Oral Questions
Agriculture and Agri-Food
“I want Canadians to cheer for this big expensive program. Maybe it will fix the problems in our food system. But really, I just want to sound like I'm doing something so people will like me.”
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
Hon. Heath MacDonald
MacDonald habitually dodges specific questions by launching into unrelated lists of talking points and government spending announcements, especially when criticized. He frequently invokes his conversations with farmers to claim credibility, but rarely provides direct answers or substantive policy responses to their concerns.
“I want farmers to think I'll help them. I won't remove the tax, but I'll talk a lot so maybe they won't notice.”
Oral Questions
Agriculture and Agri-Food
“I want to downplay what happened. I want to reassure you that everything is fine. I want to list how many research stations we still have.”
Oral Questions
The Economy
“I want to say good things are happening. Companies are investing a lot of money in Canada. I will list some big investments. I am listing a lot of money being invested. These companies have confidence in Canada. I think Conservatives do not have confidence in Canada.”
“My friend mentioned a problem with our economy. Here's something else. I want to cheer for programs that spend money in my riding.”
Oral Questions
The Economy
“I'll cheer for farmers so that I look good.”
“You're using a lot of rhetoric. I talk to farmers. You don't talk to farmers.”
Oral Questions
The Economy
“I don't want to answer that. Lots of companies are spending money. The CEOs wouldn't spend money if they didn't think it was a good idea. Trust them, not the question.”
Oral Questions
Agriculture and Agri-Food
“I'm going to ignore your specific complaint about closing research centers. Instead, here's a list of other things the government is doing for agriculture. We're just getting started helping farmers!”
“I'm filling time with a long list of groups we work with. We have research centers. We've been doing research for a long time. We'll keep doing research. We're working with lots of universities and provinces. I won't answer whether we'll reopen those seven closed research centers. I just want to say we'll keep doing research.”
Government Orders
Government Orders
“I want you to pass another budget bill that spends more of your money.”
Oral Questions
Finance
“I want to cheer for programs that spend money in my riding. Taxpayers must spend on my preferred programs! These programs are very good.”
Oral Questions
Taxation
“I'm going to keep talking and acting concerned, but don't worry, we won't actually do anything about those taxes on your farms.”