QP: Demanding examples of promoting terrorism

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Caucus day, after both opposition parties came out with some significant positions in the morning, and all leaders were present to begin the debate. Thomas Mulcair led off, wondering if he had any examples he could share about “promoting terrorism” as is outlined in C-51. Harper gave a general statement about the importance of fighting terrorism. Mulcair wondered about the economic stability definition in the bill, to which Harper assured him that lawful protest was exempt. Mulcair wondered about what new kinds of “economic interference” did the bill have in mind, but Harper went on about the need for the power to disrupt. Mulcair repeated much of what was said before in English, to which Harper reassured him that the bill did no such thing, and that the defence of security undermines freedom. Another round of the same was no less enlightening. Justin Trudeau was up next, noting that he spoke with Mohamed Fahmi last night, and wanted Harper to make direct interventions about his extradition to Canada. Harper assured him that they have intervened with Egypt “at all levels.” Trudeau then turned to the question of vaccines, and wanted the government to cancel its partisan ads in favour of vaccine promotion. Harper assured him that the programme had not been cut and that vaccinations were good. Trudeau then turned to the Supreme Court decision on medically-assisted dying, and wondered if Harper would begin the process now and now wait for the election. Harper gave a bland reassurance that they were going to engage in consultations.

Round two, and Rosane Doré Lefebvre returned to the issue of C-51 and the dichotomy of freedom and security (Blaney: There is no freedom without security), and wanted increased oversight for CSIS (Blaney: The bill has measures to combat terrorism), Randall Garrison wanted a commitment that they would not “railroad” the bill (Blaney: Terrorists threaten our parliament), and if they would allow amendments (Blaney: You opposed all our other measures), Anne Quach worried about the closure of Bikini Village stores (Poilievre: We are helping people), Irene Mathyssen wanted a plan for Southwestern Ontario (Poilievre: You want a 45-day work year), Peggy Nash worried about middle class jobs (James Moore: A manufacturing group says your plan is a joke), and Murray Rankin and Pierre Dionne Labelle worried about tax cheats (Findlay: We have zero tolerance for tax evasion). David McGuinty asked a trio of questions about a contract Joe Oliver signed off on speechwriting by Guy Giorno which was against Treasury Board guidelines (Calandra: 40 million dollars!) Niki Ashton asked about First Nations fire services (Valcourt: Why are you scoring cheap political points?), and Annick Papillon asked about homelessness funding in Quebec (Bergen: Yay Housing First approach!)

Round three saw questions on Chinese multi-year visas, overtaxing dual citizens on disability savings plans, Toronto Mayor John Tory not getting the funds he needs, the immigration minister’s apparent confusion between a niqab and a hijab (Chris Alexander: Hijabs can cover the face too!), Russian sanctions, unilingual ministerial tweets, community mailboxes, nickel dust in the Port of Quebec, and C-51 as “secret police.”

Overall, it was a far better day in terms of exchanges, but Mulcair’s going back and forth between English and French seemed more interested in speechifying than in asking questions — and he was reading said questions, lest anyone believe he was trying to return to the “prosecutor in chief” role. Points should go to David McGuinty and the Liberals for coming up with a question that flat-footed the government, and you could tell they had no answer because they immediately brought up the Sponsorship Scandal as their generic comeback.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Cathy McLeod for a well cut black jacket and skirt with a low-necked white top, and to Jonathan Genest-Jourdain for a slate grey suit with a crisp white shirt and a pale blue vertical-striped tie. Style citations go out to Rick Dykstra for a black suit with a pale yellow shirt and a pale blue striped tie, and to Paulina Ayala for a grey paisley jacket with a peach and white lace top and black trousers.