While it was caucus day, and all of the leaders were present, but things got off to a late start for a rather unfashionable reason. When QP started, Rona Ambrose started, mini-lectern on desk, reading a question about the lack of concern by the government over mounting job losses in Alberta. Justin Trudeau reassured her that he was preoccupied with the issue, and that measures were coming in the budget. Ambrose repeated the question in French, got much the same response, and then turned to the lifting of sanctions on Iran but tied it into the Syria mission. Trudeau said that the world was safer with a nuclear deal with Iran, and that Canada needed to engage in a responsible way with that country. Tony Clement railed against Iran in French, to which Trudeau repeated his previous answer about engaging responsibly, and then went for another round in English on the topic. Thomas Mulcair was up next, and demanded action on restoring home mail delivery. Trudeau reminded him that they campaigned on a moratorium, which they did, and they were now engaging with Canadians on the issue. Mulcair then demanded that OAS be restored to people at 65 immediately, to which Trudeau reminded him that it’s already the case. Mulcair read the same question again in French, got the very same answer, that they age increase wasn’t going to happen until 2023, and suggested that Mulcair check his facts first. Mulcair asked about provincial pension enrichments, to which Trudeau reminded him that the finance minister is currently engaging with provinces.

Round two, and Maxime Bernier was concerned that companies were tipped off early about lifting Iran sanctions (Dion: We spoke openly about re-engaging during the election campaign), Dean Allison and Peter Kent worried about sanctions on Russia being lifted (Dion: We always support Ukraine), and Kent asked about the attacks against Israeli civilians (Dion: I said we condemned the violence, and suggesting we haven’t is partisan). Romeo Saganash demanded an end to the discrimination against First Nations children with welfare funding (Bennett: There will be funding in the budget), and Charlie Angus noted the current Clerk of the Privy Council dragged his feet on First Nations issues (Bennett: The public service’s primary goal is loyal implementation, and he’ll do our agenda). John Barlow, Shannon Stubbs, and Blaine Caulkins, concerned about the situation in Alberta (Carr: We are moving forward on sustainable development; Morneau: We have started with a plan that will make a difference), and Kelly Block expanded the concern to Saskatchewan (Morneau: We are working diligently to address the issues in the budget). Guy Caron was concerned about data mining from pre-budget consultations and wanted EI accessibility changes (Mihychuk: There are inherent barriers that we are taking care of) and Niki Ashton demanded action in English (Mihychuk: same answer).

Round three saw questions on US Senate hearings on Canadian refugee screening (Goodale: We respond in this House, not theirs), Syrian refugees being stuck in temporary accommodations, private health fees, the chief of staff to the Agriculture Minister, government “opposition” to all manner of sectors, action on the promises on veterans, unsealing records around the US Steel deal, and support for supply management.

Trudeau waves dismissively at Rempel's question. #QP

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) January 27, 2016

Overall, the use of scripted questions that were repeated in the other official language despite getting an answer the first time happened again. It’s painful to watch, and MPs should knock it off. The fact that “prosecutor in chief” Mulcair asked an unresearched question, got corrected, then doubled down and asked it again in French because that’s what was on his script, was a problem and demonstrates a real lack of an ability to think on his feet — something that puts a bit of a stake into the notion that he really shines in QP. It also couldn’t look very good for him for Trudeau to tell him to do his homework before asking a question considering how much he painted Trudeau as a lightweight during the election.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Kelly Block for a dark grey windowpane jacket with a pale grey collared shirt and black skirt, and to Jean-Yves Duclos for a dark grey suit with a pale lavender shirt and a purple tie. Style citations go out to Pierre Dusseault for a dusky rose jacket with grey elbow patches and a white shirt, and to Sheri Benson for a black top and trousers with a bizarre long smock that started with a greenish-gold section at the top with brown patterning, had a band of black-and-white giraffe-like pattern, and continued onto a long light grey panel.