QP: Questions on last-minute funding

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It’s a gorgeous Monday in the Nation’s Capital, but none of the major leaders were present in the House. David Christopherson led off for the NDP, shouting a question about the new funding for mental health funding for members of the Canadian Forces. Parm Gill responded, insisting that the government has continually increased support for veterans and soldiers. Christopherson, ever more indignant, focused on the lapsed funding to Veterans Affairs, to which Gill insisted that statutory funding was untouched. Nycole Turmel took over to ask in French, to which Gill praised the new funding commitment. Turmel switched topics to Thalidomide survivors who are struggling. Colin Carrie read that it was a lesson as to how Canada needs to take drug safety seriously, and that they would seriously consider any proposal coming forward from Health Canada. Turmel asked again in French, and Carrie repeated his answer in English. Marc Garneau led off for the Liberals, citing government “propaganda” spending over veterans and the last-minute announcement of new mental health funds. Gill returned to his insistence that support funds had increased. Frank Valeriote noted the contradictions in Julian Fantino’s assurances, to which Gill insisted that funding lapses under the Liberal government were even larger. One one last exchange, Gill dredged up the “Decade of Darkness” talking point while Carolyn Bennett shouted “sit down!”

Round two, and Hélène Laverdière and Paul Dewar asked about the possibility of air strikes in Syria (Baird: The current mission includes air strikes against ISIS in Iraq), Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet, Rathika Sitsabaiesan and Nathan Cullen asked about child poverty (Bergen: We have taken real action to reduce poverty), and Ève Péclet and Charlie Angus asked about the requests for public servants to retweet partisan hashtags (Kenney: Everyone will benefit from our new tax cuts). Hedy Fry returned to the issue of Thalidomide survivors (Carrie: Yay our new drug safety laws), and Irwin Cotler and Sean Casey asked about the lack of answers on the appointment process for the next Supreme Court justice (MacKay: We put in the most inclusive and consultative process, and we will consult broadly). Mathieu Ravignat asked about the settlement for the public service relocation programme lawsuit (Finley: We indeed reached a settlement after the failure of the previous government), and Peggy Nash decried the lack of investment in manufacturing in southern Ontario (Goodyear: The application deadline for the first round of funds was just last month and new announcements will come in the coming weeks).

Round three saw questions on Superior Court vacancies, the concerns of Quebeckers on the Energy East pipeline, produce sales, arrests of Kinder Morgan pipeline protesters, Copenhagen GHG targets, a denial of funding renewal for a programme to help at-risk youth, the environmental regulations for the Port of Quebec, CBC/Radio-Canada cuts, and affordable housing units.

Overall, it was a terribly dull day, with not a single memorable exchange, though I will note that the members of the “no heckle” NDP were breaking that ban continually. Clearly, MPs should be able to do better.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Michelle Rempel for a blue dress with a black tartan pattern and a black and gold belt, and to Blake Richards for a grey suit with a lavender shirt and purple tie. Style citations go out to LaVar Payne for a grey suit with a blue-grey shirt and a brilliant teal-blue striped tie, and to Françoise Boivin for a grey fuzzy jacket with black sleeves and a white collared shirt. Special note to Peter MacKay whose suits would have been amazing if they were better tailored and didn’t hang like sacks.