QP: Jerry Dias says hello

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Wednesday, caucus day, and the benches were full as all of the leaders were present for the day. Andrew Scheer led off in French, accusing Justin Trudeau of being the best thing that could have happened to Donald Trump, and called the New NAFTA a “historic humiliation.” Trudeau reminded him that the Conservatives first demanded capitulation, then praised the deal, and now they were all over the map. Scheer suggested, in English, that the steel and aluminium tariff deal contained a hidden quota, and Trudeau reiterated that the Conservatives had no consistent position. Scheer insisted that any better would have been the one that Trudeau got, and Trudeau reminded him that they couldn’t get other trade deals like CETA done while he did. Scheer then pivoted to the question of Unifor’s presence on the media bailout advisory committee, and Trudeau reminded him that the panel needed to hear not only from media owners but also the employees, while the Conservatives have a history of attacking labour. Scheer tried to carry on, and he rambled about spending limits, when Trudeau brought up the Conservatives’ changes to the Elections Act. Jagmeet Singh was up next for the NDP, and he demanded that the federal government join BC’s lawsuit against drug companies for the opioid crisis, and Trudeau took up a script to list actions the government has been taking. Singh tried again in French, and got the French version of the same script. Singh then demanded the government join US Democrats to fix the New NAFTA, and Trudeau took up a new script to read that the NDP criticised the deal in the House of Commons but privately praised it. Singh changed to English to accuse Trudeau of using misleading quotes, and Trudeau read some more quotes in response.

Round two, and Candice Bergen, Alain Rayes, and Lisa Raitt returned to the question of Unifor on the media bailout panel (Trudeau: You keep making this argument for why we should eliminate CBC, which we will defend; By your logic, anyone who has been attacked or mistreated by the Conservatives shouldn’t have a voice in elections). Tracey Ramsey railed about the New NAFTA and demanded he wait for a better deal (Trudeau: It was a long and difficult process and we got to a great deal, which included the support of former Conservative Cabinet ministers and organised labour), and Georgina Jolibois asked about security improvements to a northern airport (Trudeau: I was just in Northern Saskatchewan a week ago and we are investing in reconciliation). Phil McColeman and Richard Martel asked about cuts to veterans benefits (Trudeau: We invested in veterans and are delivering on our promise for a new system), and Alupa Clarke and Erin O’Toole asked about the Afghan memorial (Trudeau, with script: The Chief of Defence Staff has apologised and we are still planning a public memorial; You used veterans for photo ops while you nickel and dimed them). Robert Aubin asked about collision performance standards for busses (Trudeau: The minister has been active on new standards for safety), and Karine Trudel demanded new contracts for Davie Shipyard (Trudeau: We have given them contracts where the Conservatives shut them out).

Round three saw questions on gas prices in BC vis-à-vis carbon prices (Trudeau: The Conservatives failed to get pipelines to new markets but we are following the court direction on TMX in the right way; It’s been 400 says since your leader promised an environment plan), Grassy Narrows’ mercury treatment centre (Trudeau: The Minister is visiting the community today to advance a solution), plastic dumping in other countries (Trudeau: It was shameful the Conservatives let this happen), the arrests regarding explosives possession (Trudeau: We have full confidence in our intelligence agencies and police services), cartel members coming into Canada on Mexican visas (Trudeau, with script: CBSA has deported 0.04 percent of Mexican travellers), the disability tax credit affecting renting subsidies (Trudeau: We’re proud of our work for seniors), a contract granted by Senate Administration — which should have been ruled out of order (Trudeau: Hooray independent Senate, and you should abandon your own partisan appointment plans), Trudeau’s libel suit against Scheer (Trudeau: You’re still following Harper’s playbook and we put you on notice), and the ghost of Energy East (Trudeau: Look at all the things we’re doing for the environment while growing the economy).

Overall, it was a fairly loud day, but you can already feel the exhaustion starting to set in, and there are still three-and-a-half weeks left to go. For his final question of the leaders’ round, Scheer couldn’t even muster a final jab at Trudeau, or even to put a little punch in his diction, but rather trailed away somewhat breathlessly as he couldn’t sustain a verbal volley. Not so good. Jagmeet Singh, meanwhile, just continues to flounder and can barely deliver a question effectively, particularly after Trudeau hits back at him. The meticulous English-French-French-English pattern, the lack of any volley with what Trudeau says, the barely mustered theatrical anger is all getting painful to watch, and it hasn’t shown any improvement. If anything, it seems to be getting worse the longer he’s in the Commons. As for Trudeau, he was back using more scripts than usual today, possibly as some kind of crutch, and more answers than not were simply canned sentiment, even if he’s gotten a bit sharper with a few of those responses (such as on the Unifor issue for which he keeps scoring on his own net). I have the distinct sinking feeling that the next three-and-a-half weeks are going to be nigh unbearable.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Will Amos for a tailored medium grey suit with a light blue shirt and pink tie, and to Julie Dzerowicz for a tailored navy suit and matching top. Style citations go out to Linda Duncan for an orange and black striped dress with intermittent florals, and to Frank Baylis for a medium grey suit with a pale yellow shirt and a light blue tie. Dishonourable mention goes out to Rachael Harder for a black suit with a bright yellow top.

One thought on “QP: Jerry Dias says hello”

  1. Conservatives and their so called”right to life” elements like all things Sheer Tory would take us back to the subjugation of women as second class and the days of the bloody coat hanger. Shame!

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