After the moving day at the beginning of Commons QP, it was time to head down the hall for Senate QP, with special guest star Jim Carr, minister of natural resources. Once he arrived, a little behind schedule thanks to a vote in the Commons, things got started. Senator Carignan led off, asking about the softwood lumber agreement expiring. Carr began with the traditional thanks and his expression about his admiration for the chamber, and after a couple of technical mic fixes (again), he said that he would be greatly surprised if the agreement did not come up in conversation during the PM’s trip to Washington.

Senator Cowan first referenced the arms deal with Saudi Arabia, but asked about buying their oil rather than from Canadian sources, leading into a question about Energy East. Carr noted the diversity of opinion on the topic, and the lack of public confidence on the process to date, followed by a length about the new process they are putting into place.
Senator Mockler was up next, following up on Energy East, and after a lengthy bit of speechifying, asked the hypothetical question of whether the government would approve the project if it passed a scientific review. Carr first recalled the caucus retreat in New Brunswick, and gave assurances that no proponent would have to start the process back at square one for ongoing projects.

Senator Nancy Green Raine lamented activists trying to destroy the economy, and asked the same question on the Centre for American Progress that the Commons Conservatives have been asking all week. Carr repeated Trudeau’s response that Trudeau visited them over a year ago and expressed support for Keystone XL, and that they hoped to learn from one another, including changing minds.

Senator Mercer also raised the issue of Energy East as a possible solution for unemployment in Atlantic Canada, and wondered about establishing a reasonable timeline for the project. Carr retreated to the same assurances, meandered through the impact of low commodity prices.

Senator Neufeld asked about approvals for LNG projects in BC, and Carr described the process that they are in the midst of, but assured him that the government would adhere to the established timetable.

Senator Black worried about the fiscal situation in Alberta and how it demonstrated the need for energy access to markets, and wanted a commitment for pipelines to both coasts. Carr insisted that they didn’t see this as a partisan issue, but as a nation-building exercise, and that the declaration signed in Vancouver was a way to get there.

Senator Unger gave another lament about the energy sector from her Alberta perspective, and another call for expeditious approval of Energy East. Carr gave his assurances that they know that the natural resources sector is an economic driver, mentioned his time at a mining convention over the weekend, and expressed his optimism. Senator Carignan rose on the supplemental, wondering why Trudeau was not also at the mining convention, and noted that the PM felt the same way he did about the industry.

Overall, it was a much more sedate pace this week, with long questions (more speeches, really) and answers, and most of those questions were more of the same — Energy East — as opposed to any other issues that may be on Carr’s plate. It was not one of the better outings we’ve seen, but it was a reminder that the Liberals in the Senate were not necessarily friendly to the government on these issues, and a reminder that the Atlantic senators are the only opposition voice currently out there, which the government had best pay heed to.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Senator James Cowan for a nicely tailored dark grey suit with a crisp white shirt and dark grey striped tie, and to Senator Jane Cordy for a smart grey jacket and skirt with a white collared shirt. Style citations go out to Senator Raynell Andreychuk for a too-busy grey patterned jacket with a giant scarf that was in places a purple circular pattern, and in other places white with black polka dots, the competing patterns between both clashing, and to Senator Percy Mockler for a dark grey suit with a yellowish shirt and a brown and yellow striped tie that appears to have come from the 1970s.