What they said. What they meant.

Plain-language translations from the House of Commons.

Recent debates

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Government Orders

Government Business No. 12—Proceedings on Bill C-30

A sweeping bill to change tax laws and extend various federal programs. Among other things, it increases tax deductions for tradespeople, extends a tax exemption for selling businesses to employees, temporarily eliminates excise taxes on fuel, and changes Employment Insurance for seasonal workers. In debate, Conservatives criticized excessive spending while Bloc focused on Canadian sovereignty. Some Liberal speakers accused the opposition of filibustering.

Official Hansard ↗

Jamil Jivani

Conservative
“I plan to use the U.S. trade issue to attack the Liberals. It's useful for making them look bad. I'm a real nationalist. Liberals are fake nationalists. Liberals should actually get a trade deal done. Liberals shouldn't exploit trade issues for their own political gain.”
Our translation 71% shorter

Kurt Holman

Conservative
“I want to praise my colleague before I complain. The government is talking a lot but not getting things done. I have a list of local problems I want to talk about: one bridge, and people living in RVs. I think the government should be solving this list of local problems in my area.”
Our translation 70% shorter

Jamil Jivani

Conservative
“I want to call the other party names for ruining the country and high-fiving while families suffer. I am angry and I want them to be ashamed. I won't say how I'd fix anything, I just want to sound mad at them.”
Our translation 61% shorter

Tamara Kronis

Conservative
“I want to look like I care about procedure and scrutiny, so I'm upset this bill won't get the full process. I'll list parts of the process it skips to sound smart. But I don't actually care about the substance, I just want to complain about the process. I want to delay this with more debate because I don't like it.”
Our translation 96% shorter

Elizabeth May

Green
“I want to talk about how much I like the other member's work, but I also want to bring up an old grudge about a past election. I'll say every word was excellent so I sound smart, but I'm really just complaining. I want to score political points by exaggerating the other side's mistakes.”
Our translation 48% shorter

Hon. Kevin Lamoureux

Liberal
“I want to stop the opposition from delaying our bill. I will say they play games to make them look bad.”
Our translation 87% shorter

Tamara Kronis

Conservative
“The government ignored the committee's changes and rammed through its own version of the bill. Now we have unintended consequences. The government is incompetent and doesn't respect the parliamentary process.”
Our translation 78% shorter

Andréanne Larouche

Bloc Québécois
“The government didn't listen before. I hope they listen to me now. I want the government to raise gas taxes and spend more on programs I like. That money belongs to us politicians, not you.”
Our translation 81% shorter

Tamara Kronis

Conservative
“I want more time to debate. That's my job as the opposition. The government is being very mean.”
Our translation 82% shorter

Frank Caputo

Conservative
“I want to cheer for a hockey player from my riding. The government shut off cameras in committee. The government is playing games.”
Our translation 73% shorter

Tamara Kronis

Conservative
“I want to complain and assign blame.”
Our translation 91% shorter

Warren Steinley

Conservative
“I want to complain about many Liberal promises and programs. Demand more money for my local projects. Blame everything on the other guys.”
Our translation 99% shorter

Hon. Mark Gerretsen

Liberal
“You play games too. That's why we always run out the clock on every bill, even ones everyone agrees on.”
Our translation 87% shorter

Warren Steinley

Conservative
“You needed that last bill. We agreed and helped you pass it to make the economy stronger. But you haven't even used it once. You can't get anything done even when we help you. I won't listen to you lecture me about cooperation.”
Our translation 54% shorter

Alexis Deschênes

Bloc Québécois
“You talk about being responsible with public money. But your party keeps quiet about subsidies for oil and gas companies. Those companies are making huge profits. Why don't you speak up against that? Couldn't that money be better spent on what Saskatchewan needs?”
Our translation 67% shorter

Warren Steinley

Conservative
“I can list many ways the government wastes money. Bloated programs and consultants and foreign aid. But I don't mention oil subsidies. I want to cut those other things so provinces have more money.”
Our translation 71% shorter

John Brassard

Conservative
“I'm happy you mentioned the Snowbirds. They didn't come to an airshow in my riding. That makes me sad. I want the government to spend money on the Snowbirds so they keep flying. My friend is fighting for that too.”
Our translation 65% shorter

Warren Steinley

Conservative
“I'm playing up this emotionally because I want to blame the government and make them look bad. The program should get more money!”
Our translation 86% shorter

Andrew Lawton

Conservative
“I want to use a procedural rule to shut down debate.”
Our translation 61% shorter

Hon. Kevin Lamoureux

Liberal
“I'm filling time with kind words and saying nothing anyone could pin down later.”
Our translation 97% shorter