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Democratic Institutions

During question period on democratic institutions, the Green Party’s Elizabeth May asked whether there would be full and open debate on a series of government bills—including Bill C-5—that she said give the Prime Minister and cabinet new powers and reduce Parliament’s role. The Liberals replied that the government is working with provinces, Indigenous peoples and other parties to build a stronger economy, as promised after the last election, and noted that both government and opposition bills have been advanced through the House. Separately, the Bloc Québécois raised a point of order about a minister’s statement regarding interpreters and the Translation Bureau, asking that the record be corrected.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

4 statements

Elizabeth May

Green

Linked statement

“The government is secretly changing our democracy. Several new bills give the Prime Minister and cabinet brand new powers and let them ignore existing laws. I want to know if we will get a full, open debate on this.”
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, we are witnessing the restructuring of Canadian democracy by stealth. Reducing the role of Parliament, Bill C-5, Bill C-15, Bill C-30, Bill C-31 and Bill C-39, all operate to create new, unprecedented powers for the Prime Minister and cabinet, and at the same time, allow the government to set aside a wide swath of existing laws as it sees fit. Restructuring democracy in this way should be subject to full, transparent debate. Will we be given that opportunity?

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Kevin Lamoureux

Liberal
“The Prime Minister promised to build a stronger economy after the last election. We are doing that through this bill by working together with provinces, Indigenous people, and other partners.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 31 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

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Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, coming out of the last federal election, the Prime Minister made a commitment to Canadians to build a stronger and a healthier economy, and that means, in good part, working with a budget and legislative changes that are going to enable the government in a very co-operative, federal, collaborative way, working with the many stakeholders, including indigenous people, provinces and everyone in a team Canada approach. That means through the legislation going through—

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Kevin Lamoureux

Liberal
“We are working together with other parties to build a strong economy. We have passed government bills and opposition bills, and we need to keep working together.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 24 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 30 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, in a very collaborative fashion, we are working toward building that strong economy, and that means bringing in the legislation, and not only government legislation. We have also seen opposition legislation go through second reading, committee stage and third reading, and ultimately be approved. Working collaboratively is the theme. Building a stronger, healthier Canada is what it is all about.

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Yves Perron

Bloc Québécois
“The minister said interpreters are not part of the Translation Bureau, but they are. I want him to correct the record.”
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, I wish to raise an important point of order. The Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement stated, in response to a question from my colleague, the member for Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, that interpreters do not fall under the responsibility of the Translation Bureau. He seemed to be implying that we do not know what we are talking about. However, that is simply not the case. Interpreters fall directly under the responsibility of the Translation Bureau. Given that he is the minister responsible for that agency, I assume this was merely a slip of the tongue. I cannot imagine that he is unaware of this fact, so I am giving him the opportunity to correct the record.

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