QP: Tax hikes and pipelines

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While Justin Trudeau headed off for official visits to Cuba, Argentina and Peru, all other leaders were present for QP. Rona Ambrose led off, asking about preventing violence against women and funding to combat it. Patty Hajdu assured her that they are working on a federal gender-based violence strategy to be rolled out in 2017. Ambrose then shifted to the new American administration and railed about tax hikes in Canada. Scott Brison reminded her that they inherited a slow-growth economy and it was why they cut taxes to the middle class. Ambrose wanted the government to personally endorse the Keystone XL pipeline, and Jim Carr reminded her that the government did support it, and the approvals on the Canadian side were still valid. Ambrose switched to French to ask about the proposed Infrastructure Bank and if the Champlain Bridge would have tolls on it, and Marc Garneau praised infrastructure spending. Ambrose repeated the premise in English, demanding to know what safeguards were in place to keep the government from backstopping billionaires. Garneau again praised the government’s infrastructure investment strategy. Thomas Mulcair asked about a provision in the CPP bill that penalizes women for taking time off work to raise children, and Jean-Yves Duclos praised measures they’ve taken to help senior women in poverty. Mulcair asked again in French, got the same answer, then turned to the pipeline review process, saying that the review process members are all industry insiders. Carr reminded him about the distinguished Canadians, including Grand Chiefs, of being corporate hacks. Mulcair asked again in English, and Carr doubled down on his condemning Mulcair’s characterization of the panel.

Round two led off with Gérard Deltell demanding a path back to budget balance (Champagne: Look at where we’re investing), Alain Rayes lamented the rural infrastructure spending funnelled into the new Infrastructure Bank (Rodriguez: We have launched the largest infrastructure programme in history), and Pierre Poilievre decried infrastructure privatization that left the government with the risk (Champagne: Here’s our action plan to grow the middle class). Rachel Blaney and Guy Caron railed against infrastructure privatization writ-large (Rodriguez: Here are the pages in the platform that we mentioned our infrastructure programme; Garneau: We are ensuring that these investments are good for the economy, like ports and airports). Jacques Gourde and Blaine Calkins decided to return to questions about fundraising (Chagger: The Ethics Commissioner said all the rules had been followed). Matthew Dubé asked about RCMP surveillance of Indigenous activists (Goodale: This was according to the recommendations of the Ipperwash inquiry), and Charlie Angus demanded more funds for Indigenous children (Bennett: We have made a commitment and we are overhauling the child welfare system).

Round three saw questions on a peacekeeping mission to Africa, food bank use, the use of a malaria drug on soldiers, First Nations financial transparency, risks with lifting the Mexican visa requirement, dumping contaminated soil, natural resources projects, and the Muskrat Falls project.

Overall, I will quote Micheal Den Tandt’s assessment that the day was both chippy yet profoundly lethargic. There was a bit of a buzz in the air, but at the same time, there were no great outbursts or excitement over any one issue. There was a decent mix of questions and responses off the start, but unfortunately the overwrought fundraiser questions made a comeback, thanks to the forthcoming vote on their Supply Day motion on giving the Ethics Commissioner new powers (which is a profoundly bad idea, and antithetical to the way that a parliamentary democracy works). It was disappointing and tiresome, but hopefully they’ll fade again. Also, slow clap to Pierre Paul-Hus for admitting that he was just going to ask the same question again in French. Seriously, this is terrible strategy. Stop it.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Scott Brison for a tailored grey three-piece suit with a light blue shirt and a dark purple tie, and to Maryam Monsef for a dark blue dress with a black jacket. Style citations go out to Cheryl Gallant for a silver jacket with ruffled lapels and a fuchsia top and purple skirt, and to Martin Shields for a maroon shirt and patterned tie with a grey jacket with black shoulder panels.