Senate QP: Sole-sourcing shipyard contracts

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With all government business taken care of, a showdown was brewing in the Senate over Bill C-377, a “union busting” bill the government wants passed, but Liberals and a few Conservatives are doing their best to filibuster it into the ground. Things got started with the usual statements by senators (Canada Day in Quebec, the situation in Burundi, the good work of the Senate, the Terry Fox Run), and Routine Proceedings.

When QP got underway, Senator Cowan rose to ask about the concerns raised regarding the shipbuilding strategy, and the discussions being made with the Davie Shipyard. Answering for the government, Senator Carignan noted the procurement process that was already undertaken, and that that it was pretty swell. Cowan pressed on the sole-source aspect of the Davie talks, to which Carignan spoke about the need for temporary supply ships. Cowan tried again, and got the same answer. Cowan tried to press that whether it’s a temporary ship or not, why the government wouldn’t put it to tender. Carignan nevertheless, stuck to his talking points. Back and forth it went another two, three times, but Carignan never did answer, and Cowan finally gave up. Senator Moore rose on a supplementary, and asked for an update on the status of the two planned Joint Supply Ships at Seaspan shipyards, and Carignan took the question under advisement. Moore noted the media reports said that the media reports indicated they wanted to refit one ship when it would do the work of two, but Carignan didn’t give a clear answer. Moore wanted answers on the specifications and costs of the temporary replacement, but Carignan returned to his talking points that it was just a discussion with Davie Shipyard. Cowan got back up, and wondered  if the government had bought or leased a ship that they wanted to retrofit as the temporary supply ship. Carignan kept to his talking points.  Cowan wondered if a specific ship had been at least identified that they wanted to retrofit, but Carignan did not change his answer.

Senator Munson got up to raise the revamped plans for the Victims of Communism Memorial, and the changes to the National Capital Commission board, and wondered why the government was bent on putting it by the Supreme Court. Carignan praised the monument’s concept and said it’s placement was appropriate. Munson noted the objection of citizens of Ottawa, and if the mention would also mention the regime in China, which the government was doing business with. Carignan said the monument was about all victims of communist regimes, and that the placement was about the respect for the rule of law. Senator Moore found this uproarious, considering his questions on Tuesday.

Senator Jaffer was up next, asking about deportations to Burundi given the political situation there. Carignan said that they were watching the situation closely. Jaffer wanted the government to stop sending deportation notices to those people affected, but Carignan talked around it. Jaffer wanted assurances they would stop sending the notices, but Carignan stuck to his script.

Senator Mitchell returned to the issue of the supply ship, wondering if the government had plans to tender the ship to retrofit, or would they leave that up to Davie Shipyard. Carignan told him not to speculate.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Senator Linda Frum for a superbly tailored dark grey suit with a taupe top, and to Senator Daniel Lang for a tailored black suit with a crisp white shirt and a dark blue tie. Style citations go out to Senator Jean-Guy Dagenais for a taupe striped suit with a peach shirt and gold tie, and to Senator Yonah Martin for a black dress with a white floral pattern with a black sweater.