It was a late Monday evening sitting, part of the final push to get things though before breaking for the Christmas holiday. Once again, Routine Proceedings sped through to get to Question Period, so much so that it caught the lead Senator for the day off-guard, as she was conversing with a Senator on the other side of the Chamber.

Once she rushed back to her desk, Senator Jaffer asked about the low numbers of Syrian refugees that have been brought to Canada. Senator Carignan, the Leader of the Government in the Senate, insisted that Canada has offered protected to all kinds of Syrians. Jaffer asked about the fact that only 200 have come over, but Carignan insisted that it was closer to 2000 — 1900 to date. Jaffer disputed that figure, before noting that she was recently in Turkey to visit the camps there, and wondered what more Canada was doing, but before Carignan had a chance to reply, they had to break to ring the bells for a scheduled vote.

Once the action resumed, Jaffer repeated her question about confirmation of the number of Syrian refugees, to which Carignan read talking points prepared for Chris Alexander that added in Iraqi numbers, and that there were 1900 Syrians in Canada to date. Jaffer pressed on that number, and Carignan repeated it. Jaffer noted the commitments made by other countries for permanent residence status for Syrians, while Canadian officials are still struggling to process a handful of refugees. Jaffer noted her experience at the refugee camps at the Turkish border, and wanted an accounting of what is being done to help said refugees. Carignan insisted that the number welcomed was 1900, and that they were proud of their track record. Senator Eggleton stood up for a supplemental, noted where the difference in figure comes from — the 200 figure is government sponsored — and proceeded to blast the government over the paltry sum and recalled the days of resettling the Vietnamese Boat People. Carignan declared it to be Eggleton’s opinion, and praised the 1900 figure once again. Eggleton asked one more supplemental, about any preferences being given to certain minority groups. Carignan said that a refugee was a refugee, and that they needed to ensure that they were a refugee under certain conventions. Senator Cordy stood up to note that the answer differed from that given by the parliamentary secretary on Friday, to which Carignan noted that if those people are threatened because of their differences which makes them refugees. Cordy noted that Menegakis’ statement runs counter to UN refugees, and demanded clarity. Carignan said that Canada welcomes refugees, end of story.

And with that, QP ended and Orders of the Day began.

Overall, it wasn’t as exciting a day as it was on Friday, but what it laid bare was just how completely incapable Senator Carignan is when it comes to replying to questions on the government’s behalf. He sticks to his talking points, and is unable to explain or expand upon any topic. I remember the days when Senator LeBreton was leader, and she would give lengthy responses, usually along with vitriolic barbs and snide asides, but she would make an effort. There is none of that from Carignan. It’s tremendously disappointing, and demeans the chamber.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Senator Serge Joyal for an exquisitely tailored dark grey suit with a crisp white shirt and burgundy tie, and to Senator Raynell Andreychuk for a structured black-on-black jacket over a black top and skirt topped off with a simple string of pearls. Style citation goes out to Senator Claudette Tardif for a frightfully garish black jacket with zebra striped panels, an elephant embroidered on the back and red lapels and belt lines, and to Senator Stephen Greene for a rumpled dark grey suit with a light grey vertically striped shirt and a burgundy tie.