QP: Questions on counter-radicalization

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Despite it being only a Thursday, attendance in the Commons was already on its way down — Stephen Harper was off in BC, and Justin Trudeau in Toronto. Thomas Mulcair was still present, and led off by asking about the US summit on countering extremism, and wondered where this government’s support for counter-radicalism was, and gave a swipe that the government was anti-Muslim while he was at it. Peter MacKay gave some outrage and said that C-51 was giving tools to prevent terrorism. Mulcair wanted examples on disruption in the bill, to which MacKay insisted that Mulcair was incorrect in his characterisation. Mulcair wondered if the bill would give CSIS the power to investigate environmental groups or First Nations, to which MacKay insisted that Mulcair was simply fear-mongering as the bill specifically prohibits lawful dissent or advocacy. Mulcair changed topics and demanded expadited hearings for EI claimants at the Social Security Tribunal. Pierre Poilievre agreed that the backlog was unacceptable, and noted that his predecessor put in a plan to eliminate the backlog by summer. Mulcair said that was nonsense and decried the number of “Conservative buddies” being appointed to the tribunal, which Poilievre refuted. Dominic LeBlanc led off for the Liberals, denouncing the economic uncertainty of a delayed budget. Andrew Saxton stood up to read some standard talking points about how great the government was doing. Ralph Goodale asked the same again in English, got the same answer.

Round two, and Randall Garrison decried time allocation on C-51 (MacKay: It will get scrutiny by the House and committee), and why the government wasn’t following more American examples (MacKay: This will give tools to stop radicalization ), Rosane Doré Lefebvre asked for more examples (MacKay: More tools! Judicial oversight!), and if it’s the RCMP’s job to analyse what is lawful advocacy (MacKay: Lawful actives are not the target), Sadia Groguhé and Irene Mathyssen returned to the Social Security Tribunal backlog (Poilievre: We have an action plan in place), Nathan Cullen gave some kitchen sink outrage (Poilievre: Yay our low-tax plan), and Pierre Dionne Labelle asked about tax evasion (Findlay: We have introduced measures to combat evasion). Joyce Murray asked about a report on the diminished capacity of the Canadian Forces (Bezan: Decade of Darkness!), Marc Garneau asked about security cuts at embassies (Nicholson: That suggestion is false and offensive), and Wayne Easter called for parliamentary oversight of national security (MacKay: You used to be Solicitor General). Niki Ashton and Romeo Saganash asked about fire services on First Nations (Valcourt: They are responsible for their own affairs, they got funds to deal with fire safety), and Malcolm Allen and Paulina Ayala asked about winter conditions around community mailboxes (Lisa Raitt: Canada Post has a responsibility and we have been in contact).

Round three saw more questions on embassy security, the presentation of John Baird as the minister of Foreign Affairs in London today, the internal survey of CRA showing they are giving bad advice over the phone, the lack of bilingual documents for the Energy East proposal, the call for volunteers by Parks Canada, shoddy telecom service in the regions, spending on ministerial self-promotion, closures of Coast Guard sub-centres, ferry service from Newfoundland and Labrador, and CSIS not confirming the deaths Canadians fighting with ISIS.

Overall, the fact that the NDP asked the same question five times after getting an answer the first time was pretty embarrassing, especially as the MPs who kept asking the questions were visibly reading their questions, one of them from a mini-lectern on her desk. Seriously, guys. On the other hand, Lisa Raitt was fantastic, answering questions in a full manner and taking actual responsibility for issues. Would that we have more ministers who could do this on a consistent basis.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Michelle Rempel for a long-sleeved purple wrap dress, and to rail safety concerns, and to Emmanuel Dubourg for a tailored dark grey suit with a crisp white shirt and yellow tie. Style citations go out to Mike Sullivan for a dark grey suit with a bright teal shirt and matching paisley tie, and to Linda Duncan for a high-collared pumpkin jacket with wide sleeves over a black long-sleeved top and pumpkin skirt. Dishonourable mention goes out to Jonathan Tremblay for a black suit with a pale yellow shirt and a brown striped tie.