asked Leslie Church (Liberal). loaded question.The answer promotes existing benefits and programs without addressing the claimed affordability crisis or Conservative plan.
earlier this week, over 35,000 constituents of the member across the way received the groceries and essentials benefit.
- deflectedThe EconomyJeff Kibble (Conservative) asked Jill McKnight (Liberal). loaded question.The answer lists support programs but provides no response to when families on Vancouver Island can afford groceries.
we know that British Columbians are facing affordability challenges right now, and we are working with Canadians to support them.
- deflectedTaxationDavid Bexte (Conservative) asked Corey Hogan (Liberal). loaded question.The answer shifts focus to Alberta-specific job numbers and a referendum instead of the national affordability or tax issues raised.
in Alberta, we created 83,000 jobs in the last year.
- partly answeredVeterans AffairsMichael Barrett (Conservative) asked Jill McKnight (Liberal). substantive question.The answer supplies processing time improvements and funding details but does not give a date for eliminating the backlog.
Since 2021, VAC has reduced the average processing time for first applications by 57%.
- deflectedVeterans AffairsMichael Barrett (Conservative) asked Jill McKnight (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges delays but supplies no date and shifts to past reductions and investments.
we have reduced the average processing time by 57% since 2021.
- deflectedIndigenous AffairsEllis Ross (Conservative) asked Jaime Battiste (Liberal). loaded question.The answer discusses consultation principles without stating whether approval requires unanimous consent.
Further consultations will inform conditions for Pacific link guided by UNDRIP and anchored in the principle of free, prior and informed consent.
- deflectedIndigenous AffairsEllis Ross (Conservative) asked Jaime Battiste (Liberal). loaded question.The answer repeats general commitments to partnership without addressing the consent threshold or two-month timeline.
- deflectedIndigenous AffairsBilly Morin (Conservative) asked Jaime Battiste (Liberal). loaded question.The answer restates respect for rights and consultation while ignoring the photo-op accusation.
Indigenous rights are not an obstacle for building Canada strong; they are part of the foundation on which we will build it.
- deflectedIndigenous AffairsBilly Morin (Conservative) asked Jaime Battiste (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to economic reconciliation rhetoric without engaging the Major Projects Office criticism.
we are making sure it is meaningful partnership, meaningful equity and meaningful participation in all projects moving forward.
- misdirectedThe EconomyJason Groleau (Conservative) asked Caroline Desrochers (Liberal). loaded question.The answer rejects the crisis framing and lists unrelated projects instead of addressing the cost-of-living question.
we have announced hundreds of projects and investments, including some in my colleague's riding.
- partly answeredThe EconomyJoël Godin (Conservative) asked Daniel Gobeil (Liberal). substantive question.The answer acknowledges affordability challenges and lists measures but does not explicitly admit a crisis.
the Liberal Party recognizes that affordability is a challenge.
- misdirectedThe EconomyPat Kelly (Conservative) asked Kody Blois (Liberal). loaded question.The answer disputes the homegrown premise and cites external factors rather than evaluating the government's results.
I would reject the premise and the way in which the member opposite has framed it, which is that this is a homegrown challenge.
- deflectedThe EconomyHarb Gill (Conservative) asked Evan Solomon (Liberal). loaded question.The answer pivots to attacking Conservatives' voting record instead of addressing the claimed affordability crisis.
if the Conservatives really cared about affordability, they would actually vote for affordability measures.
- deflectedPublic SafetyBranden Leslie (Conservative) asked Jacques Ramsay (Liberal). substantive question.The answer states it is the RCMP's responsibility without committing to any action on the checkpoint issue.
I would like to remind the House that it is the RCMP that has operational jurisdiction for this matter and it is contracted by the Province of Manitoba.
- partly answeredPublic SafetyAlex Ruff (Conservative) asked Jacques Ramsay (Liberal). loaded question.The answer addresses the shipping procedure's general status but ignores the request to end the program and the specific courier refusal issue.
the reports we have from most gun owners is that the procedure is going well.
- deflectedRail TransportationJacques Gourde (Conservative) asked Carlos Leitão (Liberal). substantive question.The answer shifts to questioning Conservative support for the project rather than clarifying the termination clause timeline.
I would like to know whether our Conservative friends agree.
- answeredSteel and Aluminum IndustryDon Davies (NDP) asked Karim Bardeesy (Liberal). substantive question.The answer directly states the government's action of sending a letter demanding a plan to retain jobs.
The Minister of Industry has written a letter insisting that within five business days, the company come back with a plan to make sure all unionized workers, as promised, have jobs in Canada.
- deflectedTransportationGord Johns (NDP) asked Mike Kelloway (Liberal). substantive question.The answer notes provincial regulation and existing funding but avoids any commitment to modernizing the funding agreement.
When it comes to ferries in British Columbia, it is a Crown corporation, BC Ferries, that is regulated by the province.