QP: Justice delay bafflegab

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With the PM still in France, most of the other leaders didn’t bother showing up either today, which places more doubt in their howling insistence that the QP is so important that the PM should be there daily. But I digress… Denis Lebel led off, asking about an accused murderer released based on the Jordan decision fallout. Jody Wilson-Raybould insisted that they had taken steps to ensure that there was a transparent, merit-based process, and more judges would be appointed soon. Lebel moved onto softwood lumber and the lack of progress — never mind that there is no trade representative appointed in the States — and François-Philippe Champagne insisted that they were working the provinces and working to engage the Americans. Lebel pivoted to the question of Syria and doing something about Assad, and Champagne said that Assad must be held accountable for his war crimes and Canada was committed to humanitarian assistance, refugee resettlement, and ensuring a peaceful Syria. Candice Bergen picked it up in English, accused the government of shifting positions, and wondered how hey planned to institute regime change. Champagne repeated his response in English, never quite answering the regime change question. Bergen then moved onto the Standing Orders, demanding any changes be made by consensus. Chagger gave a bland response about the necessity to have a serious conversation. Thomas Mulcair was up next, and wondered how many court cases had been thrown out because of delays. Wilson-Raybould reiterated her plan to appoint new judges, but didn’t answer the question. Mulcair asked why the delays in French, and Wilson-Raybould said that she was meeting with provinces to discuss the issues of delays in order to find a coordinated approach to tackling them. Mulcair moved onto problems with the military justice system, and Navdeep Bains responded that they were planning to work on ensuring reforms to that system. Mulcair sniped that Bains answered, then moved onto veterans’ pensions, and Ralph Goodale asserted that they would have an announcement later this year.

Round two, and Gérard Deltell worried about the deficit (Morneau: We are investing in Canadians), and he and John Barlow asked about liberalizing alcohol trade as part of the internal trade agreement (Bains: We are seized of this issue), and Pierre Poilievre worried about green technology being priced out of the market (McKenna: We need to put a price on what we don’t want, which is pollution). Anne Quach and Alistair MacGregor worried that there was no transition plan for marijuana decriminalization (Wilson-Raybould: Simply decriminalizing won’t keep it from kids or profits from the black market). Scott Reid worried about the pile-up of priorities at the Procedure and House Affairs committee (Gould: I await your report on Elections Act changes), and Luc Berthold and Blake Richards returned to the issue of the Standing Orders (Chagger: The discussion paper is looking for discussion). Jenny Kwan worried about “lost Canadian” citizenship loopholes (Hussen: We are waiting for Bill C-6 to pass to close some of these), and Matthew Dubé worried about cellphone trackers (Goodale: Any use of these devices by our agencies is done with proper warrants).

Round three saw questions on sanctions on Russia, public service executives in charge of the Phoenix pay system getting bonuses, softwood lumber, housing for seniors, court delays, campground taxes, the problems with the “Story of Us” docu-series, problems with our statements around ethnic cleansing in Burma, use of the Notwithstanding Clause regarding the Jordan Decision, and tax havens.

Overall, it was completely scattershot, questions being all over the map, where the only focused questions had to do with apocalyptic talking points about the Standing Orders as opposed to other serious matters like Syria or the justice system. When they did ask about delays in the courts, they didn’t actually press Jody Wilson-Raybould her non-answers, instead serving up repeated preambles from scripted questions for their media clip buffet menu. If they are so concerned about accountability, then maybe they should do a better job of asking some reasonable questions in a reasonable manner rather than this  bargain basement outrage theatre. Right now, what’s on offer isn’t accountability, nor is it theatre. It’s noise.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Bardish Chagger for a pale orange dress with traditional sparkly Indian decoration and a dark orange cape, and to Navdeep Bains for a black suit with a light blue shirt and a matching orange turban and tie. (For the record, both are wearing orange for Vaisakhi). Style citations go out to Michael McLeod for a dark grey suit with a butterscotch shirt and brown tie, and to Diane Finley for a bright floral pastel jacket with black slacks.

One thought on “QP: Justice delay bafflegab”

  1. Reading you daily on QP makes me wonder if there is a point to Parliament. You would say accountability but in reality the government is not accountable, look at the way they answer questions. On the Justice matter, this is a serious debacle when an accused murderer can escape Justice because the Minister responsible is taking her sweet time with appointments. I know of one appointment here where someone has been vetted and is ready to assume the job but the Minister has now delayed for months on this announcement for political reasons. Imagine someone kills you and escape Justice because of a politician can’t see priorities. On the latest matter of Regime Change in Syria, it is laughable that the PMJT is even saying this backing an erratic Trump. Canada with no Navy, no Air Force and a small army making pronouncements about changing the Russian backed regime in Syria. Seriously! Bergen’s question is very a propos, How will PMJT do this? As for Ms Chaggar she is seriously incompetent unable to get beyond her talking points. For Citizens like myself I find this nauseating, I really don’t know how you do it.

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