Tuesday’s QP followed on the announcement of the design phase of the inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women, and counter-programmed Mike Duffy’s testimony in his fraud trial, so plenty going on. When QP got underway, Rona Ambrose had her mini-lectern on her desk, and read a question about the reduced limit for Tax-Free Savings Accounts. Justin Trudeau, without script, noted the plans to help vulnerable seniors with things like an increase in the GIS. Ambrose switched to French, and wondered what else the government would do to get cash, such as eliminating TFSAs altogether. Trudeau snapped back that trying to intimidate seniors wouldn’t work. Ambrose quoted Bill Morneau’s company’s praise for the increased limits, but Trudeau responded that the Conservatives were out of touch with Canadians. Denis Lebel asked another question on TFSAs in French, to which Trudeau replied that they were making concrete actions to help seniors. Lebel switched to the new deficit figures, to which Trudeau said that they would continue to update the numbers as they became available. Thomas Mulcair was up next, and welcomed the establishment of the inquiry process, but wondered about the timeline for action. Trudeau responded that they were making sure that the inquiry was properly informed, which is what they were committed to doing. Mulcair then turned to the question of Trudeau’s definition of middle class if people under a certain threshold didn’t benefit from the tax cut. Trudeau reminded him that they were getting more help through the Canada Child Benefit. Mulcair asked again in French, and got the same answer. For his final question, Mulcair demanded a clear answer on the home delivery. Trudeau reminded him that they had a moratorium in place, and they had a commitment to keep.

Round two, and Erin O’Toole concern trolled about the Syrian refugee security screening process (Goodale: There are no corners cut, and there is a process in place), O’Toole wondered what percentage of certainty was sufficient if not 100 percent reliable (Goodale: There is a strong system), Alain Rayes asked the same in French (Goodale: Same answer), Kellie Leitch asked about the immunisation records of Syrian children before they are put into public schools (Philpott: We are doing what we can to ensure proper immunisation), and Michelle Rempel demanded that John McCallum label ISIS’ attacks on Yazidis as genocide and wondered how many of them were given visas (McCallum: We are taking the most vulnerable regardless of religion). Georgina Jolibois asked about the action on the Inquiry (Bennett: We want to make sure that we follow it up with action), and Sheila Malcolmson wanted more funding for Indigenous women’s groups (Bennett: We want to support these groups). Tony Clement wanted more military help for Kurdish allies (Dion: We have a lot of support from our allies for our re-orientation of mission), Peter Kent was worried about re-engaging with Iran (Dion: It doesn’t help Iranians of Israel to cut off contact with Iran), Lisa Raitt asked about the tax cut not adding up (Morneau: We will have more details in our budget), and stated that the tax cut wouldn’t help growth (Morneau: This is only one part of our plan). Tracey Ramsey was concerned about TPP (Freeland: We are engaging in consultation as we speak), and Ruth Ellen Brosseau asked about Supply Management (MacAulay: We are committed to Supply Management).

Round three saw questions on a “Netflix tax,” the resource sector, the supposed lack of support for manufacturing, applications for Canada 150 infrastructure projects, healthcare wait times, the lack of mention of science in the Throne Speech, those benefitting from the tax cuts, the TFSA limits, a referendum on electoral reform, labour sponsored funds, and compensation for dairy farmers under CETA.

Overall, Trudeau was much more confident today and didn’t have notes in hand at any point, unlike the opposition leaders. Speaker Regan was cracking the whip a little more today, both in terms of speaking times and warning the odd MPs who were heckling, as well as warning them about using applause as interruption. The repetition of English and French questions continued, and I found that particularly among the Conservative benches, the last round saw a number of questions that were repeats of those from the first round, as though there would be a different answer from the minister than the PM. It strikes me as a waste of time and questions, which doesn’t help them hold the government to account any better than if they had questions to ask on unique topics.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Andrew Leslie for a sharply tailored black suit with a white shirt with a subtle blue check pattern and black and green checked tie, and to Kirstie Duncan for a dark grey jacket with a black top and trousers. Style citations go out to Brigitte Sansoucy for a bright orange jacket with a black and orange patterned collared shirt, and to Wayne Long for a black suit with a faded cranberry shirt and a red tie. Dishonourable mention goes out to Niki Ashton for a lemon yellow jacket with a black dress.