What they said. What they meant.

Plain-language translations from the House of Commons.

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Government Orders

Government Business No. 9—Changes to the Standing Orders

A bill to remove federal barriers to interprovincial trade and improve labour mobility. During discussion, members mostly argued about parliamentary procedure, transparency, and majority vs. minority governments, rather than the substance of the bill.

Official Hansard ↗

Maxime Blanchette-Joncas

Bloc Québécois
“The government is doing something new. They made a minority government act like a majority government. They want more power in committees. They want to change how much time parties get to talk. Does my friend worry this means we won't find out about bad things the government did?”
Our translation 56% shorter

Gabriel Ste-Marie

Bloc Québécois
“The government said it would work with everyone but now it's changing the rules without asking us. That's bad. I want the government to talk to my party before it changes how committees work.”
Our translation 63% shorter

Martin Champoux

Bloc Québécois
“You won a real majority way back in 2015. After that, you only got minorities. I'm saying that's because people are unhappy with you.”
Our translation 74% shorter

Gabriel Ste-Marie

Bloc Québécois
“You guys are laughing really loud. There aren't even enough of you here. That's against the rules. Count how many are here so everyone can see you're breaking rules.”
Our translation 31% shorter

Martin Champoux

Bloc Québécois
“I'm talking down to you. You're new here. You don't know our rules yet.”
Our translation 69% shorter

Martin Champoux

Bloc Québécois
“I am using my remaining seconds to let the Conservative member share his own negative speculations about the government's future actions.”
Our translation 76% shorter