Despite it being Monday, there were no major leaders in the Commons. It left Libby Davies to lead off, asking for an update on security at federal sites. Stephen Blaney reminded her that Hill security is the domain of the Speaker and the Board of Internal Economy, but they were fully cooperating. Davies asked about the moratorium on armed forces personnel wearing uniforms in public, and Rob Nicholson said that he deferred to the judgement of the Chief of Defence Staff. Davies asked for assurances about full debate on any new security legislation, and Blaney promised that they would not overreact, but it was time to stop underreacting. Nycole Turmel picked up, asking about the National Post report that the legislation would criminalise certain Internet posts condoning terrorism, to which Blaney told her to wait for the bill to be tabled. Turmel wanted assurances that civil liberties would be protected, to which Blaney repeated his answer. Dominic LeBlanc led for the Liberals, asking for cooperation on drafting new security legislation and for detailed technical briefings on the bill. Blaney more or less agreed. LeBlanc wanted a timeline on the bill, but Blaney talked around an answer. LeBlanc pressed in French, but Blaney repeated his answer.

Round two, and Rosane Doré Lefebvre repeated the demand for the government to work with the opposition on security legislation (Blaney: We will table the bill today and it’s balanced), Randall Garrison asked for the results of research on radicalisation before drafting new bills (Blaney: We suffered an attack last week and we need to keep Canadians safe), Jinny Sims and Sadia Groguhé asked about low-skilled temporary foreign workers (Kenney: Thanks to our changes the number of applications is lower), Guy Caron asked about the EI tax credit (Oliver: Our hiring credit will create 25,000 person years of jobs!), why are you ramming through a 400-page bill (Oliver: Our priority is to create Jobs and Prosperity™), Dennis Bevington asked about the Arctic Research provisions in the omnibudget bill (Aglukkaq: This amalgamation is an exciting opportunity to coordinate Arctic research), and Nathan Cullen decried the omnibudget bill as a whole (Oliver: Look at all of these measures!) and the perverse incentives of the EI tax credit (Oliver: 25,000 person years of jobs!). Wayne Easter asked why the government has failed to implement the current anti-terrorism laws on the books (Blaney: The top national security priority is terrorism and we are taking it seriously, the decision to use the powers are made by police not politicians), the troubling aspects of the SIRC report (Blaney: CSIS is working on the recommendations, and SIRC is going a good job), and the concerns raised by the RCMP commissioner about resources for investigations (Blaney: They can count on this government to give them the resources they need, because we already increased their budget by one third). Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe and Don Davies asked about the social assistance limits for refugee claimants in the omnibudget bill (Alexander: These don’t change access for asylum seekers but it gives the provinces the power to establish their own timelines), and to Glen Thibeault and Annick Papillon asked why pay-to-pay legislation for banks wasn’t in the omnibudget bill (Oliver: Look at all the good things in the bill! Moore: If you believe in ending this practice, vote for the bill).

Round three saw questions on the response to the Ebola crisis, the loss of a Ford small engine contract in the auto sector, support for the Liberal motion on Ebola cooperation (Adams: We’re disappointed you didn’t accept friendly amendments), social assistance for refugee claimants, painting a CN bridge in Quebec, ads for the Canada 150th Anniversary without an actual celebration plan, the Ukrainian election, rail accident reporting, delays in agricultural businesses getting answers from the department, and investing in mental health and addictions counselling as public safety spending.

Overall, it was a fairly quiet day, but the NDP were falling into old habits or repeating questions in English and French while ignoring answers in favour of scripts, most of which were fairly bog standard. I will again point out that the Liberals have had the sharpest and best national security questions, which Blaney actually gave a half-answer to today instead of just talking around it. It’s certainly encouraging that this kind of constructive exchange can continue.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Peggy Nash for a blue and black patterned dress with a black sweater, and to Blake Richards for a tailored black suit with a purple striped shirt and a rich purple tie. Style citations go out to Jonathan Tremblay for a black jacket with a bright green shirt and a green and yellow striped tie, and to Gail Shea for a boxy purple jacket with three-quarter sleeves over a black top.