QP: Demands to denounce Trump

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A less somber day in the Commons, and things were getting back to normal. Such as normal is in this place. Rona Ambrose led off, declaring that Justin Trudeau broke the Conflict of Interest Code with his vacation with the Aga Khan, and Trudeau reminded her that all questions from the Ethics Commissioner would be answered. Ambrose said that this was a distraction from him doing his job to create jobs, and Trudeau disputed this, stating that he was focused on the middle class and recited actions taken such as tax cuts. Ambrose worried about the possibility of taxing dental and health benefits, but Trudeau repeated his question. Ambrose reiterated the question on benefit plans, and Trudeau merely told her to wait for the upcoming budget. Switching to French, Ambrose then asked about changes coming to the US plunging Canada into a recession. Trudeau noted the beneficial trade relationship that we have with the States, at they would be reiterating this. Thomas Mulcair was up next, demanding that Trudeau stand up to Trump’s racism and hatred. Trudeau noted this twin challenges of ensuring Canadian jobs, and standing up for Canadian values. Mulcair wanted an unequivocal yes or no in French, but Trudeau wouldn’t give him one. Mulcair then switched to the issue of electoral reform and whether the promise was dead, but Trudeau said that they would keep working on it. Mulcair asked again in English, and Trudeau reiterated his happy talking points about working with Canadians to improve our democracy.

Round two, and Denis Lebel worried that the government wouldn’t cope with the Trumpocalypse plans for lower taxes and slashed regulations (Morneau: We are working to grow our economy in the future), Pierre Poilievre worried that there were no actual measures for the “middle class” when it comes to evaluating policy (Morneau: It was all those people left behind by the previous government), and Gérard Deltell returned to the issue of taxing health and dental benefits (Morneau: We cut taxes for the middle class). Hélène Laverdière asked about the safe third country refugee agreement with the US (Hussen: We are proud of our record and respect the agreement) and Jenny Kwan wanted refugee resettlement caps lifted (Hussen: Our immigration levels plan triples privately sponsored refugee levels). Jacques Gourde and Blaine Calkins railed about the PM’s vacation with the Aga Khan (Chagger: This was a life-long friend), Sylvie Boucher and Marilyn Gladu asked about Marie-Claude Bibeau charging to return to her riding (Bibeau: I can’t access my riding by plane or train, so this is legal). Anne Quach and Sheila Malcolmson asked about access to abortion internationally (Bibeau: It’s a right, a health and a development issue, and this is a priority).

Round three saw questions on Yazidi refugees, Chinese foreign takeovers, public input in resource project approvals, Energy East, Super Hornet sole-sourcing, Russian aggression in Ukraine, Phoenix Pay, the US travel ban affecting medical transport across the border, Indigenous youth needs, trade interests, and the US “Muslim ban.”

Following QP, both John McCallum and Stéphane Dion stood to give their farewell speeches to the Commons. McCallum was warm and witty, while Dion gave a grand oration as his final speech. After long lines for hugs an handshakes for each, the party leaders each stood up to give their own speeches of thanks for their service.

https://twitter.com/InklessPW/status/826522162739761152

Overall, it was a fairly average day for QP, with the Conservatives unable to really land a punch on the Aga Khan story (in part because of their use of hyperbole), and while Ambrose made a fairly high-minded sounding statement about Trudeau being accountable to the Commons and not the Ethics Commissioner, the fact that she is an officer of parliament its a circuitous way of accountability. I will also add that new immigration Ahmed Hussen has already shown himself to be a pretty solid performer for a new minister, able to deflect with ease, and not rely on a script in front of him. And for as much as QP was business as usual, we did get some lovely speeches afterward, both from John McCallum and Stéphane Dion, as well as the party leaders and Michelle Rempel for their departure.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to James Bezan for a dark grey suit with a crisp white shirt, and a black and dark blue tie and dark blue pocket square, and to Marie-Claude Bibeau for a nicely tailored black suit with a light blue top. Style citations go out to Anju Dhillon for a melon pink leather jacket with a sparkly silver top, and to Jim Eglinski for a dark grey suit with a burnt sienna shirt and tie.