QP: Oh noes, Chinese billionaires!

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It was the one day that the PM was going to be in QP for the week, this being a busy travel season, but not all leaders were in the room. Rona Ambrose first tried to note that Trudeau had not been present since November 2nd — and got chastised for it — and raised the latest fundraising story with a Chinese billionaire present. Trudeau noted that the previous government  had a poor record for growth, and by the way, there was no conflict of interest at that fundraiser. When Ambrose tried to raise that said billionaire was connected with a bank seeking authorization, Trudeau noted that the previous government signed off on it, not his. Ambrose switched to the announcement about fighter jet replacements, and the process that the government just announced. Trudeau said that they were engaging in a full process but there was a capability gap. Ambrose tried another round but got the same answer. For her final question, Ambrose raised an Ontario court decision where a judge struck down a mandatory minimum sentence on child sex offence and if the government would ensure that those remained under mandatory sentences when they contemplate justice reform. Trudeau assured her that they respect the judiciary and would not politicize it. Alexandre Boulerice led off for the NDP, asking a pair of questions on that latest fundraising allegation, and Trudeau reminded him that $1500 was a level that everyone was comfortable with when it comes to financing without undue influence. Murray Rankin then rose on a pair of questions about the government not complying with a Human Rights Tribunal order on First Nations child welfare funding, to which Trudeau reminded him of their investments in Indigenous communities and they have a lot of work still to do.

Round two, and Denis Lebel raised softwood lumber as the file that fundraising is being focused on instead (Freeland: We’re continuing to negotiate and I just spoke with them in Peru) and the new fighter jet procurement (Sajjan: We are looking to fill the capability gap), Karen Vecchio, Jacques Gourde and Blaine Calkins returned to the fundraising issue (Chagger: We have the most advanced fundraising rules in the country). Tracey Ramsey railed about CETA affecting drug prices (Philpott: I’ve been working with the provinces to save on drug costs), and Ruth Ellen Brosseau lamented the poor dairy farmers in Quebec (MacAulay: I consulted with the industry and we came up with a plan). James Bezan worried about Super Hornets being sole-sourced (Sajjan: We are launching an open process but we need to fill the immediate gap), and Alupa Clarke disputed that there was a capability gap (Sajjan: Yes there is). Guy Caron railed about privatized infrastructure (Garneau: We have made no decision about ports and airports), and Nikki Ashton raised the Port of Churchill as an object lesson of privatization (Bains: Happy Birthday, Mr. Speaker, and here’s what we’re doing for Churchill).

Round three saw questions on TPP, softwood lumber, housing agreements, sole-sourcing Super Hornets, First Nations financial transparency, mandatory minimum sentences, the behaviour of the Turkish government, the bovine TB outbreak, and restoring the per-vote subsidy.

Overall, it was a rowdier day, where the Speaker had to call out a few MPs and threaten to take away some questions for the first time in a while. Also, we’re back to fundraising stories that are overblown and don’t actually show a conflict of interest, but hey, as long as people can (incorrectly) use the term “cash for access” (which it’s not really), then they’ll make hay. It’s so tiresome particularly because there is not a real problem, and there are so many more things that they should be actually holding the government’s feet to the fire over. Meanwhile, I will say that Chrystia Freeland had a much better day today performance-wise than she did yesterday, and her schooling Gerry Ritz was pretty good to watch. As well, Carolyn Bennett finally giving some real answers on that particular First Nations transparency issue and laying out the facts on the table rather than just offering platitudes, which makes for a better QP.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Justin Trudeau for a tailored navy suit with a light blue shirt and a dark grey tie, and to Catherine McKenna for a black top and sweater with three-quarter sleeves and a blue and red patterned skirt. Style citations go out to Hedy Fry for her gold and black vortex dress, and to Alexandre Boulerice for a medium grey suit with a light grey shirt and green tie.