QP: One of sixty first cousins

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On the return of Parliament after a break week and Victoria Day, it was almost a pleasant surprise to see all of the leaders present – something that’s become increasingly rare of late. Andrew Scheer led off, mini-lectern on desk, and he read some great concern that the prime minister had “ordered” Elections Canada to implement the changes of the electoral reform bill before it had even had any debate in the Commons. (Note: I don’t think the PM can issue such an order, because Elections Canada is arm’s length from the government). Justin Trudeau took up a script to read about how they were looking to reverse the changes that the previous government made to make it harder to vote. Scheer demanded that the government commit to not make any spending announcements during the pre-writ period, and this time Trudeau replied extemporaneously that the previous government made changes that were for their own benefit rather than making it easier for Canadians to vote. Scheer then read about the Dogwood initiative getting American funds, and how that was foreign funding interfering in Canadian elections, and Trudeau reminded him that they believe in things like freedom of speech and that they don’t brand groups as eco-terrorists. Scheer then changed tactics to ask about the carbon tax in French, citing disingenuous numbers about the impact on the GDP, and Trudeau reminded him that 80 percent of Canadians already live in jurisdictions with a carbon price. Scheer switched back to English to decry the increase in taxes on hard-working Canadians, and Trudeau reiterated that they are working with the provinces to have their own approaches to pricing carbon, and that the respect for provincial jurisdiction was lacking from the previous government. Guy Caron was up next, and concern trolled that the government hadn’t abolished subsidies for oil companies, and Trudeau didn’t so much respond as say that they promised to grow the economy while reducing emissions. Caron then equated any investment in Trans Mountain to a subsidy and demanded to know how much they would spend on it, and Trudeau reminded him that they don’t negotiate in public. Rachel Blaney reiterated the question in English, insinuating that the government were no longer forward-looking, and Trudeau reiterated his response before adding that they strengthened the process around Trans Mountain. Blaney made the link between billons for Kinder Morgan and boil-water advisories on First Nations, and Trudeau reminded her that they are on track to ending boil-water advisories, and the NDP should listen to those First Nations that support the pipeline.

Round two, and Gérard Deltell returned to the concern trolling about the carbon tax (McKenna: A price on carbon works — just look at BC), and he worried that groups are being shut out from consultations because they don’t agree with the government (Lightbound: We always get a range of views), while Pierre Poilievre worried about the impact of carbon pricing on fisheries (McKenna: The fishing industry grew in BC while emissions went down under a carbon tax). Ruth Ellen Brosseau and Nathan Cullen moaned about the possibility of time allocation on the electoral reform bill (Gould: We had thirty hours of debate on this in the PROC committee). Peter Kent demanded that Dominic LeBlanc be removed from the Arctic surf clam fishery and restart ten process while he is under investigation by the Ethics Commissioner (LeBlanc: The person in question is one of sixty first-cousins of my wife), and he raised Raj Grewal’s investigation (Chagger: He cleared it with the Commissioner, and we always cooperate with the Commissioner), and Alain Rayes reiterated both the in French (LeBlanc, Chagger: Same answers). Cheryl Hardcastle raised the arrest of women activists in Saudi Arabia (Freeland: I am standing up for these women and I have raised it directly with them), and Hélène Laverdière raised the demand for an independent investigation into the shootings at Gaza (Freeland: We support a neutral investigation process, and we won’t support a clearly biased motion by the UN human right as council).

Round three saw questions on the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion (Carr: We will get the pipeline built when you didn’t), rail grain shipments (Garneau: You didn’t get this done in ten years, and you didn’t fast track the bill), waiving interest payments for students (Hajdu: We have increased supports by 50 percent and ensured that they don’t have to pay until they make a certain amount a year), the Arctic surf clam fishery (LeBlanc: We involved Indigenous partners), CBSA agents being moved to the Quebec border (Goodale: We already increased resources for Pearson, and service standards are up), the ISIS returnee (Goodale: Our police and security agencies work to keep Canadians safe, and operations are active and ongoing, and we don’t broadcast plans to suspects), $600 spent on coffee by PMO officials at a London conference (Chagger: The coffee was purchased for members of the media at the cabinet retreat and an error was made on the proactive disclosure), the Netflix deal not being good for Quebec (Joly: The Netflix deal is a transitional measure while we reform our broadcasting legislation), Andrew Scheer tried to pin Trudeau for not condemning Hamas (Freeland: Canada condemns the violence and the shooting of a Canadian doctor, which is why we are calling for an independent investigation), demands for a single Quebec tax return (Khera: We are giving good service to Canadians), and the Trans Mountain indemnity being made conditional on using Regina steel (Carr: The contracts have already been awarded).

Overall, it was a far more scattershot day than I had initially expected it to be, but that’s not such a bad thing considering that we didn’t get the same question asked eleventy times. Best response of the day was certainly Dominic LeBlanc in noting that the ethics investigation into the fact that one of the people involved in the winning bid for the Arctic surf clam fishery was one of his wife’s cousins was the fact that he is but one of sixty first cousins, which puts a whole new spin on the supposed scandal. The least successful attempt at a “gotcha” question was around the $600 coffee tab, and when Bardish Chagger indicated that it was for journalists covering the cabinet retreat, all eyes turned to the press gallery. (I resisted making a rude gesture given the “must be nice” mutterings). Also, Erin Weir got his first question as an independent MP today, and he kept it to local concerns, which is heartening to see.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Catherine McKenna for a pink and white dress with a white jacket with three-quarter sleeves, and to David Lametti for a blue-grey suit with a pink shirt and a pink and grey striped tie. Style citations go out to Bill Blair for a black jacket with a black-on-black striped shirt with a white collar, and black and grey diagonally-striped tie, and to Rachael Harder for a black short-sleeved dress with florals.