The Iraq debate continued through the morning, counting down to tonight’s vote, and once again broke for QP — this time with all of the leaders present. Thomas Mulcair led things off by asking about civilian casualties by air strikes in the Middle East, and now that would create new recruits for ISIS. Harper responded that ISIS was spreading like a cancer in the region and were a direct threat to Canada. Mulcair noted that ISIS was reverting to guerrilla tactics, to which Harper reiterated that they were a direct threat. Mulcair noted the lack of clear objectives in Iraq, for which Harper referred to the objectives when he spoke to the House — degrading ISIS’ capabilities. Mulcair changed topics to the Environment Commissioner’s report and the lack of progress on reducing GHG emissions. Harper responded that emissions reduced while there has been economic growth. Mulcair retorted with outrage about Harper facing his children and grandchildren. Harper insisted that they were working toward a binding protocol that would prevent developed countries shifting their emissions to developing ones. Justin Trudeau was up next, noting the refugee crises in Turkey and Jordan, and asked about the resources we were providing to aid them. Harper assured him that they were providing aid, and that a military action did not preclude a humanitarian response. After a round of the same again in French, Trudeau also asked about the Environment Commissioner’s damning report — switching between French and English. Harper retorted that the Liberals had one of the worst records in the world.

Round two, and Paul Dewar asked about new support for refugee camps in Iraq (Paradis: We announced several measures to help those in need), and why the government was pushing into a war in Syria (Baird: We are going to war with ISIS terrorists), Hélène Laverdière wanted the NDP amendments on humanitarian assistance included in the vote on Iraq (Paradis: We have announced initiatives in the region and it’s important to have a military campaign), and asked about the backlog holding up Syrian refugees coming to Canada (Alexander: Over 600 have arrived in Canada), Megan Leslie returned to GHG targets (Aglukkaq: We have taken decisive actions in a responsible way), the long-term plan for safe marine transportation (Raitt: We will accept the Commissioner’s recommendations and we have been on this file for a long time), asking why industry isn’t paying for oilsands monitoring (Aglukkaq: This is a joint federal and provincial responsibility), and François Choquette and Linda Duncan asked about the lack of environmental assessment consultations with First Nations and Métis (Aglukkaq: We are consulting with more First Nations as part of the assessment process). Marc Garneau asked about the measures of success for the six-month mission (Baird: Beheadings! Sexual slavery!), John McCallum asked about the lack of commitment to Syrian refugees (Alexander: We have already brought in thousands of refugee from the region), and McCallum noted the decline in government-sponsored refugees as opposed to privately sponsored ones (Alexander: We have exceeded our goal in that regard). Andrew Cash picked up on the same question of the Syrian refugee backlog (Alexander: That report is out of date), and Sadia Groghé asked why temporary resident permits were not being used to expedite family reunification for Syrian refugees (Alexander: We had a target of 1300 and we have brought in 1600).

Round three saw questions on the Language Commissioner’s report, the cost of moving the Elections Commissioner being treated as a cabinet confidence (Poilievre: No costs have been incurred yet), the shortage of mental health professionals in the Canadian Forces, under-resourced veterans services, home mail delivery via private service, a recent derailment in Saskatchewan, the lack of meetings with the oil and gas industry on the subject of regulations, port dredging to accommodate tankers resulting in toxic sediment, and the closure of a Service Canada centre.

Overall, the two main topics were competing for attention throughout, which made it difficult to go into much detail on either. I will note that the NDP questions alternating between English and French were far less repetitive than usual, which is a good thing, and it made Trudeau’s repetition stand out in comparison. This all having been said, the government again refrained from giving specifics to most of their answers, and Leona Aglukkaq remains the queen on non sequitur rote replies.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Lisa Raitt for an eggplant jacket with a subtle tartan pattern, with a black top with a keyhole neckline and black trousers, and to Blaine Calkins for a black suit and white shirt with a patterned pink and purple tie. Style citations (and there were many to choose from today) go out to Rob Anders for a black velvet jacket with a tan patterned shirt, brown tie and white pocket square, and to Carol Hughes for an overly busy brown/yellow/red patterned jacket. Special mention goes out to Michelle Rempel and Candice Bergen for being fairly matchy today, each wearing a nearly identical half-sleeved belted dress with a quasi tartan pattern, Rempel in blue and Bergen in red.