QP: Hugging it out

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As is traditional on Halloween, we got a number of tortured metaphors and references during members’ statement. As well, all leaders with the exception of Thomas Mulcair were present, and no one was in costume. Rona Ambrose led off with a question about fundraising — again. Justin Trudeau tried to turn the question on its head, talking about their open engagement and public consultations. Ambrose tried to keep it about the ethical guidelines, but Trudeau kept up his praise for their unprecedented levels of engagement. Ambrose demanded an end to preferential access, and Trudeau insisted that there was no preferential access, and that they were in fact being accused of consulting too much. Ambrose moved onto carbon pricing and how it hurt families. Trudeau noted their middle class tax cut, and made a plug for tomorrow’s fall economic update. Ambrose lamented the lack of job creation, and Trudeau instead took a moment to praise the signing of CETA, giving credit to the Conservatives while he was at it. Romeo Saganash led off for the NDP, demanding the deadline for increasing First Nations child welfare funding. Trudeau noted his commitment to First Nations, and that they were continuing to work on that file. Saganash didn’t get an answer on the deadline, and pressed for one. Trudeau said it was a problem that goes back generations, and that they need to build capacity in the system. Charlie Angus picked it up in English, and Trudeau repeated his response. Angus brought up a particular case where there was a legal battle over the fees, and Trudeau insisted that they were committed to working in partnership on a solution.

Round two, and Gérard Deltell asked about government’s commitment to fiscal responsibility (Morneau: We are investing responsibly) and the small business tax rate (Morneau: We have a long-term plan that will help small businesses), Rachael Harder raised the issue of “job churn” (Morneau: We are investing in things like training that will make a difference), Pat Kelly asked about mortgage rules (Morneau: We have taken measures to keep the market stable in the long term), Pierre Poilevre raised the PBO’s labour market report (Morneau: You left us with low growth), and Dan Albas decried the lack of Atlantic representation on the economic council (Bains: We had ten years of a government that pitted one region against another). Matthew Dubé asked about journalists under police surveillance (Goodale: Freedom of the press is of the utmost importance, and we take it seriously), and Alexandre Boulerice railed about fundraising (Chagger: We followed the rules). Mark Strahl, Jacques Gourde and Blaine Calkins raised other fundraising events (Chagger: The federal rules are the strongest in the country). Sheri Benson and Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet raised the Phoenix pay system (Foote: It’s not acceptable and we are working very hard to resolve outstanding issues). And while it’s not my usual practice to mention backbench suck-up questions, the one on the signing of CETA prompted Chrystia Freeland to cross the floor to give Ed Fast – her ministerial predecessor on the file – a hug, which was a nice gesture.

Round three saw questions on an outbreak of bovine tuberculosis, the closure of the Vegreville immigration processing centre, privatizing infrastructure, small business taxes, tax credits, Phoenix pay system, suicides in northern Indigenous communities, dairy farmers impacted by CETA, and tax havens in Barbados.

Overall, it was a decent day and the hug between Freeland and Fast over the signing of CETA was a nice touch that you almost never see, particularly during QP. That being said, my patience with Bardish Chagger reading the same answer over and over on the fundraising questions has just about worked my last nerve. There are many better responses she could give, not to mention that by this point, she should know this response off the cuff rather than having to read it. She was much better when she responded on small business questions, so one wonders why she’s being so carefully managed on this particular file. (Well, one doesn’t have to wonder too hard – they’re afraid that one verbal slip will send the opposition in to paroxysms of laughter or outrage, but come on already). Meanwhile, backbencher questions haven’t improved at all nearly a year into this parliament, and they’re getting on my nerves as well. You keep saying “better is always possible,” Liberals. Well, time for your backbenchers to prove it.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Jane Philpott for a black suit with a red and white diamond pattern and a red leather jacket, and to James Bezan for medium grey suit with a lavender shirt and a purple striped tie and pocket square. Style citations go out to Hunter Tootoo for a dark grey suit with an orange and grey checked shirt and an orange sealskin tie, and to Cheryl Gallant for a black dress with a purple back pattern and multicoloured lines and circles across the front.