After yesterday’s fiscal update and everyone being revved up in the morning caucus meetings, it was close to a full house in the Commons for QP today with all leaders present. Rona Ambrose led off, describing the fiscal update as a “nightmare” of no jobs and higher taxes. Justin Trudeau reminded her that they lowered taxes on the middle class and that their infrastructure investments would create jobs. They went for another round of the same, and then Ambrose moved onto the planned closure of the Vegreville immigration processing centre. Trudeau responded with some bland points about the aid they’ve given to Alberta, but didn’t really answer the question. Ambrose then moved onto brandishing the name Kathleen Wynne as a segue to fundraising issues. Trudeau responded with the bland assurances about federal rules being the toughest and they were respecting them. Ambrose raised the issue of their ethical guidelines, and Trudeau assured her that they were following those guidelines. Thomas Mulcair read out the ethics section of the ministerial mandate letters, and Trudeau repeated that they were open, accountable and were accessible to all Canadians. Mulcair repeated him in French, and Trudeau insisted that they were open with their fundraisers. Mulcair asked Trudeau about the electoral reform townhall he head and what system got the most support — fishing for endorsement of PR. Trudeau didn’t take the bait, and praised consultations with Canadians on the subject. Mulcair came out and said that PR was reported to be the preferred system and why wasn’t he listening to “evidence” on the system. Trudeau gave some bland assurances that they were listening about the best way to reform the electoral system.

Selection bias does not equal evidence-based. #QP

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) November 2, 2016

Round two, and Denis Lebel railed about raising taxes on families (Morneau: We have helped families with our child benefit), and demanded plan for a return to a balanced budget (Morneau: We are investing to grow the economy), Pierre Poilievre worried that jobs were not being created (Morneau: We are investing in the long term), and Gérard Deltell railed about the deficit (Morneau: The debt-to-GDP ratio will continue to decline over our mandate). Guy Caron noted the lack of new spending in the fiscal update for First Nations (Jones: We are investing immediately into First Nations children), and Tracey Ramsey decried the CETA implementation legislation (Lametti: This deal is in our national interest). Diane Watts asked about infrastructure spending diverted to the Infrastructure Bank (Morneau: This will multiply funds for transformational change), and Alain Rayes asked about infrastructure numbers that don’t add up (Sohi: We approved more than 950 projects for $12 billion dollars). Anne Quach asked about funding for students (Cuzner: Our new repayment rules will help students), and Niki Ashton decried precarious work for Millennials (Cuzner: We have invested in youth employment and skills training).

Round three saw questions on the UN human rights council votes, the defence minister heading to Mali, community mailboxes, Public Health Agency funding changes to HIV groups in Canada, carbon prices, EI benefits, the Vegreville immigration processing centre, and CETA.

Goodale is a minister who can drop a bon mot in response to an attack. #QP

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) November 2, 2016

And now we're into competitive applause. Sigh. #QP

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) November 2, 2016

Colin Carrie has a very different recollection of Conservative government #HIV funding than service organisations do. #QP

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) November 2, 2016

Overall, the day was pretty boisterous, and the Speaker had to caution MPs to settle down a number of times, which was a little more than usual. The Conservatives made a particular tactical blunder today in trying to press the issue of the open letter that Brad Wall wrote about how Ralph Goodale wasn’t opposing the national price on carbon (aka the “carbon tax” even though it’s up to Wall to implement and he’s free to go the cap-and-trade route if he so chooses) and the Conservatives decided to call out Goodale. The problem with that? That they called out Ralph Goodale, and he’s no slouch. On the first question, he responded with force about why the carbon price was a good thing for the province and listed the ways in which Wall could recycle the revenues for the public good in the province, and basically roasted the questioner. But then another Saskatchewan MP rose to ask the exact same question. And then another. And each time, Goodale not only held his own, but fought back with vigour. And let this be yet another object lesson in why you don’t just repeat scripted questions when you’ve got a minister who can think on his feet.

And now to Committee of the Whole so that Olympic and Paralympic athletes can enter the Chamber to be applauded. #QP #HoC

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) November 2, 2016

Athletes coming with phones in hand for Trudeau selfies. #QP #HoC

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) November 2, 2016

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Francis Drouin for a tailored dark grey suit with a crisp white shirt and a dark green tie, and to Rona Ambrose for a charcoal dress with a navy jacket with black lapels and tan elbow patches. Style citations go out to Diane Watts for a yellow animal-print top with a grey jacket and black trousers, and to Stéphane Lauzon for a pale blue suit with a white shirt and a black and red tie. Dishonourable mentions go out to Kelly Block for a honey mustard jacket with a black skirt.