Both Justin Trudeau and Andrew Scheer were present for a change, and Scheer led off by concern trolling Trudeau’s comments about the negative impacts on rural and remote communities when large numbers of construction workers come in, and demanded gender-based analyses of the cancellation of Northern Gateway and importing oil from Saudi Arabia. Trudeau responded with a list of projects the government approved before adding that some projects can have different impacts. Scheer railed about the jobs lost when Northern Gateway didn’t go ahead, to which Trudeau reminded him of the record unemployment but stated that they were looking to help Alberta to do well. Scheer demanded Northern Gateway be reinstated, to which Trudeau read quotes from the Federal Court of Appeal decision on why it wasn’t approved. Scheer demanded again that Northern Gateway be reinstated, and Trudeau called them out for bluster that wouldn’t help Alberta, reminding them that even if the project was acceptable, it would be years before it would get resources to markets. Scheer then changed gears and put on his tinfoil hat about the UN global compact on migration, to which Trudeau accused him of quoting Rebel Media, and praised Canada’s diversity. Guy Caron was up next, and railed about the redactions in the NSICOP report, to which Trudeau told him that neither he nor his office was involved in the redaction, but they took the advice of security officials. Caron then tried to wedge in the Raj Grewal investigation as an excuse for redaction, and Trudeau repeated his answer. Charlie Angus tried again in English and Trudeau called out his sanctimony before repeating the answer. Nathan Cullen then gave a torqued concern that Raj Grewal’s parliamentary privilege protected him from investigation — which isn’t true — and Trudeau raised Dean Del Mastro as an example of an MP under investigation whose privilege didn’t shield him.

Round two, and Scheer got back up to demand if Navdeep Bains related allegation of a Brampton land deal were true, which was repeated by Alain Rayes and Lisa Raitt (Trudeau: If you have allegations, make them outside; Chagger: Same answer). Karine Trudel worried about US oversight over some dairy rules (MacAulay: We saved Supply Management), and Tracey Ramsey demanded that steel and aluminium tariffs be removed (Leslie: These are illegal tariffs that we are challenging and retaliating). Pierre Paul-Hus yet again accused the PM of censoring the NSICOP report (Chagger: He did not ask for any redactions, but accepted the recommendations of public safety officials) and the Bains allegation (Chagger: We thank the committee for its hard work), and Peter Kent returned to the redactions (Chagger: The PM did not request redactions, and if you have questions, talk to Tony Clement because your leader chose him to sit on the committee; Goodale: While parliamentarians on the committee can’t disclose secrets, they can express if they feel the reactions are unfair). Brian Masse railed about the Oshawa plant closure (Bains: We are engaging with the province and the municipality, and we are supporting the sector), and Robert Aubin worried about the lack of fatigue management rules in the rail sector (Garneau: We are reviewing those rules).

Bardish Chagger tells Peter Kent that if he has any questions about the NSICOP report, he should talk to Tony Clement, whom Scheer chose to sit on the committee. #QP

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) December 4, 2018

Round three saw questions on the state of the economy (Bains: We have the lowest level of unemployment in 40 years), faulty medical devices (Petitpas Taylor: We will strength the approval process and surveillance), carbon taxes vis-à-vis farmers (MacAulay: Farmers are responsible stewards of the land, and we have exempted farm fuels and greenhouses from the carbon backstop), steel and aluminium tariffs (Leslie: We have signed a side-letter on auto tariffs that protects the industry and supply chains will be secured), possibly moving some Air Force testing from Cold Lake (Sajjan: We are increasing our investments at CFB Cold Lake), China’s detention of Uyghur Muslims (Leslie: We have expressed our concerns for human rights), the Mark Norman trial (Goodale: Let the courts deal with this), the energy sector not  being in the agenda of the first ministers meeting (LeBlanc: We believe in diversifying in market access), seasonal EI (Duclos: We have been making changes that will be put into place), and taxing Netflix (Rodriguez: We have a full review coming, and no one gets a free pass).

Overall, the day was not too far out of the ordinary, but with some moments of drama. The demand that Northern Gateway be reinstated was a bit novel, considering that the Section 35 concerns around the project can’t be waved away with a magic wand, and it remains disappointing that Andrew Scheer continues to engage in the tinfoil hattery around the UN compact on global migration, and while it’s good that Trudeau and his ministers will call this out as Rebel Media talking points, the fact that Scheer is willing to entertain them (going so far as to call a press conference after QP to reiterate those same points) is boggling. We also heard time and again today that PMO didn’t engage in any of the redactions on the NSICOP report on the India trip, but we’ll no doubt be hearing accusations that they did for weeks to come.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Lisa Raitt for a long white jacket with a black top and slacks, and to Pablo Rodriguez for a navy three-piece suit with a light blue shirt and a burgundy tie. Style citations go out to Charlie Angus for a burgundy suit and tie with a white shirt and grey waistcoat, and to Bardish Chagger for a boxy dusky rose jacket with half-sleeves and black slacks.