QP: Elections, Hamas, and subsidies

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On a pleasant Wednesday afternoon in the nation’s capital, the benches were full in the Commons as MPs gathered for what was not only Question Period, but the practice of proto-Prime Ministers Questions, something that has never quite worked out in practice. Andrew Scheer led off, concerned about the electoral reform bill, and the fact that it would allow for American-funded groups to campaign and that the government could make announcements on taxpayer’s funds. Trudeau reminded him that most of those changes were recommendations from Elections Canada, and the previous government tried to ruin our electoral system. Scheer then asked why the government didn’t choose their first candidate for Chief Electoral Officer, to which Trudeau took up a script to read about how great the chosen candidate is. Scheer then changed topics to demand that Trudeau walk back on his statement about the shootings in Gaza and blame Hamas, to which Trudeau said that he spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu about the incident and the fact that a Canadian civilian doctor was shot by an Israeli sniper, and that demanded an investigation. Scheer took exception to this, insisting that Israel goes out of its way to protect civilians, and Trudeau chastised Scheer for politicising the Israeli question. Scheer railed that Trudeau was not condemning Hamas and that they were the ones who politicised the situation, and Trudeau responded by regaling him with Conservative protesters picketing the home of a Toronto Jewish leader who openly supported the Liberal party in the last election. Guy Caron was up next for the NDP, demanding an end to fossil fuel subsidies, and Trudeau took up a script to say that they were working on their plan to phase out emissions and that Trans Mountain was part of that plan. Caron demanded to know the ceiling for the “subsidy” to Kinder Morgan, and Trudeau responded off the cuff that they have strengthened measures to ensure that Kinder Morgan got their approval and that it sends a signal that projects could get built. Jenny Kwan took over in English to reiterate the same questions, and Trudeau took up his script to reminder that the G7 plan was by 2025. Kwan railed that the government had no intention to phase out the subsidies, and Trudeau reiterate their commitment to growing the economy while lowering emissions. 

Round two, and Pierre Poilievre expounded on his demands for the costs of the carbon tax on Canadians (Trudeau: We are putting a price on pollution to help Canadians make better choices), and Sylvie Boucher and Gérard Deltell worried about the costs of the G7 meeting in Charlevoix, particularly around damage by protesters (Trudeau: We are pleased to welcome world leaders to Charlevoix, and I will meet with local community leaders to address their concerns). Pierre-Luc Dusseault and Don Davies worried about taxes charged on cannabis while other prescriptions are not taxed (Trudeau: We know that some recreational users are getting medical cannabis, and we want to work with the medical marijuana community so that they don’t suffer undue penalties once the legalised system is up and running). Matt Jeneroux, Alain Rayes, and Shannon Stubbs worried about what was done to get Trans Mountain built (Trudeau: We will get it built and we won’t just talk a good game; I look forward to what the Conservatives will say once construction season starts and we get shovels in the ground). Ruth Ellen Brosseau and Nathan Cullen worried that the government was limiting debate on the elections bill (Trudeau: This is the fourth day of debate, and we want to get it to committee). 

Round three saw questions on the Ethics Commissioner’s investigation into the Arctic surf clam fishery (Trudeau, with script: We decided to include Indigenous people in this fishery as a step to reconciliation; We respect the work of the Commissioner), banning plastic straws (Trudeau: We are planning to take action with the G7), political parties being subject to privacy laws (Trudeau: We made our fundraisers open, why won’t your party?), returning ISIS fighters (Trudeau, with script: We respect the work of our security and border officers, and you’re just fear-mongering), the Port of Churchill (Trudeau, with script: We recognise the impact of the loss of rail line, and no negotiations will be made in public), dairy producers (Trudeau, with script: We have invested millions in the sector, and yay Supply Management), and Canada 2020 conference getting tax dollars (Trudeau: If the public service wants to send people to conferences, that’s their choice).

Overall, it wasn’t the worse proto-PMQs we’ve seen by far, but it wasn’t really edifying in any great way. Scheer going hard on the Hamas question didn’t seem to do much other than give Trudeau a chance to look reasonable on the fact that he wanted answers as to why a Canadian doctor was shot by an Israeli sniper, and on Trans Mountain pipeline questions, Trudeau got a bit scrappy to the point that Trudeau made the point that if his government actually gets shovels in the ground that he is curious what the Conservative lines will be then. Otherwise, it was pretty usual for a PMQ day – the answers were mostly bland and canned, which remains the ultimate weakness of his attempt at this kind of format without either the wit or preparation of UK politics that goes with it. 

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Shannon Stubbs for a black dress with a fuchsia sweater, and to Frank Baylis for a tailored medium grey suit with a lavender shirt and purple tie. Style citations go out to Arif Virani for a khaki suit with a white shirt and black tie, and to Kelly Block for a black dress with florals. Dishonourable mention goes out to Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet for a bright yellow jacket with a black top and slacks.