QP: Questions about NAFTA

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While Justin Trudeau was off in Cuba, and after Rona Ambrose walked in her party’s newest MP, Glen Motz, she led off Question Period by wondering why the government would be so quick to be willing to renegotiate NAFTA. Navdeep Bains responded, talking about how they were looking to protect and advance Canada’s interests. Ambrose then moved onto the Infrastructure Bank, and wondered who would be backstopping overages, and Marc Garneau got up to praise how great infrastructure spending was, but didn’t really answer the question. Ambrose then moved onto Keystone XL and lamented that the PM was “silent” and misled energy workers. Jim Carr stood up to reassure her that they still supported it and the approvals were still in place, but the company themselves had to reapply to the US. Ambrose switched to French to return to the NAFTA question, and Bains repeated his earlier answer in English. Ambrose then pivoted again to UNRWA funding, accusing the government of using those funds to put Israeli citizens at risk. Marie-Claude Bibeau said that they were ensuring that there were robust controls, but they preferred Palestinian children in schools than on the streets.  Thomas Mulcair lamented instances of surveillance of journalists and demanded a full national public inquiry. Ralph Goodale insisted there were no ongoing operations, and they welcomed input from journalists and lawyers on improving the law. Mulcair switched in French to demand concrete steps to protect freedom of the press. Goodale insisted that there was no argument, that they had appropriate safeguards and were open to input on improving the law. Mulcair then switched to the issue of softwood lumber as part of trade deals, and Bains assured him that they were looking to protect Canadian interests. Mulcair switched to English to press the issue, and Bains insisted that they were looking for Canadian jobs.

Round two, and Denis Lebel also lamented the lack of a softwood deal (Lametti: We are looking for a good deal, not just any deal), David Anderson worried about agriculture vulnerability under NAFTA (MacAulay: Our government solved problems yours didn’t; Lametti: We are prepare to tweak the deal in good faith), Pierre Poilievre worried that no one was looking out for taxpayers (Garneau: We are leveraging public sector dollars to build infrastructure), and Alain Rayes worried that regional municipalities were excluded from the funds (Garneau: The fall economic update had $2 billion for rural projects). Rachel Blaney and Guy Caron worried about tolls and user fees (Garneau: You mentioned our credit rating, and hey, it’s the best in the G7). John Barlow demanded the release of an audit on the Blood Tribe (Bennett: Any member of the nation who wants the information can approach my department), and Cathy McLeod demanded more transparency for band funding (Bennett: It is available to band members; the old law accidentally penalized First Nations businesses by exposing information to their competition). Scott Duvall asked about amending the CPP bill to not penalize women who take maternity leave (Duclos: We are proud of what this bill will do), and Brian Masse railed about auto jobs (Bains: We extended the automotive innovation fund in the budget).

Round three saw questions on an African peacekeeping mission, UNRWA funding, abandoned vessels and wrecks, exports on an energy project, carbon pricing, Quebec City port expansion, funds for studying gender-based violence, the Sherbrooke airport, opioids coming from China, and contaminated soil disposal.

Overall, it was a fairly scattershot day, and on more than one file, the opposition is railing about issues that the government is onside with them about, whether it’s Keystone XL or police surveillance of journalists. In each case, the Conservatives and NDP are trying to pick a fight by demanding unrealistic actions (howling about Keystone XL when the company in question hasn’t yet begun the permitting process again in the States, or the demand for a full public inquiry), trying to show that they care about the same issues as the government but that they would do more, which is one of those things that can be a bit maddening because they to tend to go to unrealistic lengths to try to prove a point. But this is theatre, which we need to keep reminding ourselves. Also, I’ve noticed that Marc Garneau has ditched his talking points – except that he’s been answering for the infrastructure minister and not his own file, which is curious (but hopefully a good sign).

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Rachael Harder for a long maroon jacket with a black top and trousers, and to Jean-Yves Duclos for a tailored navy suit with a crisp white shirt and a purple tie. Style citations go out to Robert Sopuck for that brown corduroy jacket (that needs to be burned) with a light blue shirt and orange tie, and to Patty Hajdu for a gauzy smock top under a pink and grey floral jacket. Dishonourable mention goes out to Cathy McLeod for a yellow and brown striped dress under a long black jacket.