It’s rare that there is drama around ministers appearing at Senate Question Period, but it happened today. While senators had initially been promised an appearance by finance minister Bill Morneau, he ended up jetting off to Vancouver with the prime minister for the LNG announcement. Apparently Senators were apprised at 11 AM that he wouldn’t be appearing due to “obligations related to NAFTA negotiations,” and the Conservatives got a bit miffed by the last-minute switch to minister Jean-Yves Duclos. Senator Larry Smith led off, noting that they expected Minister Morneau and would ask some questions to the government leader instead, and he launched into a broadside over the trade deal and he lack of action on steel and aluminium tariffs. Senator Harder said that the matter was subject to a stream that was different from the NAFTA agreement, and that the government was still negotiating on them.
Senator Eaton also asked about the clause in the new agreement about “non-market countries” and what it meant for trade with China. Harder responded that all agreements have clauses the termination of the agreement, and it wasn’t surprising and that this particular clause references the opportunity of all sides to review the agreements that any of the three partners might enter into with third parties and that the signatories to NAFTA aren’t disadvantaged.
Senator Munson asked Duclos about funding cuts to services for those with disabilities, and Duclos noted that this is the purview of the minister of disabilities, and that he would pass along the concerns.
Senator Gagné asked about the national housing strategy, and the fact that recent immigrants are not on the priority list despite the fact that they have a great deal of difficulty finding affordable housing. Duclos walked through the goals of the strategy, and that it was a long-term strategy that would evolve thanks to comments like those.
Senator McPhedran asked about Duclos’ recent mission to the UN for the voluntary review of the sustainable development goals, and wanted more on the government’s strategy and how they would get young people involved. Duclos offered an overview of the issue, and noted that there remains a great deal of work to do, and that they were working to involve young people because it involves their future.
Senator Dagenais asked Senator Harder about the compensation for dairy producers in Quebec, and Harder said that he wanted to reassure them that the minister of agriculture was in close contact with his provincial counterparts about the agreement. Likewise, Senator Housakos read off a list of concessions in the agreement. Harder called it a “Vesuvius of blame,” and read Brian Mulroney and Rona Ambrose’s praise.
Senator Joyal asked about the government’s poverty strategy, and the pilot program around guarantee income in Ontario that the provincial government cancelled, and whether the federal government planned to undertake their own pilot project, and what link they could make between guaranteed income and abolishing poverty. Duclos noted that they took measures that were inspired by minimum income programs, such as the Canada Child Benefit, and they indicated to Ontario that they would be willing to offer support if they wished to continue, particularly around things like data.
Senator Boniface asked about recent reports on child welfare in Canada, where UNICEF ranks is 25 out of 41 OECD countries. Duclos said that they have been investing significantly into lifting children out of poverty, into housing, and early learning and childcare.
Senator Martin asked Harder about pharmaceutical patent protection in the new NAFTA, to which Harder noted similar meaning TPP, and the government’s work to lower drug prices in Canada though other means.
Senator Mercer asked about the part of the minister’s mandate around creating an inventory for federal lands that could be used for affordable housing, to which Duclos first praised the national housing strategy again, and to that they would soon announce the inventory and a program to make some of those lands available.
Senator Dupuis asked about the measures for reducing poverty for women, and whether they would consider some kind of allowance for single parents, and Duclos first digressed into the need to properly define poverty in order to find effective measures, which the current government is now undertaking to do, before talking about other measures which can help women participate in the economy.
Senator Duffy asked if the federal lands initiative included military lands, and Duclos assured him that it would include military land that was no longer of use, which could be in rural areas that need affordable housing.
Overall, it wasn’t one of the better Senate QP exercises, both because the Conservatives were somewhat petulant in their refusal to ask Duclos any questions related to his portfolio, but also the fact that Duclos felt the need to preface all of his responses with an overview of the issue before giving a response. It slowed down the pacing of the day, and made for less edifying responses overall.
Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Senator Jean-Guy Dagenais for a black three-piece suit with a crisp white shirt and a blue bow tie, and to Senator Diane Bellemare for a light grey suit and skirt with a dark grey top. Style citations go out to Senator Julie Miville-Dechêne for a leopard print jacket with a large orange and blue scarf, and to Senator Norman Doyle for a medium grey suit with a butterscotch shirt and a brown tie.