Caucus day in the Commons, and all of the major leaders were again in the chamber, with the Conservatives proud of the new MPs elected in Monday’s by-elections who were visiting in advance of being sworn in, while the NDP were crowing over social media about Maria Mourani joining their party (but not caucus until after the next election). Thomas Mulcair led off by noting that the Ontario legislature voted in favour of supporting the NDP’s childcare plan, and asked about the government’s previous pledges. Harper reminded him that the other night, some Ontarians voted overwhelmingly against the NDP, and that his government has made life more affordable for all families. Mulcair wondered when Harper would meet with the Ontario premier about issues like childcare, and Harper claimed that he meets with premiers regularly — except he’s been avoiding Kathleen Wynne. Mulcair claimed that 65 percent of Canadians live in jurisdictions that want more affordable childcare, and repeated his demand for childcare spaces. Harper insisted that his government has put money in the pockets of Canadians that the NDP were planning on taking back. Mulcair pressed on Harper’s previous specific commitments about the healthcare escalator, to which Harper insisted that they have increased transfers to promises to record levels. Mulcair insisted that the transfer rate change was a cut (which it really wasn’t), but Harper repeated his answers. Justin Trudeau noted that the government would vote against his bill on Access to Information citing bureaucratic increases, and wondered why they opposed the modernization of Access to Information. Harper said that they did modernize the system by bringing 70 new agencies under its aegis and that the Liberals opposed other transparency measures. Trudeau moved to the cuts to infrastructure funds, to which Harper said that the Liberals voted against funding and that they only wanted to “raise taxes to fund bureaucracy.” Trudeau moved onto a conference in Montreal that Harper skipped, and Harper insisted that the government was represented.

Round two, and Nycole Turmel and Rathika Sitsabaiesan read questions about child poverty (Kenney: The rate of child poverty has significantly decreased significantly), Robert Aubin, Jinny Sims and Michael Sullivan decried the backlog at the Social Security Tribunal (Kenney: We have reduced the number of appeals by 90 percent), Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet asked about social housing (Bergen: We have been working together with provinces and municipalities), Murray Rankin asked about infrastructure funds (Lebel: Municipalities have participated), and Claude Gravelle asked about the support for the Ring of Fire region (Rickford: We’re waiting for the province’s list of priorities). Adam Vaughan listed infrastructure needs for cities (Lebel: When I was a mayor, we had no money from the Liberal government), Joyce Murray asked about the demands of Western premiers for needed trade infrastructure (Lebel: We will support the development of infrastructure around the country), and David McGuinty asked the Ring of Fire and meeting with the premier (Rickford: The province didn’t engage properly with First Nations). Robert Chisholm and Élaine Michaud asked about the Royal Canadian Navy’s resupply gap (Nicholson: You opposed every cent we gave to the military), and Sylvain Chicoine and Peter Stoffer asked about veterans benefits for reservists (Gill: We support veterans!)

What does frigate modernisation have to do with naval resupply? Nicholson won't answer questions. #QP

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) November 19, 2014

Round three saw questions on resources for the Information Commissioner, refugee benefits, Syrian refugees, small craft harbours, francophone immigration outside of Quebec, the swell in provincial jail populations thanks to mandatory minimums on marijuana, the mobile ultrasound programme for First Nations, Canada Post home delivery cuts, and the Energy East pipeline.

Dan Albas just blamed Suzanne Legault for not asking Treasury Board for enough funds. Remember when she protested cuts to her budget? #QP

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) November 19, 2014

Overall, it wasn’t the most engaging day, and there were some good exchanges, particularly with the way that Jason Kenney could effectively respond to some questions, and Adam Vaughan’s delivery was also really well done. As for Chris Alexander, his responses continue to become more bizarre by the day, and someone needs to pull him aside and tell him to focus more.

"Franz Kadka rides again!" Chris Alexander needs some work on his witty ripostes. #QP

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) November 19, 2014

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Blake Richards for a tailored black suit with a light pink shirt and dark pink tie, and to Diane Finley for a light teal jacket with black piping and buttons and a black skirt. Style citations go out to Rathika Sitsabaiesan for a mustard jacket with a burgundy top and brown trousers, and to Robert Goguen for a black suit with a maroon shirt and a printed tie. Dishonourable mention goes out to Jonathan Tremblay for a black suit with a lemon yellow shirt and a brown and orange spotted tie. Special mention to Charmaine Borg for a cream dress with a black sash whose cut I can best describe as “50s-theme high school prom.”