Nearly a full day after Donald Trump’s rambling press conference in which he made threats to NAFTA, and both Justin Trudeau and Andrew Scheer were present to face off. Scheer led off in French, and asked why Trudeau didn’t ask for a meeting with Trump in New York. Trudeau took up a script and stated that they were looking for a good deal and not any deal. Schemer switched to English to ask for assurances that there would be no new tariffs next week. Trudeau, still with a script, reiterated that they were looking for a good deal and that the Conservatives would sign any deal put in front of them. Scheer switched topics, and returned to the issue of Tori Stafford’s killer, and Scheer reminded him that she was moved from maximum to medium security under the Conservatives in 2014, and that the Conservatives themselves said that they don’t have the power to affect the security classification of prisoners. Scheer insisted that Stafford’s killer was being moved from behind razor wire and bars to a “condo,” and that the Act gives the government the power to Act. Trudeau accused Scheer of playing word games of his own, and when Scheer tried again, Trudeau reminded him that she remains in medium security. Guy Caron was up next for the NDP, and worried about Energy East being revived, and Trudeau reminded him that the company withdrew their proposal because of market conditions. Caron switched to English to worry about CSIS spying on environmtal activists, and Trudeau reached for a script to say that they respect the right to protest but that the complaints about CSIS were looked into by SIRC and dismissed. Romeo Saganash wanted the entire Cabinet to meet with Indigenous knowledge keepers to understand the meaning of free prior and informed consent, and Trudeau said that they were working forward reconciliation and meeting with First Nations who both supported and opposed projects. Saganash asked again in French, and Trudeau reminded him that not all Indigenous communities oppose projects.

Scheer claims that Tori Stafford’s killer is being moved “to a condo.” #QP

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) September 27, 2018

Round two, and Candice Bergen, Leona Alleslev, and Michelle Rempel returned to the demands that Stafford’s killer be put back behind bars (Goodale: Your government didn’t protest when she was classified as medium security and we have asked for a full review of the file; the Commissioner has the power to make these changes and not the minister). Charlie Angus asked about the mercury poisoning in Grassy Narrows (Philpott: We have been firm in our commitment to support them including a treatment centre; I will look into the news about special education being cut). Erin O’Toole, Richard Martel, and Cathy Wagantal asked about the lawsuit involving veteran Sean Bruyea (O’Regan: I’ve been trying to explain pension-for-life as best as I can; We don’t take veterans to court). Saganash got back up again demand the meeting with Indigenous knowledge keepers (Miller: We are working to dismantle colonial institutions), and Sheila Malcolmson demanded the cancellation of Trans Mountain (Wilkinson: We focused on marine shipping and the plight of the killer whales and we will let the NEB know about that in their assessment).

Round three saw questions on whether the murderer getting veterans benefits were still getting them (O’Regan: We have made adjustments to the programme), NAFTA talks (Leslie: We have made funds available for businesses in need), the effect of carbon taxes on investment (Fraser: We are moving forward with our plans; Morneau: When we took office, we were in a technical recession but now we’re seeing growth), work for Davie shipyard (MacKinnon: We are proud of our partnership with the shipyard, and I recently announced a contract for icebreakers), international investment (Khera: We are proud to partner with the Global Infrastructure Hub), taxing Netflix (Rodriguez: We have invested $3.2 billion in culture), Omar Khadr (Virani: I apologise for not being more sensitive at committee, but we should all be outraged when the Canadian government is complicit in torture), a public inquiry into Lac Mégantic (Garneau: The TSB had a comprehensive report that we have adopted), revoking Aung San Suu Kyi’s honorary citizenship (Leslie: Parliament can consider this, but we are focused on help for Rohingya refugees), and eliminating Supply Management to please Trump (MacAulay: I don’t appreciate the question and we will support Supply Management).

Overall, the day was better and a little less ugly than it was yesterday, but at didn’t mean that there wasn’t still a lot of overwrought rhetoric around what the Conservatives though they could score points off of. That Scheer decided to call the medium-security Healing Lodge a “condo” and his making a big deal about the fact that there weren’t bars and razor wire is indicative that he’s more interested in the performative aspects of the correctional system rather than outcomes that would deal with rehabilitation or ensuring that someone who has had behavioural incidents in prison (as was reported in the media) may be in an environment that could possibly improve her outcomes and de-escalate some of her behavioural issues inside and make other inmates safer as a result. But no — this is simply about looking tough, which probably undermines the efficacy of the justice system when you think about it. But hey, this is politics.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Terry Beech for a navy suit with a white shirt and pocket square with a burgundy tie, and go Pam Damoff for a black dress with a white jacket. Style citations go out to Alaina Lockhart for a black jacket with big yellow florals over a grey top, and to Frank Baylis for a light grey suit with a light yellow shirt and tie. Dishonourable mention goes out to Maryam Monsef for a bright yellow dress with a black jacket.