Unlike yesterday, it was all leaders on deck in the Commons, which would hopefully make it a more exciting day. Thomas Mulcair led off, asking about ground forces targeting for air strikes in Iraq and how it is a combat role. Harper, in his first appearance of 2015, accused the NDP of not supporting the mission and noted his support for the mission — not actually an answer. Mulcair insisted that Harper misled the public — earning him a caution from the Speaker — and Harper insisted that the troops were executing the mission that they were given and good for them for shooting back. Mulcair gave a retort about the truth, then pivoted to the question of when they would see a budget. Harper stuck to the point about Canadians seeing need to fight ISIS. Mulcair noted his speech about plans to help the manufacturing sector, to which Harper praised his own plan for balanced budgets and low taxes, in contrast to the higher taxes the NDP would impose. Mulcair then accused the government of not responding when the Bank of Canada was in their decision to lower interest rates. Harper explained to him that the Bank of Canada’s policies are announced quarterly, while budgets are annual, not every month. Justin Trudeau was up next, and spelled out the government’s contradictions when it comes to “advise and assist” and “accompany” when it comes to the Iraq mission. Harper didn’t offer clarity, but battered the Liberals on their lack of support for the mission and praising the troops for firing back. Trudeau didn’t press, but switched to the size of the hole in the budget based on lower oil prices. Harper insisted that they would balance the budget, and even the PBO agreed. Trudeau wondered then why, if nothing had changed, why they would delay the budget. Harper insisted their plan was working, but again didn’t answer the question.

Round two, and Peggy Nash decried the lack of action on manufacturing from the other two parties (Moore: No, we won’t adopt your plan), Guy Caron bemoaned the lack of diversity in the economy and action for small businesses (Moore: We are putting in plans that will promote and accelerate job creation), Nathan Cullen insisted that the PBO had concerns about the drop in oil prices — in contradiction to what it actually said (Oliver: You just want higher taxes and debt; Moore: You voted against our plans to create jobs), and Laurin Liu and Andrew Cash asked about the issue of unpaid interns in federally regulated industries (McLeod: We are consulting with stakeholders). Judy Sgro asked about the loss of manufacturing jobs (Moore: Your leader said we should move away from supporting manufacturing), Scott Brison wondered why he wouldn’t table a budget if he’s already heard from economists and the PBO (Oliver: We are well within the margin of being able to balance the budget, and we will), and wondered if the delay in the budget was a political decision to detract from other things, like the Duffy trial (Oliver: Instability! Need more info! We will balance the budget!). Jack Harris complained that he didn’t get the costs of the Iraq mission on an Order Paper question (Nicholson: Our men and women are actively deployed in the fight against terrorism, incremental costs will be tabled), Élaine Michaud wondered why only our troops are in harm’s way (Nicholson: We’re fighting terror!), and Sylvain Chicoine and Peter Stoffer asked about changes at Veterans Affairs (O’Toole: We need to meet the ongoing needs of newer veterans).

The benches of the No Heckle Party keep going "Arrgh!" every time Nicholson speaks. #QP

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) January 27, 2015

Round three saw questions on the high travel costs of the CSIS Director (Clement: My officials are looking into it), tripling the threshold for disaster relief to the provinces, contradictions on statements made about the Iraq mission, the Ring of Fire and jobs in Sudbury, rail grain shipments, a bridge in Thunder Bay, Nutrition North, the physical fitness of youth, and the plight of the blogger in Saudi Arabia.

Overall, the dynamics were much the same as yesterday, with Mulcair and the NDP giving more blanket and unfocused outrage, while the Liberals were better focused on specifics including direct quotes. As well, QP is supposed to be about holding the government to account — not asking them to support your plan instead, and yes, there is a difference. Also, the fact that the NDP were griping about the provincial Liberal government make one wonder if they were confused as to where they are. Hint: this is Ottawa, not Queen’s Park. The fact that they are also trying to inert themselves into the provincial by-election in Sudbury is also pretty tacky.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Cathy McLeod for a tailored black jacket without lapels over a lower-cut white top and black skirt, and to Scott Brison for a dark grey three-piece suit with a light blue shirt and grey tie. Style citations go out to Jonathan Tremblay for a chocolate brown jacket with an orangish-yellow shirt, brown striped tie and trey slacks, and to Christine Moore for a blue and brown paisley wrap dress.