QP: Supply Managed Pipelines

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After a morning of caucus meetings, the benches were full in the Commons as everyone was ready for the first photo-PMQs of the fall. Andrew Scheer led off in French, mini-lectern on desk, and he read about the “failure” of the Trans Mountain pipeline. Trudeau responded with the tired trope of the environment and the economy going together, before saying they would consult Indigenous people again, and that the Conservatives only wanted to minimize environmental protection. Scheer reiterated the question in English, got the same response, and Scheer then insisted that their government got four pipelines built and accused the government of trying to phase out the oil sector. Trudeau responded with his talking points about economic growth rates. Scheer railed about the $4.5 billion sent to Texas investors, while Trudeau said that the Conservatives must be content to see the project fail because it his government hadn’t bought it, the project would be dead in the water. Scheer ditched his script for the final quote is on, and demanded the prime minister scrap the environmental assessment bill. Trudeau retorted that the Conservatives didn’t have any plans to do anything they demanded. Guy Caron led off for the NDP and railed about Supply Management, and Trudeau repeated his talking points about supporting the system. Caron tried again, got the same answer, and then Ruth Ellen Brosseau took a turn, and she too got the same response. Alaistair MacGregor repeated the question yet again in English, with a Vancouver Island spin, and wouldn’t you know it, he too got the same response from Trudeau, before he repeated his new quip that the Conservatives will sign any deal no matter how bad.

Round two, and Lisa Raitt demanded Dominic LeBlanc’s resignation (Trudeau: We ensure that we work with the Ethics Commissioner — err, except they didn’t really in this case), and Pierre Paul-Hus and Michelle Rempel worried about irregular border crossers (Trudeau: It’s a challenge, but security screening is done and that the immigration and refugee process is being applied to all people arriving in the country; You don’t have a real plan and are drumming up fear). Anne Quach asked about the NEB not responding to concerns about an Enbridge pipeline (Trudeau: We take the environment and the economy seriously), and Pierre Nantel railed about the purchase of Trans Mountain (Trudeau: We are growing the economy and protecting the environment). Gérard Deltell demanded tax cuts to compete with the US (Trudeau: We have lowered taxes for small businesses), and Pierre Poilievre picked up the same line (Trudeau: Do you agree with Harper’s position that a bad deal is better than no deal for NAFTA?) and railed about Energy East (Trudeau: A private company withdrew the proposal – that wasn’t even close to formal consideration – because the markets changed and they had another pipeline that they had trouble filling space on). Don Davies asked about the opioid crisis (Trudeau, with script: Here are the investments and we won’t treat this as a criminal issue), and Brigitte Sansoucy asked about EI sick leave (Trudeau, with script: We are supporting people).

Round three saw questions on the PM’s many “failures” (Trudeau: Here’s a laundry list of things we’ve succeeded on), Trans Mountain (Trudeau with script: Here are the energy projects we approved, doing it the right way), energy jobs (Trudeau: People in the energy sector there is not path forward unless we also protect the environment and respect the rights of Indigenous people), PTSD service dogs (Trudeau, with script: We’ve increased investments, and we expanded the tax credit for service dogs, and we are funding three research initiatives related to service animals), help for veterans (Trudeau: We are working hard to meet their needs and expectations), a pilot shortage in the RCAF and purchasing used fighters (Trudeau: We are getting the job done, and the Conservatives botched the fighter jet replacement programme), the convicted murderer who got Veterans’ Affairs-funded PTSD counselling (Trudeau: Your government put in the system, and veteran’s family can access benefits, but I can’t talk about this case), Supply Management (Trudeau: Thanks for defending it, because I know it’s not unanimous on your side of the House), cultural industries (Trudeau: We are defending and investing in culture), the stones used in the Citadel (Trudeau: We are ensuring that they will do their due diligence).

Overall, as an exercise in PMQs, Trudeau largely stuck to his usual pattern of bland talking points in the face of the Conservatives deploying their “failure” talking points at every opportunity, but I will say that Trudeau exceeded my expectations on the response about Energy East, where he actually provided a full answer about the market conditions and the proponent’s commitments with Keystone XL coming online. It was a proper answer to counter misinformation and not just his usual pabulum about the environment and the economy going together. Wow! I would also note that Trudeau used fewer scripts for the first two thirds of QP than usual, which is an encouraging sign. I also found it very curious that when Leona Alleselv stood up to ask a question, Trudeau read some lame talking points in response, but when James Bezan followed up with the same question, Trudeau launched into a blistering counterattack (off the cuff and not scripted). I’m not sure if he was taking it easy on one of his former MPs, or if he found it easier to attack the Conservative record by a longer-term MP than someone who just joined their ranks. Nevertheless, it was a bit odd.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Frank Baylis for a tailored charcoal suit with a light pink shirt and a darker pink tie and pocket square, and to Julie Dzerowicz for a cream jacket with a black top. Style citations go out to Rosemarie Falk for a brown dress with pink florals, and to Bob Bratina for a maroon suit with a light pink shirt and a burgundy tie. Dishonourable mention goes out to Kevin Waugh for a black suit with a bright yellow shirt and a yellow checked tie.

One thought on “QP: Supply Managed Pipelines”

  1. Thanks for pointing out that Trudeau countered the Cons on energy East. They have been lying about this for months without a rejoinder from Trudeau or the Energy minister. Maybe now the Liberals will start seriously calling out the specious statements by the policy barren Scheer minions. I think the liberals have been far too easy on these people. It is time to get really edgy with them. We have not forgotten the Harper years.

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