For what was likely to to be the final QP of the parliament — for realsies this time — unless the Senate Liberals are able to come up with some new procedural tricksyness to delay C-377 further. There were only two statements today — Canada Day and the museums in Montreal over the summer — and after speeding through Routine Proceedings, Senator Cowan rose for QP. He led off noting the government studiously avoided answering questions yesterday, and how Bill C-377 could turn mutual funds and TFSAs into “labour trusts” and triggering disclosure obligations. Answering for the government, Senator Carignan evaded, saying it was important to pass the bill and noted unions posting on Twitter that they were working with the NDP in preparation for the election. Cowan noted that had nothing to do with his question, and demanded an answer on “labour trusts.” Carignan continued to evade, noting mandatory union dues. Cowan was not swayed and wanted an answer on the issue of the expert testimony on how the legislation would catch those funds. Carignan said that he was there to answer questions and not play “interpretation games” — which is ridiculous because it was a legitimate question about the substance of the bill. Cowan tried asking a different way — would they be okay with people’s private information going online if they were caught up in a “labour trust” interpretation, at which point Carignan babbled about legal opinions. Cowan, at the end of his patience, said that Carignan’s refusal to answer meant that he was okay with people having their financial information being made public. Carignan retreated to his mandatory union dues talking points. Senator Moore rose on a supplemental, asking if Carignan was okay with his own mutual funds and TFSAs being made public under the bill. Carignan went on a homily about the time he had Quebecor shares that he had to sell. Moore tried again, and got no answer.

Senator Downe was up next, asking about an interview that Carignan gave to iPolitics, where he said that once Senator Wallin was made a full senator again when the election was called, that she would not be allowed to use the arbitration process. Carignan said he didn’t want to reopen the suspensions. Downe noted that he’s no friend of Wallin’s, but he did have an interest in procedural fairness. Carignan said there was a difference between the civil, legal, and disciplinary process, and invited Downe to speak to the law clerk about it. Senator Munson asked why he and others would be allowed to avail themselves of the arbitration process but not Wallin. Carignan said he was not using the process.

Senator Day asked about radicalisation at local mosques, and the arms sales to Saudi Arabia with that money flowing back to mosques. Carignan praised the government’s anti-radicalism strategy. Day raised Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and the assessment that was supposed to take place, but Carignan praised manufacturing jobs and our export control systems. Day wondered if those factory workers would be content t know that those weapons could be used to violate human rights. Carignan admonished him not to misrepresent his response.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Senator Dennis Dawson for a black jacket with a white striped shirt and a red bow tie (and we all know that bow ties are cool), and to Senator Diane Bellemare for a black and grey mottled dress with a scheer grey sweater. Style citations go out to Senator Rose-May Poirier for a beige and brown foliage patterned sweater over a black top and trousers, and to Senator Senator Irving Gerstein for a black suit with a blue gingham shirt and a yellow tie.