QP: Borders and carbon prices

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On a warm and sunny Monday in the nation’s capital, all of the leaders were present, so it was either going to be a really good day…or an insufferable one. Andrew Scheer led off, mini-lectern on desk, and he noted the unfolding situation of an alleged attack in Toronto with a white van running down pedestrians. Justin Trudeau noted that his thoughts were with those affected, and he would update the House as he learned more. Scheer then asked about the number of irregular border crossers affecting those who “wait in line” — except there’s not a line for asylum seekers, there’s a process, and he’s conflating it with immigration. Trudeau noted that Canada is signatory to international conventions, and that any arrivals are processed and that they go through proper security checks. Scheer tried again, and this time Trudeau wondered if Scheer was suggesting that they violate their international obligations. Scheer then turned to the PBO report on carbon pricing, and he cherry-picked one figure that portended doom (where the report stated differently). Trudeau gave a weary sigh, and reminded him that the economy and the environment go together. Scheer tried to insinuate that there was some kind of cover-up about the “economic damage” that a carbon tax would do, and Trudeau hit back that if Scheer was so concerned about secrecy, he should stop censoring Maxime Bernier. Guy Caron was up next for the NDP, and after he made a quick statement about the situation in Toronto, he demanded the immediate implementation of a universal pharmacare programme. Trudeau took up a script to say that the system can be improved and they are consulting on a national pharmacare programme — note that he didn’t say universal. Caron asked again in French, detailing previous Liberal promises, and Trudeau said that the NDP wanted to set up something without a clear plan, which is why his government set up an advisory committee to study and evaluate a universal pharmacare programme (not sure if universal was just a translation issue this time). Rachel Blaney took her own turn to demand pharmacare, and Trudeau repeated his answer about needing a plan, emphasising the digs at the NDP in the process. Blaney tried again, and got the same answer.

Round two, and Alain Rayes, and Michelle Rempel returned to the irregular asylum seekers (Hussen: We have invested in faster processing and more border officers; Your government cut funding to the IRB and CBSA), and Pierre Paul-Hus demanded to know if returning ISIS fighters were under surveillance given that their is a threat they may know how to use chemical weapons (Holland: There are two people facing charges, and the risk level is extremely low). Karine Trudel and Scott Duvall demanded legislation to protect pensions (Bains: We have measures in the budget). Pierre Poilievre turned to the PBO report on carbon pricing, again cherry-picking the figures (Wilkinson: The PBO did not model the growth and innovation that carbon pricing provides; Morneau: There has been great economic growth thanks to our programme, and we stand behind the forecast in the budget), and rising debt payments (Morneau: We are investing in Canadian families, and the country works when people are working). Kennedy Stewart and Sheila Malcolmson concern trolled about how the Trans Mountain pipeline would start construction if they haven’t met all of their NEB conditions (Carr: Growth! Environmental stewardship! Consultation with Indigenous communities!)

Round three saw questions on the foreign investment falling (Carr: Investment was up in 2017, and investor I speak to say that Canada is a wonderful place to invest), taxing web giants (Joly: We are trying to find a consensus and working multilaterally), a national food policy (MacAulay: We consulted and received 40,000 replies), court delays (Wilson-Raybould: Pass Bill C-75, and I will continue to appoint judges), the Arctic surf clam fishery (LeBlanc: We plan to work with the people of Grand Bank to ensure they get processing jobs), poor management in a shipwreck dismantling (LeBlanc: We want to see this ship gone too, and that why we’ve invested in doing so), concern trolling over the Liberal policy resolution on drug decriminalisation (Blair: We are treating this as a public health issue and not a criminal one, which is why we have restored harm reduction), the lack of an official French version of the 1867 constitution (Wilson-Raybould: The case you’re referring to is before the courts; Joly: It is before the courts), and ocean plastic pollution (Trudeau: This is a pressing action, and we phased out micro-beads, and are bringing this to the G7).

Overall, it wasn’t insufferable today, but it was trying at times. Instead of hitting back at Scheer’s false suggestions regarding the PBO report, Trudeau chose to make partisan digs and recite some platitudes about the environment and the economy going together rather than pushing back that Scheer was ignoring the bulk of what the report said, that the full context painted a different picture entirely about the effect of a carbon price where the revenues are efficiently recycled by the provincial government, and pointing out just how disingenuous Scheer (and later Poilievre) were being. But no, he refuses to do so, and Scheer continues to spin false narratives as a result. Thankfully, many of the ministers were still pushing back, but it still feels like a losing battle to have some semblance of truth being part of the discussion, as Scheer and company then clip these disingenuous questions and spread them over social media.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Frank Baylis for a black suit with a lavender shirt and purple tie and pocket square, and to Cheryl Gallant for a black dress with a long black jacket with a white link pattern. Style citations go out to Kellie Leitch for an indigo dress with a hot pink jacket with blue trim, and to Navdeep Bains for a black suit with a blue striped shirt, pink and blue stripe tie, and a bright red turban.