While the PM had initially promised to be in QP today, he cancelled earlier in the morning, leaving Andrew Scheer to square off against another front-bencher — likely Bardish Chagger. Scheer led off in French, mini-lectern on desk, and went through previous statements of the PM on the Double-Hyphen Affair and demanded the truth on the matter. Chagger reminded him that everything was in public and people could make up their own minds. Scheer tried again in English, and got the same response in English. Scheer read that nobody bought the prime minister’s line, and he read statements from the transcript of the Wilson-Raybould/Wernick call, to which Chagger reminded him the committee heard testimony in public. Pierre Paul-Hus took over in French to accuse the justice committee of being obstructionist, and Chagger reiterated that all of the facts were now public and the system was working. Paul-Hus listed the staffers who the committee hadn’t heard from, and Chagger repeated that everything was in public, and that the prime minister already took responsibility. Ruth Ellen Brosseau led off for the NDP, and read a defence of Wilson-Raybould’s decision to record the conversation with Wernick and turned it into a question about not standing up for women. Chagger calmly repeated that all of the facts were now public, and accused the NDP of playing politics. Brosseau then read a demand that the PM visit Grassy Narrows immediately, and Seamus O’Regan responded that they were moving ahead with building the health facility there. Charlie Angus then self-righteously demanded the PM personally call the chief of Grassy Narrows to apologise personally, and O’Regan said that he was going to meet the chief personally to ensure they would move ahead with the health centre. Angus then thundered sanctimoniously about the recorded call, and Chagger remarked that in their own caucus, they allow robust discussion.

Round two, and Lisa Raitt returned to the Wilson-Raybould call (Chagger: The rule of law was followed, and everything was made public at committee), Gérard Deltell complained about how long it would take to get SNC-Lavalin documents from PCO (Chagger: [Some innocuous bafflegab]; Our committee members think for themselves while yours take orders from your leader), and Mark Strahl demanded the justice committee hear more testimony (Chagger: Committee members did study the matter). Niki Ashton and Alexandre Boulerice demanded action of climate change (McKenna: We are taking action and it’s no longer free to pollute). Alain Rayes and Candice Bergen returned to the demand for PCO documents (Chagger: The PM waived privilege and the committee met and heard testimony). Karine Trudel decried pharmaceutical prices related to New NAFTA (Freeland: We got a good deal), and Georgina Jolibois demanded pharmacare by way of talking about Northern healthcare (O’Regan: We have a new programme for more healthcare workers and have more children getting care thanks to Jordan’s Principle).

Niki Ashton just demanded a “green new deal.” Because she’s jumping on the AOC bandwagon like she jumped on Sanders’. #QP

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) April 2, 2019

Round three saw questions on why the PM is “punishing” strong women (Chagger: Canadians can have confidence in our institutions; Monsef: You claim to support women, and yet you vote against measures that would help them, while our record speaks for itself), demanding more auto investment (Bains: We are investing in the sector), veterans services (Lauzon: We have ensured there are more doctors and frontline workers), ending the “cover up” (Chagger: The committee met, everything is public, and Canadians can decide for themselves), the threat of zebra mussels (Wilkinson: We take invasive species seriously, and addressing a number of the key gaps the Environment Commissioner noted), the Reform Act provisions (Chagger: A letter was provided to the Speaker as was demanded), the “secularism” bill (Lametti: You can’t choose which rights to respect and disregard, and governments shouldn’t tell people what to wear), and the family reunification system (Hussen: We have reduced the processing time, we increased the spaces available).

Overall, there was nothing really new today, as the same demands for “truth” and “ending the cover-up” got the same talking points and bland bafflegab from Bardish Chagger. The Conservatives tried to go for an attack on the government’s feminist credentials and trying to put forward a narrative that they are “punishing strong women,” which prompted a rare response from Maryam Monsef, who hit back with a comparison of records, especially when it comes to funding measures to help women. The policing of feminism is one of the worst impulses from all parties in QP, and I would be more than happy if they all just stopped because nobody looks good with it.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Lisa Raitt for a black dress with a long dark blue jacket, and to Raj Grewal for a tailored black suit with a white shirt, a light blue tie and pocket square, a navy blue turban. Style citations go out to Darshan Kang for a brown jacket with a red and grey windowpane pattern, with a navy blue shirt, lavender paisley tie, and red turban, and to Bardish Chagger for a navy smock dress with pink and white florals. Dishonourable mention goes out to Niki Ashton and Filomena Tassi for a black top and slacks with a yellow jacket.