QP: Not going to talk about this case

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As the PM was again at the UN, Andrew Scheer did decide to show up today, and he led off QP with the question on the convicted murderer getting veterans benefits, which was the subject of their Supply Day motion. He apparently didn’t get the news that the department had already withdrawn benefits in cases of incarcerated family members, likely meaning that this case was included. Seamus O’Regan said that he heard back from his officials, and he as directing them to ensure that any treatment for the family members of veterans was related to the veteran’s service, and that extenuating circumstances like this one would be reviewed by senior officials. Scheer changed topics, and demanded the government provide a guarantee on building the Trans Mountain expansion pipeline, to which Amarjeet Sohi said that the plan Scheer laid out yesterday disregarded the courts and the consultations with Indigenous communities. Scheer demanded enabling legislation, but Sohi talked down the Conservative record. Gérard Deltell got up next to demand a date for construction in French, to which Sohi said they were going to move forward in the right way. Deltell demanded legislation, and Sohi said that the previous government cut corners, which was why they didn’t get pipelines built to the “global market.” Guy Caron was up next for the NDP, and he railed about the plans for the Trans Mountain expansion, and Sohi said that they announced the marine protection plan and would annonce the rest shortly. Caron insisted that the government wanted to do away with consultations with Indigenous communities, and Sohi insisted that they were determined to get it right. Romeo Saganash accused the government of wilfully ignoring the rights of Indigenous peoples, and after an admonishion for his unparliamentary language, Sohi insisted that they would move forward in the right way. Rachel Blaney demanded the project be cancelled, but Sohi shrugged and said that they value the fact that there are diverse views on the project.

Round two, and Lisa Raitt, Alain Rayes, and Phil McColeman returned to the question of the murderer getting benefits (O’Regan: We won’t discuss this because it involves the treatment of the father, and you played with veterans’ benefits like they were playing cards). Alexandre Boulerice and Nathan Cullen raised the Washington State concerns about a possible pipeline spill (Wilkinson: We’ve done an enormous around of work, and this project is being done in an environmentally responsible way). Rachael Harder, Richard Martel and Mark Strahl returned to the murderer question (O’Regan: The victim’s family should not have to endure this case being brought up for political expediency). Tracey Ramsey worried that a renegotiated NAFTA would raise drug prices (Leslie: We will stand up for Canadians), and Murray Rankin groused that the Liberals refused to study the use of the Notwithstanding Clause in committee (LeBlanc: We’ve been clear that it should only be used in extreme circumstances, and we spoke out when Ontario planned to use it).

Round three saw questions on passing Scheer’s Trans Mountain plan (Sohi: That is complete disregard for the court ruling and for consulting with Indigenous people), opioid overdose deaths and drug decriminalisation (Petitpas Taylor: The global call for action will help us move forward, and we need to be at the table to affect change), the murderer case and the recent developments from the department (O’Regan: I can’t talk about this specific case), repairs at La Citadelle (Sajjan: We will ensure that it meets UNESCO standards), pay equity legislation (Hajdu: We will be moving forward on this legislation this year), carbon pricing and Paris targets (Fraser: We are confident that we will meet our targets), migrant processing in Quebec (LeBlanc: The number of interceptions has decreased since last year), and extreme weather events vs pipelines (Fraser: We will take steps to get resources to new markets while we reach our Paris targets). 

Overall, it was a repetitive day full of histrionics, as once again, the questions around this particular odious incident escalated and got increasingly performative as they went along. While they kept howling that O’Regan wouldn’t answer the direct question if Christopher Garnier’s benefits were revoked along with the policy change (once it filtered through to QP, around the beginning of the third round), no matter how many times he stated that he wouldn’t comment on this specific case because it involved the treatment of a veteran (meaning the father). The other thing that got everyone’s attention, being Romeo Saganash’s f-bomb, was one to those incidents that is overblown as it always is, but especially because it seemed to be planned, especially as he was seen to be joking around with his colleagues about it after the fact. That makes it seem less about spontaneous frustration than it does about a stunt, which cheapens the whole thing.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Arif Virani for a black suit with a light purple shirt and dark purple tie, and to Michelle Rempel for a black wrap dress with three-quarter sleeves. Style citations go out to Bernadette Jordan for a tan sweater with brown florals and navy sleeves along with black slacks, and to Brian Masse for a black suit and tie with a burnt orange shirt.