QP: A singular focus on CETA

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While Justin Trudeau returned from the APEC summit somewhere around 5:30 this morning, it was not a real surprise that he wasn’t present in QP as a result. Then again, none of the other major leaders were present either. Denis Lebel led off, railing about the lack of new trade agreements signed and wondered if the government would fumble other agreements. Chrystia Freeland assured him that they ensured that CETA got signed, and when Lebel repeated the question in English, Freeland didn’t stick to her notes, but reminded Lebel that it was her government that got CETA signed for real. Lebel tried to switch to softwood lumber, but Freeland stuck to chastising him about CETA. Gerry Ritz tried to move the topic to the TPP, but because he mentioned CETA, Freeland stuck to those points with a reminder that they were still consulting on TPP. Ritz tried to press on TPP, and Freeland reminded him that there was a two-year consultation period on TPP, which they were pursuing. Tracey Ramsey led off for the NDP, railing about the flaws in CETA, and Freeland hammered on the progressive credentials of the agreement and the fact that socialist governments in Europe supported it. Ramsey pounded on the effect that CETA would have on drug prices, but Freeland stuck to her points about CETA’s progressive credentials. Ruth Ellen Brosseau then rose on a pair of questions decrying the inadequate compensation for dairy producers under CETA, but Lawrence MacAulay assured her that they sat down with the producers and designed a programme based on that, and that they were protecting supply management.

Round two, and Gérard Deltell was concerned that the Trumpocalypse would mean increasing interest rates (Champagne: We are have been investing while rates are low), and the lack of a date for a return to balance (Bains: We have a plan to provide relief to Canadians with a middle class tax cut), Diane Watts lamented the Infrastructure Bank (Bains: We have created the conditions for growth and jobs; Sohi: We have approved 980 projects), and Alain Rayes railed that the Infrastructure Bank would be inaccessible to smaller municipalities (Sohi: We have made historic investments in smaller communities). Rachel Blaney and Guy Caron worried about infrastructure being privatized (Sohi: We have made a commitment to invest that we are delivering on). Shannon Stubbs worried about the closure of the Vegreville immigration centre (McCallum: I have offered to meet the mayor and the move will create a net increase in jobs; Bains: Here is what we are doing to create jobs in Alberta), and Ziad Aboulatif decried the closure of a CRA processing centre in Summerside PEI (Labouthillier: The CRA has to modernize and we are ensuring jobs are not lost). Charlie Angus asked about court cases against First Nations (Jones: We have been taking concrete steps to address these court orders), and Fin Donnelly asked about whales being caught by open-net salmon farms (LeBlanc: We share the concern, and we are investing in ocean protections).

Round three saw questions on First Nations financial transparency, gender parity in senior government positions, asking foreign media companies to pay into the Canadian media system, sole-sourcing Super Hornets, the outbreak of Bovine Tuberculosis, restricting the Shawinigan tax centre, and dairy compensation under CETA, which included an unparliamentary use of the term “bullshit.”

Some Hon. Members: Oh! Oh!

Overall, it was a mediocre day right up until that last eruption from the Bloc. Chrystia Freeland started off very wooden, reading her script in French, but when she was able to switch to English, she was able to perform much better lose the obvious scripting (something she doesn’t always do in English), but the fact that she kept her comments so narrowly focused on CETA even when the questions veered into softwood lumber and the TPP showed that she was starting to struggle. I’m a bit disappointed because I do hope for better from someone as accomplished as Freeland (and the fact that she was probably operating on a couple of hours of sleep as she was at the same APEC meeting as the PM does buy her a bit of sympathy from me, but this is an ongoing pattern with her). As for the NDP, many of their questions today tied into private members’ bills that they have on the Order Paper, which is utterly infuriating. QP is about asking about areas of government administration, and PMBs are exactly the opposite of that. Despite what you may think, you’re not “in proposition” – you’re in opposition and your job is to hold government to account, not troll for support for your own bill.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to MaryAnne Mihychuk for an otherwise ordinary black top and trousers, and while I normally a not a fan of animal prints, her long black jacket had white leopard print lapels that made the ensemble pop; and to James Bezan for a tailored black suit with a crisp white shirt and a light blue tie and pocket square. Style citations go out to Bev Shipley for a taupe suit with a black striped shirt and a yellow tie, and to Cathy McLeod for a gold lamé jacket with black detailing and a high collar with a black turtleneck and trousers.