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06-18 Spring Economic Update 2026 Implementation Act 57 statements 06-18 Spring Economic Update 2026 Implementation Act 19 statements 06-18 Arab Heritage Month Act 5 statements 06-18 The Economy 15 statements 06-18 Government Priorities 2 statements 06-18 Government Priorities 2 statements 06-18 Housing 12 statements 06-18 The Environment 2 statements

Oral Questions

Business of the House

2026-04-30 Sitting 114 Showing 1–2 of 2

A large bill making many changes to taxes and spending. The Conservatives asked questions about the bill and the Liberals discussed other topics.

Official Hansard ↗

Luc Berthold

Conservative 3:15 p.m.

“I want to criticize the government for scripted answers and lack of transparency. Will the House be more open next week?”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise today to ask this highly awaited question at the most exciting time of the week in the House of Commons, the time when the opposition asks the government what business will be done tomorrow and next week. Today, in question period, we heard a wide variety of opposition questions, but what we got in return were scripted answers from the Prime Minister's Office, 41 scripted answers to be exact. That got me worried. Given the new circumstances in the House, where we have seen four committees go in camera, I worried for a moment that the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons would say that the House would proceed in camera for question period. However, everyone knows that we believe in transparency on this side of the House. For the sake of transparency, can the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons assure us that question period will not be held in camera tomorrow and next week, and will he tell us what issues we will be addressing during that time?

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Hon. Steven MacKinnon

Liberal 3:15 p.m.

“All the Conservatives do is repeat what their leader tells them. We Liberals work hard in the House and will keep being open and transparent. Next week we'll debate some bills we think are good for people.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, people watching at home know that Conservative Party members asked literally the exact same question about 32 or 33 times today, written by their leader and handed to them. They were instructed to simply repeat what their leader says. I think that anyone who works as hard as we do to get into the House of Commons should be able to expect more than simply reading the Leader of the Opposition's cue cards. Of course, we will continue to work with the opposition, and with all members of the House, in the most transparent and open manner possible to advance the issues that matter most to Canadians. This afternoon, we will continue our consideration of the Conservative Party's opposition day motion. Tomorrow, we will begin second reading debate of Bill C-30, the spring economic update 2026 implementation act, which contains a lot of good news for Canadians. On Monday, we will resume consideration at report stage of Bill C-11, the military justice system modernization act. On Wednesday of next week, we shall return to second reading debate of Bill C-30, the spring economic update 2026 implementation act, and all of its good news for Canadians. Finally, Tuesday and Thursday of next week shall be allotted days.

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