QP: Trying to lay an obvious trap

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Following statements marking the two fallen soldiers who were killed by terrorists on Canadian soil four years ago, Andrew Scheer led off in French, mini-lectern on desk, reading a demand to deal with returnees from groups like ISIS, and that included demanding support for their opposition motion. Justin Trudeau responded with a statement of support for the police and intelligence services who are looking to bring these people to justice, and that they would support their motion. Scheer switched to English to repeat the demand, saying the government hasn’t done enough, and Trudeau reiterated the response in English. Scheer switched to the Mark Norman case, demanding the records from PMO be released to Norman’s defence, and Trudeau said that he wouldn’t comment on the case as it’s before the courts. Scheer insisted that he didn’t want comment on the case, but wanted to know if he would release the documents, to which Trudeau said that there were all kinds of other things they could ask about but they were fixated on this court case he couldn’t comment on. Scheer took Trudeau up on the invitation to ask about the New NAFTA, and wondered about caps on dairy exports to third countries, but Trudeau simply praised Supply Management and didn’t answer. Guy Caron was up next for the NDP, lamenting that Canada could not meet their GHG targets, to which Trudeau accused the opposition of refusing to accept that the economy and the environment to together. Caron changed to French, and railed about the purchase of the Trans Mountain pipeline, and Trudeau listed investments in environmental protection that they’ve made, and insisted that they would meet their GHG targets. Hélène Laverdière demanded that arms to Saudi Arabia be halted, to which Trudeau picked up a script to read his condemnation for the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, and said that they were working closely with G7 allies. Laverdière switched to English to repeat the demand, and Trudeau read his English version of the script, with new paragraphs on strengthening export permit reviews.

Round two, and Candice Bergen, Alain Rayes, and James Bezan asked about when former journalist James Cudmore was given the offer to employment in his office (Sajjan: I don’t have the exact date, but I know where you’re going with this and I can’t comment on that; McCrimmon: These kinds of questions are inappropriate). Murray Rankin demanded expungements for pot possession convictions (Blair: We firmly believe the pardon system is the appropriate way to deal with these), and Charlie Angus worried about a school for Kasheshewan (Philpott: We are working with the community, and we have made an offer for an immediate offer for a school and a long-term solution). Leona Alleslev, Sylvie Boucher, and Erin O’Toole returned to the Mark Norman case (McCrimmon: This line of questioning is not appropriate). Karine Trudel and Irene Mathyssen demanded postal banking (Qualtrough: We have presented a new vision for Canada Post).

Round three saw yet more questions on Mark Norman via James Cudmore (McCrimmon: Same answer), a hospitalized temporary foreign worker (Hussen: I can’t talk about this in public but we can talk privately after), Greyhound service (Garneau: We are working with the provinces on measures to replace Greyhound), balancing the budget (O’Connell: We’re growing the economy), supply ships (Sajjan: We have two permanent ships on order, and a second interim ship is not needed at this time), getting YouTube and Spotify to put money back in Canada (Rodriguez: We are modernising our systems and have made investments), UNRWA funding by example of the Summer Jobs grants (Hajdu: We ensure people getting funds respect our values), the murder of Khashoggi (Freeland: Those responsible must be held to account), Chrysler not repaying their loans (Carr: The previous government bailed them out with no intention of getting repayment, but we exhausted all possibilities for recovery), and the postal monopoly (Hajdu: We believe in collective bargaining).

Overall, it was something of a frustrating day because the Mark Norman questions weren’t subtle or clever, and yet they kept insisting that they were. They started out with the James Cudmore questions, and for anyone who’s read anything about the case, that’s an immediate clue as to what they are after, so when the government refused to answer, the Conservatives were going “aha! You admit he’s involved in the case!” when they made the links on their own in subsequent questions. And after asking questions about things like “who are you protecting?” they then turn around and insist that they haven’t talked about the case, and just as they’re insisting that they’re trying to get evidence for the defence, they’re simultaneously insisting that they’re not prosecuting the case on the floor of the Commons. I mean come on. We’re not idiots, and you’re not being clever. This is turning into a gong show that the majority of Canadians are left wondering about why this is what they’re spending all of their time on. But what do I know?

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Justin Trudeau for a tailored navy suit with a light blue shirt and purple tie, and to Chrystia Freeland for a short-sleeved fuchsia dress. Style citations go out to Ruth Ellen Brosseau for a black jacket with loud pink florals, and to Bernard Généroux for a tan jacket with a tight grid pattern along with a white shirt and a grey patterned tie. Dishonourable mention goes out to repeat offender Deborah Schulte for her bright yellow jacket with a black top and slacks.