With so many things going on this morning — that Supreme Court decision on Métis and non-status Indians and the assisted dying bill being tabled — it was almost surprising that there weren’t any leaders (save Elizabeth May) present for QP today, but there we have it. Denis Lebel led off for the Conservatives, worrying about government transparency around the budget. Scott Brison responded by insisting that they have been transparent, including turning that information over to the PBO when asked. Lebel insisted that it wasn’t true, then went on to challenge Trudeau’s personal holdings. LeBlanc insisted that Trudeau was transparent as soon as he ran for the leadership. Andrew Scheer was up next, and recycled Rona Ambrose’s scripts from yesterday around transparency, for which Scott Brison repeated praise for the investments in the budget. Scheer tried to asking a too-cute-by-half question regarding the pipeline regulatory process, for which Jim Carr pointed out that the Bloc just yesterday insisted that Energy East was being imposed on them, hence they were going to take the time to get it right. Scheer repeated another script from the day before about oil tankers with Saudi oil, and Carr repeated that they were getting the process right. Charlie Angus led off for the NDP, demanding immediate action on mental healthcare funding for First Nations, for which Jane Philpott assured him they were working on it. Angus insisted it be done today, and Philpott noted the actions they have taken already. Brigette Sancoucy repeated the questions in French, and got the same answer, not surprisingly. Sansoucy then demanded more funds for palliative care, for which Philpott noted the bill tabled this morning, and assured her that they were doing so with the participation of the provinces.
Round two, and Shannon Stubbs bemoaned that the government doesn’t support the energy sector (Carr: We are working responsibly), and demanded LNG projects get approved (Wilkinson: The process is proceeding), Pierre Poilievre decried that small business taxes weren’t cut (Champagne: Our budget is full of measures), Kelly Block and Chris Warkentin worried that the interswitching regulations weren’t being renewed right away (Garneau: We are reviewing the regulations ), Hélène Laverdière asked about the Saudi LAV sale (Dion: There is no confusion between the contract and permits), and Irene Mathyssen worried that the government wasn’t finding “new, responsible markets” for these LAVs (Bains: We are supporting the manufacturing sector). Blaine Calkins tried to find new wedges for the Wilson-Raybould fundraiser (LeBlanc: This is all above board), and Michael Cooper and Karen Vecchio also pressed on it (LeBlanc: We followed the rules). Linda Duncan and Matthew Dubé wanted action on rail safety (Garneau: We invested in rail safety in the budget and I am consulting with the Federation of Municipalities on the crossings).
Round three saw questions on a veteran on a hunger strike, Bill C-10 on Air Canada maintenance, extending Commons hours for the debates on the assisted-dying bill and other concerns around said bill, and supply management.
https://twitter.com/inklesspw/status/720681687307431937
Overall, the number of repeated questions from yesterday — and in fact previous days — was reaching a fever pitch and trying my patience. And the fact that it’s the exact same questions and the exact same laugh and applause lines as before is what is extremely tiresome. It shouldn’t be difficult to write a thirty-second question. It really shouldn’t. Hell, they shouldn’t be writing them at all, but rather coming up with them on their feet, but to have them simply read the same questions day after day is kind of pathetic.
Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Jody Wilson-Raybould for a light blue jacket with a black dress, and to Blake Richards for a tailored black suit with a white shirt and pink patterned tie. Style citations go out to Andrew Scheer for a schlumpy black suit with a blue shirt with a white collar and a yellow striped tie, and to Ruth Ellen Brosseau for a black dress with white horizontal stripes and a black sweater.