QP: A moment for Orlando

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Things got off today with a few statements of condolence and shock around the attack on a gay nightclub in Orlando over the weekend, and a moment of silence in the House of Commons. Neither Rona Ambrose nor Justin Trudeau were present today, Trudeau meeting with the chief and youth delegates from Attawapiskat.

Denis Lebel led off by asking about the terror attack in Orlando and the execution of hostage Robert Hall in the Philippines. Ralph Goodale responded with condolences and assurances that there were no threats to Canadians. Lebel then demanded an electoral reform referendum, to which Maryam Monsef called on all parliamentarians to help the committee do their work. Lebel pivoted again, and asked about a carbon tax. Jonathan Wilkinson assured him that they were focused on growing the economy in an environmentally sustainable way. Andrew Scheer took a crack at that question in English, terming a carbon price an “Ottawa knows best” approach, and Wilkinson gave the same answer. Scheer then accused the Liberals of charging admission for an electoral reform town hall, and Monsef said that they all members were supposed to follow the rules around these town halls. Thomas Mulcair was up next, and raised their opposition day motion topic of marijuana decriminalisation for simple possession. Jody Wilson-Raybould noted that they can’t just decriminalise without ensuring that children could not access it. Mulcair gave it another go in English, got the same same answer, and then he pivoted to take on the scourge of bank fees. François-Philippe Champagne reminded him that the government doesn’t regulate the day-to-day operations of banks. Mulcair asked again in French, and got much the same answer.

Round two, and Blake Richards bemoaned the committee process on electoral reform (Monsef: I will look into this town hall; come with constructive idea), Alain Rayes and Scott Reid returned to baying for a referendum (Monsef: Engage with your constituents). Hélène Laverdière called for an inquiry into the issue of Afghan detainees (Sajjan: We take our obligations seriously). Tony Clement and Michelle Rempel returned to calls for the government to declare ISIS a genocide (Goldsmith-Jones: We need a credible judicial process, which we are engaged in). Karine Trudel and Tracey Ramsay asked about diafiltered milk being used as a bargaining chip for softwood lumber (Freeland: We will get a good agreement).

Round three saw questions on CPP enhancement, fighter jet procurement, healthcare users fees across the country, Syrian refugees in Iraq, lentil farmers, PED being found in Manitoba, carbon pricing, public service outsourcing, veterans pensions, credit card transaction fees, and Energy East.

Overall, it was a mostly sedate day, perhaps because the PM was away. Most of the outbursts were around Monsef’s answers around the constant demands for an electoral reform referendum, while it was interesting that she seemed unaware that a fellow MP was charging admission for a town hall meeting, and she promised to get to the bottom of it. (Note: This may be what happens when you don’t force your MPs to run everything past the leader’s office first). That aside, it should not surprise anyone that when it came to the Orlando shooting, the Conservatives steadfastly refused to call the shooting homophobic, but kept their narrative firmly on Islamist terrorism, because that’s apparently where there are points to be scored. That they also refused to say some of the things like “Love is love” that have been circulating in the wake of the shooting is also disappointing, but probably not surprising.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Pam Goldsmith-Jones for a long white jacket with a white top and black trousers, and to Scott Reid for a medium grey three-piece suit with a lavender shirt, grey-purple tie and pink pocket square. Style citations go out to Mark Holland for a beige suit with a white shirt and a yellow and red striped tie, and to Linda Duncan for a belted dress that was orange with white stripes on the top half, black with white stripes on the bottom half and sleeves sleeves and floral patches throughout.

One thought on “QP: A moment for Orlando”

  1. Interesting that the CPC has really morphed into the Republican Party branch in Canada. They do have an image problem and I really do not consider them Canadian anymore too bad they are the Opposition.

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