Normally Wednesdays, being caucus days, are the most well attended in the Commons, but considering that it’s the first week and everyone has been here the whole time, the attendance was not much changed. Rona Ambrose led off in French, lectern on desk, asking about the promise of electoral reform and whether the government would hold a referendum on it. Justin Trudeau noted that they have committed to engage in broad consultations with Canadians to have a more representative system. Ambrose retorted that when you change the rules of democracy, everyone gets a say, and noted that sixty percent of Canadians didn’t vote Liberals. Trudeau noted that her party did not consult with the Fair Elections Act, but he would. Ambrose again demanded a referendum he had a system in mind. Trudeau reminded her of the previous government’s disrespect for democracy. Denis Lebel gave another round in French asking for a referendum. Trudeau again didn’t promise to hold one, simply on holding consultations. Thomas Mulcair was up next, wondering why the government didn’t agree with their motion to cut the lowest tax rate instead. Trudeau said that their plan was what Canadians had asked them to do because it helps the middle class. Mulcair asked again, throwing in some Christmas allusion, got the same answer, then changed to French to ask about Canada Post home delivery. Trudeau reminded him of the moratorium on new community boxes, and noted the plan for more consultations. Mulcair changed topics again, asking about the tax credit on labour sponsored funds. Trudeau reminded him the mandate letters spelled out the priorities, which included that promise.

Round two, and Lisa Raitt asked about the size of the deficit (Morneau: We are in a more challenging situation, net debt-to-GDP is still going down), and what other taxes he planned to raise (Morneau: Our plan is focused on the broadest measures to help Canadians), Maxime Bernier noted Morneau’s firm’s praise for TFSA limits (Morneau: Only 6.7 per cent of Canadians could use the maximum level), and if he planned to raise taxes on small business (Morneau: Middle Class!), Phil McColeman asked what other taxes would be raised (Morneau: We have a more challenging situation), and again on the limit of the deficit (Morneau: We found ourselves in a hole). Anne Quach asked when the National Energy Board’s process would be revised (Carr: There will be a transition period for projects currently under review), and Peter Julian worried about the Kinder Morgan process (Carr: We will modernise the NEB process). Karen Vecchio was offended by the Prime Minster’s childcare (Trudeau: We have different requirements than the previous PM, but staffing levels remain the same), Bernard Généreux was concerned that a unilingual Speaker in the Senate (LeBlanc: Furey is an accomplished Senator), and a confused question about the status quo in the Senate (Monsef: Provinces are invited to have a say in future senators), and Tom Lukiwski asked about the fundraising emails from the finance minister (Morneau: We decided to cancel this consultation). Alistair MacGregor asked about the increase in GIS for seniors (Duclos: We will do things responsibly and as quickly as possible), and Scott Duvall asked about the pensions for US Steel workers (Bains: The content is confidential but we encourage them to disclose it).

Regan just gave Chris Warkentin a verbal warning, asking him if he has a problem. #QP

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) December 9, 2015

Round three saw more questions on fundraising, rail safety rules, the Sherbrooke airport, the position on Energy East, resource development, the “radical environmental” agenda, development assistance, an electoral reform referendum, and tax credits for labour sponsored funds.

Andrew Leslie moving a motion to designate Mauril Bélanger an honorary Chair Occupant on a day to be determined by the Speaker. #cdnpoli

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) December 9, 2015

Overall, it was certainly more boisterous today, with more heckling and more warnings from the Speaker, at least once giving an MP a verbal warning. Mulcair was returning to old habits of using his supplemental launching into a lengthy retort forcing his actual question to be rushed, which looks worse when the question is on a different topic. It looks sloppy, particularly because if he wanted to carry on the point it would be a natural flow of debate, rather than rushing to artificially ask an unrelated question. Meanwhile, obvious scripting tripped up at least one MP who couldn’t pronounce the word “rhetoric,” which brings me back to my usual exhortation to either practice your question beforehand or abandon the script altogether, preferably the latter.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Julie Dzerowicz for a fitted grey jacket with a white collared shirt and black trousers, and to Harjit Sajjan for a tailored charcoal suit with a crisp white shirt and a violet tie and dull purple turban. Style citations go out to Kent Hehr for a bright orange tie with a maroon shirt and black vest, and to Niki Ashton for a mustard yellow jacket with a leopard print top.