QP: Major network censorship!

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Despite it being a Thursday, none of the major leaders were present in the Chamber for QP. Yay accountability! Megan Leslie kicked off by asking about radicalized Canadians who were not stopped before they left the country. Stephen Blaney said that there were 63 investigations underway covering over 100 individuals, and why didn’t the NDP support their anti-terrorism legislation. Leslie asked why they were relying on US intelligence for these radicals, but Blaney gave a non sequitur about supporting the mission in Iraq. Leslie turned to the Ebola crisis, to which Rona Ambrose assured her of all the ways in which Canada was contributing. Libby Davies carried on asking about the Ebola vaccine and reiterated the tale of the intellectual property concerns, but Ambrose assured her that the supply that was given to the WHO did not have those concerns and it was up to them to decide what to do with it. Davies quoted a WHO release stating that the commercializations of the vaccine was held by that U.S. company. Ambrose, somewhat exasperated, insisted that they were two completely different issues, and the intellectual property on the donated doses belonged to Canada. Ralph Goodale asked about the plans to stuff things like copyright changes into the budget bill. Kevin Sorenson insisted that Goodale wait until the bill was tabled. Goodale blasted the plans to change those copyright plans so that news clips can freely been used in political ads, calling it “expropriation without compensation.” Shelly Glover said she wouldn’t comment on rumours or speculation, but gave an excuse about networks censoring content. No, seriously. The round closed with Dominic LeBlanc giving the same question in French, and Glover repeating as well.

Round two, and Paul Dewar concern trolled about our jets not having a base to for our jets in the Middle East (Nicholson: We got permission to use the base in Kuwait), Hélène Laverdière asked about the exclusion of Syrian operations by other countries (Nicholson: The operation is in Iraq and we need to degrade ISIS), you haven’t yet brought over 1300 Syrian refugees as promised (Menegakis: We have brought over 1645 Syrian refugees, 200 of which are government sponsored), Sadia Groguhé asked about the PBO’s report on EI cuts and job creation (Sorenson: Small business groups think it’s great) and why not enough people are getting EI they paid into (Bergen: 82 percent of people who paid have been able to claim), Robert Chisholm and Jinny Sims wanted EI funds to fix EI (Bergen: The EI system is designed to help those who are out of work for no fault of their own), and Nathan Cullen reiterated the PBO’s figures on the EI tax credit (Sorenson: Here’s another quote). Marc Garneau asked what the government was waiting for with the 80 people they said needed to be behind bars for terrorism (Stephen Blaney: The courts and police are doing their jobs), Judy Sgro returned to the PBO figures (Sorenson: Your EI agenda includes EI for prisoners and a 45-day work year), and Scott Brison noted how many endorsements their own EI tax holiday plan had (Sorenson: Your plan didn’t get the support of the House — and here’s another quote). Françoise Boivin asked about the Correctional Investigator’s report on reintegration problems (Blaney: Our justice system needs balance to restore the rights of victims), and Rosane Doré Lefebvre and Brian Masse asked about cuts to CBSA at the same time as they were concerned about radicalized Canadians going abroad (Blaney: We adopted legislation to counter terrorism).

Round three saw questions on DOT-111 tanker cars, rail fatigue management, more questions on copyright rules, post office closures affecting rural Canadians, public transit funding, affordable housing agreements, drinking water quality standards, Canada Post mail delivery stoppages in certain ridings, an adoption immigration issue, and supertankers on the St. Lawrence.

Overall, it was a relatively sedate day with no particular non sequiturs to detract from questions being asked, but it had to be said that Shelly Glover’s accusations of censorship by major networks was a bit over the top. Her quotes of Michael Geist were also taken out of context, which was pretty brazen. One does wonder at the logic of picking fights with major broadcasters in this country.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Greg Rickford for a tailored taupe three-piece suit with a crisp white shirt and pocket square with a brown striped tie, and to Rona Ambrose for a grey half-sleeved top with a gold-bordered keyhole neckline. Style citations go out to Shelly Glover for an indigo satin dress covered in black lace under an indigo satin jacket, and to Jean Rousseau for a tan suit with a fluorescent teal shirt with a tan and teal tie.