After the prime minister spent his morning hearing from youth about their issues (and, interesting enough, electoral reform was not brought up), he was in QP, ready for the grand inquest of the nation. Rona Ambrose led off, bringing up the Globe and Mail investigation on “unfounded” sexual assault complaints in the country, and about ensuring that the RCMP have sufficient training to deal with it. Trudeau said that they were working to address gender-based violence and sexual assault and making changes at the institutional level. Ambrose changed topics to fears that jobs would end sent south for lower taxes and slashed regulations, to which Trudeau pointed out their record of tax cuts and enhanced child benefits. Ambrose pressed the topic on trade issues, and Trudeau pointed out how many American jobs depended on trade with Canada. Denis Lebel went for another round in French, got the same answer, and for his last question, Lebel worried about softwood lumber. Trudeau noted that he has talked about it with the Americans constantly, and that they remain engaged on the topic. Nathan Cullen led off for the NDP, wailing about proportional representation. Trudeau reminded him that there was no consensus and no responsible path forward. Cullen railed about broken promises, and Trudeau pointed about other progress on the democracy file before reiterating that there was no consensus. Alexander Boulerice picked up to give the angry denunciations in French, and Trudeau hit back by talking about working in the best interests of the country. He then tried to insinuate that the PM was lying and got cautioned by the Speaker for it, not that Trudeau’s response changed.

Denis Lebel should check with StatsCan. There were a lot of full-time jobs created in the previous labour force survey release. #QP

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) February 6, 2017

Boulerice again getting cautioned by the Speaker for saying the PM's pants were on fire. #QP

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) February 6, 2017

Round two, and Pierre Poilievre worried about the impacts of carbon taxes on the poorest (Morneau: Our policies have been specifically directed to help the most vulnerable), Gérard Deltell worried about the fate of pension income splitting (Morneau: We will have some important measures in the budget), and Diane Watts worried about the pace of infrastructure spending (Sohi: We have done more than the previous government did). Tracey Ramsey and Ruth Ellen Brosseau worried that the Liberals wouldn’t protect supply management (MacAulay: We fully support supply management). David Anderson asked about energy policies (MacAulay: My chief of staff is honoured in her community) and Canadian Grain Commission appointments (MacAulay: We made merit-based appointments), Michael Cooper asked about Jody Wilson-Raybould’s former chief of staff being appointed to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (Wilson-Raybould: She is fully qualified for the role), and Jacques Gourde re-asked about both in French (Chagger: We have an open appointments process). Brigitte Sansoucy and Murray Rankin asked about rising healthcare costs (Philpott: We are investing in record amounts above the rate of growth).

Round three saw questions on the planned Super Hornet purchase, funding for Katimavik, the Phoenix pay system, Nexus cards being revoked, a Canadian in Iran, First Nations transparency, funding for CNIB, keeping deficit promises, denouncing a columnist for a piece about Quebec, and healthcare transfers.

So now the Bloc is asking the PM to condemn @JJ_McCullough.
Joly denounces the sentiments in his piece. #QP

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) February 6, 2017

Overall, it was a fairly standard day with almost no fireworks, Alexandre Boulerice’s little outburst notwithstanding. It was also good to see Ambrose ensure that the first question of the day went to the important issue highlighted in the Globe piece, and that Trudeau was prepared with an actual response to it and not just a couple of bland talking points. I would also add that the government should have had better responses to the questions on appointments, as I think it required more than just saying the process was open and transparent. I’m also curious about the Conservatives’ new tactic of asking about whether or not the government will roll back one tax measure or another that their government put into place, and we’ll see if they’ve got a whole list they plan to ask over the next couple of weeks until the budget is due to be released.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Jane Philpott for a black and blue striped dress with a black leather jacket, and to Joël Lightbound for a tailored black suit with a crisp white shirt and a skinny black patterned tie. Style citations go out to Larry Miller for a dark green suit with a light yellow-green shirt and tie, and to and to Filomena Tassi for a hot pink jacket with black piping and a black top. Dishonourable mention goes out to Ginette Petitpas Taylor for a mustard jacket with a black turtleneck and skirt.