It was a skeletal Chamber, as was to be expected during these pandemic times, not to mention a bit hot and stuffy. After some pent-up members’ statements, things got underway. Andrew Scheer led off, with his mini-lectern in front of him, and he immediately mocked the agriculture minister for saying that farmers don’t understand the programmes on offer to them. Trudeau responded by reading a list of actions that the government has taken. Scheer then shifted to the actions of the government of China toward Hong Kong, and demanded an unequivocal denouncement and a plan of action. Trudeau responded without notes that they support the people of Hong Kong, and that they would continue to work with allies to uphold human rights. Scheer suggested that wasn’t an unequivocal condemnation, and Trudeau responded that they have stated in no uncertain terms their “deep concern,” which got some chirping from the Conservative ranks. Scheer tried again, bringing up the plight of the two Michaels being held in China, and Trudeau repeated his response. Scheer again demanded action on China, and Trudeau reminded him of the statement with allies in defence of Hong Kong. Yves-François Blanchet was up next for the Bloc, and he gave a paean to Quebec’s “special” economy and praised its small businesses before condemning that political parties have received the wage subsidy. Trudeau reminded him that they need people to be taken care of so that the economy can come back strong after the pandemic. Blanchet demanded that money go to small businesses in Quebec, and Trudeau responded by listing measures available to small businesses. Jagmeet Singh then got his turn, demanding paid sick leave “immediately,” to which Trudeau read that they were continuing discussions with the provinces on the issue. Singh then demanded more help for people with disabilities, to which Trudeau said that they have set up an advisory committee to work on the ways to assist them.

Round two, and Candice Bergen denounced the special COVID-19 committee, calling it “fake parliament” (Rodriguez: Look at all the questions we answered in the committee), Gérard Deltell worried about the size of the deficit (Duclos: We are going through a very serious crisis and we are helping Canadians; Ng: We are prepared to use whatever measures are necessary to help Canadians), and John Barlow railed about the carbon tax and the department’s online calculator for aid (Bibeau: We already have risk management programmes and that is the first line as we add funds and new programmes). Blanchet was back up, and railed about the parties getting wage subsidies (Ng: This is about supporting Canadian workers), and Alain Therrien repeated the condemnation (Ng: Same answer), and Claude DeBellefeuille railed about the Liberals voting against the Bloc’s attempt to reinstate the per-vote subsidy before demanding the wage subsidy for parties be repaid (Ng: Same answer). Rachael Harder demanded help for the oil sector (Garneau: We have taken action to create jobs by remediating orphan wells and the wage subsidy and other programmes are open to the sector), and Tracy Grey and James Cumming worried about landlords who don’t participate in the commercial rent subsidy (Ng: The application portal is up, and we urge landlords to use it). Matthew Green worried about emergency stockpile warehouses (Hajdu: We have been working with provinces to supplement their requests for equipment), and Charlie Angus accused the government of looking to privatize contact tracing (Anand: We have transparent procurement processes).

When Bergen demanded regular sittings over #COVI committees, Rodriguez praised the number of questions that got asked.
PARLIAMENT IS NOT QUESTION PERIOD. STOP PRETENDING THAT IT IS. #QP

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) May 25, 2020

Conservatives: OMG THE DEFICIT!
Also Conservatives: Why aren’t you giving more money to farmers? #QP

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) May 25, 2020

Round three saw questions on funding to combat human trafficking (Ng: Women are disproportionately affected and we have allocated $50 million for more shelters and gave additional supports for women entrepreneurs), the families of Canadians being turned back from the border (Blair: We had to take a number of extraordinary restrictions, and it’s not our intention to separate families but some cases need to be made on a case-by-case basis), defective N95 masks coming from China as it relates to Canadian Forces infections (Anand: You are slightly…misguided on how our procurement works), those Canadian Forces infections (Blair: The affected members are being taken care of), demanding airlines offer refunds or no help (Garneau: If every airline immediate refunded every flight, the effect would be catastrophic), the Auditor General’s budget (Duclos: We support the role, and will take note of her suggestions), Access to Information requests (Duclos: We agree on the importance of Access to Information and are aware of the difficulties that public servants are facing), the recent gun ban (Blair: The weapons we banned are not designed for hunting or sports shooting, and you opposed funding to combat gangs and border smuggling), the Wet’suwet’en MOU and the elected chiefs disagreeing (Miller: The MOU is a path forward to a full agreement, and would require consent of all members of that nation), concern about the climate (Garneau: We have not forgotten about the environment), and municipalities requiring more assistance (Duclos: Municipalities are important, and we will be there to help them in collaboration with the provinces).

You hate the Auditor General because Sheila Fraser. #QP pic.twitter.com/CjwWd72RPJ

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) May 25, 2020

Overall, it was nice to see things in their proper rhythm again, but at the same time, for as much as the Conservatives were agitating about the need to ask about things that weren’t pandemic related, like Michael Barrett’s meltdown last week over Harrington Lake renovations, I was surprised that the most we got were questions on Hong Kong, and a couple of bog standard gun control questions. On the subject of future sittings as we approach the summer, I have sympathy for Candice Bergen’s worry that the government is relying on what she termed the “fake parliament” of the special committee – and I am irritated that the government continues to pretend that because they’re responding to questions in committee format that it’s good enough for “parliament,” as though Question Period is the be-all-end-all of what parliament does. It’s not, and they’re insulting our intelligence by patting themselves on the back for offering yet more committee meetings instead of actual sittings of the Commons. As much as Question Period matters – and it does matter – there is a lot more that happens in the course of a regular sitting day that should be happening, including Supply Days, pretending that they don’t matter is a blow the accountability mechanisms throughout the entire system.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Candice Bergen for a sleeveless navy dress with gold and red patterns, and go William Amos for a tailored navy suit with a light blue shirt and a burgundy tie. Style citations go out to Kevin Waugh for a dark grey windowpane suit that bordered on chesterfield territory with a light blue shirt and navy tie, and to Marie-France Lalonde for a smock-like top with a large leopard-print centre panel with black and red stripes and swirls around the borders of that leopard print.