QP: Some clarity on a willingness to meet

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After a number of statements about the need to stop bullying in support of Pink Shirt Day, things got underway for proto-PMQ day. Andrew Scheer led off, and he read a bunch of concern trolling about Teck Frontier, pretending that the project was economically viable when it was not. Justin Trudeau calmly responded that Teck pulled their own application and that they pointed to the need for credible environmental plans. Scheer then made up some bullshit about global commodity prices not bring an issue, to which Trudeau stated that you can have a jobs plan without an environmental plan. Scheer scoffed and stated that Trudeau had no plan, and blamed Trudeau for the problems in Western Canada, to which Trudeau responded that the statistics showed that they helped created a million new jobs, and lifted a million people out of poverty. Scheer blustered about how that couldn’t possibly be true, before switching to French to call Trudeau weak over the rail blockades. Trudeau stated that they needed to find a peaceful but sustainable resolution, and that aggressive and simplistic solutions like those the Conservatives proposed would not help. Scheer returned to English to claim that the Wet’suwet’en people really wanted the project and that Extinction Rebellion was listed as a terrorist organization (which is false), to which Trudeau said he was concerned that Scheer described the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs as “radical protesters,” which the Conservatives shouted him down over twice. Yves-François Blanchet wondered if Trudeau would unilaterally implement UNDRIP, to which Trudeau read that he was disappointed that the Conservatives stopped UNDRIP legislation in the last parliament. Blanchet reiterated the desire to immediately move ahead with such legislation, and would get Bloc support, to which Trudeau said they would table such legislation soon, before listing their accomplishments toward reconciliation thus far. Jagmeet a Singh was up next, and he demanded that Trudeau commit to meeting with the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs, to which Trudeau noted that the NDP was focused on simplistic solutions when it is complex and that the minister is willing to meet him at any point. Singh repeated the demand, and Trudeau stated that there is a diversity of voices in the Wet’suwet’en community, and he didn’t want to influence the community’s internal discussions by only sitting down with one group.

Round two, and Leona Alleslev accused Trudeau of letting “unelected and unaccountable radical protesters” run the country (Trudeau: You are picking and choosing which Wet’suwet’en voices you are listening to), Ed Fast railed about blockades signs that say “Shut down Canada” (Trudeau: We have said that the blockades need to come down and stay down while we maintain openness to dialogue), Alain Rayes demanded Trudeau show responsibly (Trudeau: We need to find a quick, peaceful and lasting solution but you are playing petty games by playing Canadians against each other), Bernard Généreux raised the plight of a farmer in his riding (Trudeau: Aggressive, simplistic solutions won’t work), Dane Lloyd railed about Teck Frontier’s cancellation (Trudeau: They made a statement that they support carbon pricing and climate action, and that the Conservatives and their provincial affiliates refuse to get on board), and Shannon Stubbs screamed that the PM was a puppet of anti-oil activists (Trudeau: Global investors have indicated that the way forward is to invest in jurisdictions that have plans to fight climate change). Blanchet was back up to worry about fears of arms on some blockades (Trudeau: I respect the professionalism and abilities of police to do their work, and we don’t direct them), and to demand that Trudeau meet with the chiefs in BC and to appoint a mediator (Trudeau: Our ministers are engaging, but we will respect the work of police). Karen Vecchio and Pierre Paul-Hus wanted an independent investigation into the Parole Board rather than an internal one (Trudeau, with script: That review includes two external vice-chairs and it will be made public), Gérard Deltell cited the figure that $150 billion in energy projects were cancelled (Trudeau: We understand Alberta is facing challenges, which is why we are investing in infrastructure and innovation), and Pierre Poilievre railed about Trudeau’s attitude about Albertans (Trudeau: I’m going to give you a chance to correct the record because you were misleading the House when you said that we rejected the project when they withdrew it). Laurel Collins demanded action on the climate crisis (Trudeau: We are taking all kinds of action), and Gord Johns demanded that the UN Special Rapporteur for Indigenous Peoples be invited to Canada to investigate racism in the justice system (Trudeau: We eliminated peremptory challenges, and there is more to do and we are working to doing it).

Round three saw questions on marine protected areas in the Nunavut without a devolution agreement (Trudeau: I have worked closely with the premier on this file), NORAD modernisation (Trudeau: We have been pleased go invest in upgrading capacity, and we will take no lessons from those who wrapped themselves in the flag but don’t invest), money laundering in BC (Trudeau: We have invested in close to a billion dollars in combatting evasion and have been working with the province), a cystic fibrosis drug that is not available in Canada (Trudeau: We are making sure that life-saving drugs are available, which is why we are working on universal pharmacare, and working with the provinces on high-cost rare drugs), Quebec Police being reluctant to take down blockades (Trudeau: We have been working with people across the country and are trying to find a peaceful solution; We respect provincial jurisdictions, and are pleased to help to support), Scheer was back up to worry about fiscal help for farmers (Trudeau: The 2019 wet harvest was a challenge, and we are looking at solutions to help farmers), Iran’s foreign minister (Trudeau: I promised to do everything possible to get answers about PS752, which is exactly what I expressed to him, and we won’t play petty politics over it), Iran persecuting Baha’i minorities (Trudeau: We will always stand up for minorities, but it’s harder since the previous government closed our embassy there), an international investigation against human rights abuses against Tamils in Sri Lanka (Trudeau, with script: We always stand up for human rights, and here are more actions we took against Iran), new HIV infections (Trudeau: We hosted the Global Fund replenishment conference a few years ago, and we have been investing in supports for communities and but recognize that there are challenges).

Overall, it was a louder day, and a little rowdier off the start, but I will say that Trudeau seems to have his mojo back. He almost eschewed scripts entirely today, he at long-last gave a proper answer as to why he wasn’t on a plane to meet with the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs – noting that there are a diversity of voices in the community, and his meeting with any one group would impact their internal discussions – and he pushed back against some of the false talking points from Scheer and especially Pierre Poilievre. We don’t get enough of that on a consistent basis from him. 

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Marc Garneau for a navy suit with a pale pink shirt and a darker pink tie, and to Jennifer O’Connell for a dark pink top with a dark grey jacket and skirt. Style citations go out to Candice Bergen for a fuchsia dress with loud florals and giant wizard sleeves, and to Darren Fisher for a pink shirt with a blue tie and a brown corduroy jacket. Dishonourable mention goes out to Leah Gazan for a bright yellow jacket with a black top. 

One thought on “QP: Some clarity on a willingness to meet”

  1. What about the SNC committee? Did the Bloc shut it down as they had said they would last year, or is Dion coming back to beat a dead horse?

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