QP: The Giorno angle

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With all of the leaders in the Commons today, the hope was that the show would be a little less awful than it was yesterday. On the whole, it was. Rona Ambrose led off, mini-lectern on desk, reading a plea that the government approve the Pacific Northwest LNG project, and Justin Trudeau dissembles about the choice between the environment and the economy. Ambrose lamented that too many pipeline projects were languishing and getting people back to work. Trudeau reminded her that their pipeline plans didn’t work because they didn’t get community buy-in, added that the Conservative voted against middle-class tax cuts. Ambrose changed topics, concerned about discussions with China that included cyber-security regardless of how many times Chinese hackers attacked Canadian targets. Trudeau stated that previous discussions were always ad hoc, while these new high-level discussions provided a more permanent framework. Ambrose expressed confusion about any extradition talks with China, and Trudeau returned to the same response about high-level dialogue. Ambrose asked again in French, and got the same answer. Thomas Mulcair was up next, asking if the Great Bear rainforest was no place for a crude oil pipeline, but wondered if it would also be one for natural gas. Trudeau didn’t give a clear response, mentioning analyzing various projects. Mulcair then lamented the adoption of Harper-era healthcare “cuts” (note: it’s not a cut, because the funds are still increasing), but Trudeau shrugged it off with talk of consultation with the provinces. Mulcair went another round in French, got the same answer, and then Mulcair moved onto labour rights and demanded that the government support their anti-scab bill. Trudeau spoke about the need for a better collaborative approach.

Round two, and Denis Lebel once again led his questions off with softwood lumber (Freeland: We are seeking a good agreement, not just any agreement), Larry Miller and Karen Vecchio gave the usual concerns about moving expenses (Chagger: I’ve said repeatedly that this is a long-established policy, and here’s a quote from Guy Giorno). Romeo Saganash and Charlie Angus asked about the ongoing litigation around residential school survivors (Bennett: We want to see justice done). Michelle Rempel asked about a wrong Order Paper response (McCallum: These expenses were entered under the wrong column and I apologized and will re-submit the answer to the Order Paper; Chagger: Your government corrected Order Paper questions ten times as well), and Blaine Calkins gave some of his usual wannabe rat-pack magic on moving expenses (Chagger: These policies have been in place since the 1970s). Randall Garrison and Matthew Dubé noted the Privacy Commissioner’s remarks on Bill C-51 (Goodale: I welcome his scrutiny and he is engaged in consultations on our new national security framework).

Round three saw questions on carbon taxes, pipelines, the application process for injured veterans, Atlantic Canada’s seat on the Supreme Court, an optical institute funding request, the arbitrary laws stripping citizenship, moving expenses, and health transfers.

Overall, it was better than yesterday, but it had a long way to go before it could be considered a good day. There were still too many questions about moving expenses, with the Conservatives trying to bring new faces to ask “amusing” questions about it, even though they refuse to take their victory and by not letting go, they risk it blowing up in their faces – like how former PMO staffer Guy Giorno went to the media about how the programme is just fine, and no, the PM wouldn’t have actually personally signed off on the expenses. For her part, Chagger was given an opening to actually explain what the “personalized cash payments” referred to in a clear way that would show that it wasn’t just cash in a brown envelope, but no, she stuck to her talking points and let the snide insinuations continue. If “better is always possible,” perhaps she needs to heed that advice when it comes to the quality of her responses. And then there was Thomas Mulcair, whose attempt at wit during his question, trying to make a joke about Prince George refusing to high-five the PM, but it’s not wit when you telegraph your punchlines with pauses. It’s a poor attempt at being a ham, and it betrays the myth about just how good of a performer he is in the Commons (because it’s really not true).

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Jane Philpott for a tasteful blue and purple floral dress with a black jacket, and to Justin Trudeau for a tailored black suit with a light blue shirt and purple tie. Style citations go out to Hunter Tootoo for a dark grey suit with an medium purple shirt and a sealskin tie, and to Judy Foote for what looked like an otherwise fine black dress with a zebra-print jacket. Dishonourable mention goes out to Diane Watts for a black top and trousers with a mustard yellow jacket, and Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet for a similar outfit was that lemon yellow jacket. Special mention to Veterans Affairs minister Kent Hehr, whose vest back panel matched the same gold paisley pattern as the long jacket of his parliamentary secretary, Karen McCrimmon.