QP: Impugning the RCMP and public prosecutor

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On a gloomy Thursday, neither Justin Trudeau nor Andrew Scheer were present for the proceedings. Mark Strahl led off, raising the end of the Mark Norman trial, alleging interference by the government, to which Bill Blair assured him that the RCMP and the Public Prosecution Service are independent of government. Strahl railed about the documents that were allegedly withheld in the process, and Blair took umbrage with his characterisation of the RCMP. Strahl amped his rhetoric and his volume, to which Blair asserted that none of that was true, and he reiterated the independence of the process. Alain Rayes picked up on that in French, with some added allegations that the government was apparently trying to “destroy” Davie shipyard (no, seriously), and Blair asserted that people deserved better than slander and innuendo. Rayes trie again, and got Blair reading that all obligations were followed for document disclosure. Jagmeet Singh was up next for the NDP, and he demanded the government adopt his plan to build half a million new homes, to which Jean-Yves Duclos thanked him for the opportunity to talk about the government’s national housing strategy. Singh asked again in French, and Duclos repeated his response. Singh then pivoted to the Norman trial, and demanded an independent investigation into what happened, and Blair repeated that he found it offensive that someone would rise and impugn the conduct of the RCMP of the Public Prosecution Service. Singh repeated the question in English, and got the same answer.

Round two, and Erin O’Toole thundered some Mark Norman conspiracy theories (Virani: You’re a lawyer and should know that the RCMP investigates, and the Public Prosecution Service decides whether or not to lay charges or withdraw them), Pierre Paul-Hus asked more of the same in French (Virani: There was no interference), and Leona Alleslev accused the government of attacking their “enemies” (Virani: Do you understand how the legal process works?). Matthew Dubé and Daniel Blaikie gave their own accusations of political interference (Virani: Same answer). Steven Blaney, Richard Martel, Cheryl Gallant, and Glen Motz offered yet more concern about Norman with the Davie Shipyard mention (Virani: Same answer; Sajjan: Everything was independent and we will pay his legal fees). Sheri Benson worried that HIV patients in Saskatchewan weren’t getting adequate treatment as require under the Canada Health Act (Damoff: If there’s an issue, come to me and we’ll go to Health Canada), and Robert Aubin worried about security privatisation at a local airport (Beech: We put in new funding to increase passenger volumes and decreasing wait times).

Round three saw questions on carbon pricing (McKenna: You voted for the Paris Agreement and now you’re lying to Canadians — and got rebuke for it), disability tax credits being made permanent rather than having to reapply every year (Lebouthillier: We have implemented measures to make it more accessible and we have simplified the forms, and we look forward to the recommendations of the advisory committee), affordable housing (Duclos: We have our national housing strategy), cutting a programme for people with developmental disabilities (Qualtrough: We extended this contract and are looking to give them more meaningful work that will pay them more than a dollar a day like you did), the canola issue with China (Alghabra: We are getting help for farmers while we resolve this issue with China), Telefilm Canada (Anandasangaree: We will have more to say this week), listing the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist entity (McCrimmon: There is a legal process that is underway), demanding Quebec City infrastructure funding be transferred unconditionally (Lightbound: The federal government is providing money), and a “secret plan” to ban legal firearms (Blair: We remain committed to taking all measures in keeping Canadians safe).

Overall, it was much of the same today as it was yesterday, however I will note that the answers coming from Bill Blair and Arif Virani were much sharper in tone, and frankly a bit more effective than they were coming from Lametti. Even more effective in her responses was Carla Qualtrough, who called bullshit, gave a proper explanation, and got in a good dig or two within her allotted 35 seconds, without resorting to any rote talking points – something more ministers should be able to do. Qualtrough remains one of the best communicators that this government has, and it’s too bad that she’s not deployed more often, because boy do they need it. As for the NDP, the constant demands that the government simply implement their “plans” are getting tiresome, because it’s an attempt to look like they are “proposing, not opposing,” which is not actually their job, and to be frank, their “plans” are wish lists that hand-wave through the hard work of implementation – something that a minster who was on the ball would actually call out. Unfortunately, we get rote platitudes in response (which is disappointing from Jean-Yves Duclos considering his pre-political academic work in this field).

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Kim Rudd for a black v-neck top matching slacks with a medium grey jacket, and to Bev Shipley for a navy suit with a pale pink shirt and pocket square with a blue and grey tie. Style citations go out to Darren Fisher for a navy jacket with a blue-grey waistcoat, blueberry shirt and a red and blue tie, and to Pam Damoff for a black and white dress with the white patterns being larger on top and gradually getting smaller, and a matching sweater. Dishonourable mention goes out to Anju Dhillon for a black top and slacks and a bright yellow jacket, and to Cheryl Gallant for a mustard dress with a black jacket with brass bedazzling along the sleeves.

One thought on “QP: Impugning the RCMP and public prosecutor”

  1. Mark Strahl, the trained seal he is. Known far and wide in the Fraser Valley as the “brick” Strahl wouldn’t know a fact if it slapped him in the face. Now our riding gets to be known for the one that sent him to Ottawa where he has become the “heckler in chief” a good monicker for the former parliamentary assistant to the minister of Indian and Northern Affairs as it was once known, Whose office sits conveniently across the street from the STO LO nation where he is known as “he the one who never comes here.” Astute and observant folks will remember when the Report on Truth and Reconciliation was announced Strahl sat in his place next to the rightfully forgotten Minister at that time while everyone else stood and applauded. Unfortunately, because of his and his Tory band of troublemakers a fine Liberal candidate has withdrawn from contesting the riding of Chilliwack-Hope.As personal choice albeit one that will lead Strahl back to an assured pension and first class flights to and from Ottawa. Lastly, a week ago the government announce on the bank of the Fraser river, 45 million dollars for improved flood mitigation. The Minister was there, the chiefs and the Mayor of the City of Chilliwack but no MP Strahl. A call to his office confirmed that “he had a more pressing engagement.” Still hasn’t stepped on First Nation lands. Heard his golf game is on par with his performance as an MP.

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