QP: The “failure” drinking game

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Almost immediately after the dramatic floor-crossing by MP Leona Alleslev from the Liberals to the Conservatives, a smug press conference from Andrew Scheer, and the arrival of new Conservative MP Richard Martel, things settled in for the first QP of the fall sitting. Scheer led off, mini-lectern on desk, and he listed off the various “failures” of Justin Trudeau, getting breathier as he went along. Trudeau first welcomed the new batch of pages to the House before he listed the various successes of the government, including the $2000 more in the pockets of families. Scheer listed the “failures” in the energy sector, and Trudeau noted the ten years of failures by the previous government, and that they would get Trans Mountain built “in the right way.” Scheer tried again, and got slightly more pabulum from Trudeau on the need to get more markets for oil. Scheer then switched to the “crisis” of irregular border crossers, and Trudeau reminded him that while it was a challenge, they invested in necessary measures to ensure that rules are all followed. Scheer asked again in French, and got the same answer. Guy Caron led for the NDP, and he immediately launched into concerns about concessions around Supply Management, to which Trudeau assured him that they would get a good deal on NAFTA. Caron name-dropped Jagmeet Singh and worried about someone’s housing situation, and Trudeau reminded him that they have made investments in housing, and they were moving ahead with a $40 billion national housing strategy. Charlie Angus was up next, and offered some disappointment on behalf of the Kasheshewan First Nation. Trudeau mentioned the billions apportioned to Indigenous communities before picking up a paper to list the interim solution they have come to and that more developments were coming later in the week. Angus responded angrily, demanding immediate solutions, and Trudeau responded with the list of ways they are trying to work with Indigenous communities to solve these problems.

Round two, and Alain Rayes raised the increase in irregular border crossers (Blair: We have actually seen a decrease in August and a big drop over last year), before he counted off the laundry list of “failures” (Morneau: Unemployment is at its lowest in 40 years), and Lisa Raitt and Shannon Stubbs demanded the Trans Mountain pipeline (Morneau: We are moving quickly and will have meaningful consultations with First Nations; Sohi: This is in the national interest and we won’t follow the failed policy of the Conservatives). Karine Trudel railed about Supply Management (MacAulay: We will defend Supply Management), and Tracey Ramsey railed about the TPP legislation (Carr: Trade means growth and growth means jobs). Pierre Paul-Hus and Michelle Rempel returned to concerns about irregular border crossers (Blair: Your government cut resources for CBSA; there have been discussions on the Safe Third Country Agreement and more will happen). Brigitte Sansoucy returned to concern over Supply Management (MacAulay: We will defend Supply Management), and Rachel Blaney worried about a woman who needed housing that was affordable on her pension (Duclos: Here are the measures we have made for seniors and for housing).

Round three saw questions on carbon taxes (McKenna: We created jobs and reduced emissions, and you don’t have a plan), the deficit (Morneau: We are investing in Canadians and the Middle Class™), the Notwithstanding Clause (LeBlanc: Canadians expect all orders of government to uphold their rights and freedoms, and Ontarians will ultimately decide on the actions of their government), pyrrhotite damage to houses (Bains: The National Research Council is running a project to look at these issues), ethical lapses (LeBlanc: When their is uncertainty about the interpretation of the Act, we need to work with the Commissioner, and I accept his finding), lobbyists attending fundraisers (Gould: We are disclosing more about who attends our fundraisers, but they won’t tell us who’s attending theirs), lapsed veterans funding (O’Regan: Benefits are demand-driven and funding is allocated by estimates, so funding is there when veterans need it), the used CF-18 purchase (Sajjan: The previous government cut spending and we increased it), more Supply Management virtue signalling (MacAulay: Same answers as before), and Nutrition North (LeBlanc: I share your sense of urgency, and we have specific ideas that will respond to solutions proposed by Northerners).

Overall, it was not an unusual day in the Commons, but it was awfully repetitive, whether it was the Conservative talking point about the “Summer of Failure™” (which they have tried to create a hashtag about) and mentioning “failed” or “failure” in every single question, or whether it was the constant questions about Supply Management. The “failure” talking point is the Conservatives’ communications strategy, that they’re trying to build a narrative around, because they think that’s how they’re going to be able to brand Trudeau before the next election. And if this is going to be the QP talking point for the next nine months, it’s going to get really, really annoying.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Emmanuel Dubourg for a tailored black suit with a light blue shirt and navy tie, and to Lisa Raitt for a pink blouse and chocolate brown slacks with a white jacket. Style citations go out to Anju Dhillon for a pink and blue striped collared shirt with a white jacket and dark blue slacks, and to Scott Reid for a taupe suit with a light blue shirt and pink tie. Dishonourable mention goes out to Deborah Schulte and Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet for each wearing a yellow jacket with a black top and slacks, along with Rachael Harder for a mustard yellow top with a black jacket and skirt.