It’s not often that the full Senate sits on a Monday — usually it’s just committees that meet — but here they were, looking to get through the number of bills that the Commons sent down before they rose for the summer. Once senators’ statements (Magna Carta, praise for Senate Protective Services, World Refugee Day) and Routine Proceedings were though, it began. Senator Munson led off, bringing forward a question from a Canadian from Barrie, who asked about the rising costs of tuition — acknowledging the provincial role but also the role the federal government plays in things like student loans and grants. Senator Carignan, answering for the government, listed off the measures that the government has adopted, including tax measures, loans and grants, and the other supports they have given to students in the current budget. Munson thanked him for the answer, but wanted some more answers on the rising tuition and compulsory fees. Carignan noted the provincial jurisdiction, and the increased health and social transfers to the provinces. Senator Moore rose on a supplemental, asking if it was possible to get a breakdown for the social transfers to know how much was going to education. Carignan directed him to the website, but Moore, disputed that the information was available. Carignan this time implored them to support the budget. Moore rose again, asking about forgiving student loan interest, or free tuition for students like they do in some countries like Ireland. Carignan noted it was a significant sum of money available in the budget after referring the substance of Moore’s question to the provinces.
@Will__Murray *shakes fist* *blanket outrage* *rhetorical question*
— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) June 22, 2015
Senator Cordy was up next, asking about the photography contracts for ministers and now “vanity videos” for the likes of Pierre Poilievre. She noted the trip to Iraq for photo ops and interrupting NATO exercises in the Baltic Sea for a photo op on a Canadian frigate, and wanted the costs of those trips. Carignan called the question partisan electioneering, and raised the spectre of the Sponsorship Scandal. Cordy hit back that the answer was predictable, and noted that the government at the time looked for who was guilty — hence the Gomery Inquiry — and noted the current government’s lack of inquiry into scandals, before looking for the number of photographers and videographers that accompanied Haprer and Kenney on that trip. Carignan again insisted it was partisan, and slammed Justin Trudeau. Cordy wanted figures for the costs of interrupting HMCS Fredericton‘s mission for the PM’s photo op, and Carignan gave the same answer. Cordy noted that actual media were blocked during the trip by the PM’s photographers and videographers. Carignan gave the very same answer.
Senator Jaffer was up next, asking about what the government was doing to combat sex tourism. Carignan noted the measures the government had passed to combat human trafficking — not the same thing. Jaffer rose again, asking about taking measures like embedding police in places like Thailand and other popular sex tourism destinations. Carignan stuck to his human trafficking talking points. For one last attempt, Jaffer tried to raise the specific issue of sex tourism in the Dominican Republic. Carignan repeated his talking points.
And that was it. Carignan dodging the questions on the very relevant questions of the number of photographers and videographers on Harper’s last foreign trip, and the costs of those photo ops, and calling it a partisan while repeating talking points about Justin Trudeau, were laughable. But I will note that it’s been a while since we’ve had questions on specific numbers and costs over on the Commons side, which is why Senate QP tends to be a welcome respite after a terrible sitting of the Commons.
Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Senator David Wells for a tailored black suit with a crisp white shirt and red tie, and to Senator Diane Bellemare for a belted green patterned dress with an off-white jacket. Style citations go out to Senator Beth Marshall for a black suit with a busy foliage pattern with black trousers, and to Senator Larry Smith for a tan jacket with a light blue shirt, a navy tie and dark grey slacks.