QP: A flaming clown show where seriousness goes to die

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It being Wednesday, the prime minister was not only present, but ready to respond to all of the questions of the day — though the utility of those responses was the question. Erin O’Toole led off, scripts on mini-lectern, and he started in on the Baylis Medical story, asking the prime minister to ask Frank Baylis to change the name from the “Baylis Ventilator.” Justin Trudeau reminded him that people of all partisan stripes, including well known conservatives like a Rick Jamison also stepped up to partner with Baylis. In French, O’Toole tried to insist that the Baylis contract was padded, but Trudeau reiterated the response. O’Toole then lied about the story on judicial appointments, to which Trudeau insisted that they were chosen based on merit and diversity — including political diversity. O’Toole switched to English attempt being clever about judicial appointments, and Trudeau protested that it wasn’t true. O’Toole then demanded to know why Canadians would be at the “back of the line” on vaccine roll-outs, and again Trudeau stated that it simply wasn’t true, and listed their early actions on the pandemic. Yves-François Blanchet was up next, and demanded an official apology for the October Crisis in 1970, to which Trudeau reminded him of the Quebec politician who was assassinated by a terrorist cell. Blanchet insisted that raids were like those in the Soviet Union, but Trudeau reminded him that the premier of Quebec and the leader of the opposition in 1970 called on Ottawa go send in the troops. Jagmeet Singh was up next, and in French, stated that Stephen Harper cut healthcare funds which is why long-term care facilities were under-resourced — which is utterly false. Trudeau stated that the federal government worked with the provinces to help with their facilities when asked. Singh then blamed the government for deaths in care homes that he claims they own — another falsehood — and Trudeau gave a paean about propel deserving care in dignity.

Round two, and Pierre Poilievre declared that the government declared a “war on work” and decried unemployment figures (Trudeau: We are helping Canadians out in the pandemic, unlike your stated dislike of government aid), Leanne Rood decried major grocery chains charging higher fees to supplies (Trudeau: We moved forward on things like a surplus food programme and are supporting farmers), and with the expiration of the mandatory isolation support programme for farmers (Trudeau: We will continue to support farmers). Blanchet returned to the demands for an apology for the October Crisis (Trudeau: We are focused on the pandemic). Michael Barrett wondered why the government gives funds to the Canada-China Business Council (Trudeau, with script: We are working with allies to stand up to China’s coercive diplomacy), and Pierre Paul-Hus wondered about the CanSino vaccine candidate that was blocked (Trudeau: We have signed contracts for a range of options). Lindsay Mathyssen wondered about the Tunney’s Pasture daycare (Trudeau: We are working to resolve the situation), and Peter Julian demanded that the government put a wealth tax on all tens of Canadian billionaires (Trudeau: We did raise taxes on the one percent and you voted against it).

Round three saw questions on energy workers (Trudeau, with script: We spent $1.7 billion on orphan wells and ensured they have access to the wage subsidy), free trade with the UK (Trudeau: We are working with the UK to come to a transitional agreement), the October Crisis (Trudeau: There is still a political debate on what happened 50 years ago, but we’re focused on the pandemic), rapid tests deploying to Quebec (Trudeau: Quebec will have its 200,000 tests this week), the internal review on the early pandemic warning system (Trudeau: There was no reduction in funds or staffing), Mi’kmaq fishers not being adequately protected by the RCMP (Trudeau: There is no question systemic racism exists in the RCMP, and we are working to change that).

Overall, it was an absolute flaming clown show today. Anyone who thought that this was an exercise in MPs taking things seriously was obviously mistaken, and it’s too early in the session for anyone to chalk this up to fatigue and the “silly season,” so my only supposition is that the heightened partisanship of the past couple of weeks has gone to their heads. To wit: Erin O’Toole carrying on with false narratives about the Baylis medical contract and the CBC story about judicial appointments, Pierre Poilievre’s nonsensical attack on the government’s supposed “war on work,” Leanne Rood demanding that the Cabinet to the work of the Competition Bureau – all of this is without any seriousness, and most of it was for the sake of clipping for shitposts. The Bloc’s decision to spend the entire day litigating the October Crisis, and comparing the lack of an official apology for it as somehow being in the same league as recognition of the Armenian genocide or the apology for Residential Schools. It boggled the mind. The NDP were little better, with false constructions in their own questions around healthcare transfers and the ownership of certain private long-term care facilities, and even the number of billionaires in Canada (which the Bloomberg list puts at 15). None of this is a serious exercise in accountability – it’s showboating, with added inflammatory language. How is the government supposed to respond when they are simply presented with a parade of lies? Does the opposition think that it helps them in their role? How exactly does this engender trust in anything they say should they form government some day? This in no way excuses this government from their incompetent management of certain files, or of their complete inability to communicate any of their files to their own detriment. There are legitimate things to go after this government for, but when you simply use QP as an excuse to trot out fiction in the hopes of getting a good headline, you are demeaning the process.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Lindsay Mathyssen for a dark red long jacket over a black top and slacks, and to Sameer Zuberi for a tailored dark grey suit with a lighter grey shirt and navy tie. Style citations go out to James Maloney for a blueish-grey suit with a cranberry shirt and red tie, and to Ginette Petitpas Taylor for a fuchsia turtlenecks under a black suit. Special mention goes out to Candice Bergen for a long three-quarter sleeved dress all in leopard print. 

5 thoughts on “QP: A flaming clown show where seriousness goes to die”

  1. The conversion therapy vote was no better. O’Toole’s so-cons think they’re being too cute by half with their weaselly “I vote yes but i really didn’t want to” business. Third reading will reveal their true allegiances after plenty of shenanigans at the committee. Sometimes I wonder if the PM misses teaching; at least the children were well behaved, and not the juvenile delinquents he encounters every day in Parliament. Oh, and shame on that terrorist sympathizer Blanchet and the opposition’s sadistic addiction to attacking the whole Trudeau family. They took a break from hounding poor Margaret to accuse old man Pierre of being a terrorist? Vote this guy out. He’s nuts.

  2. Canadians will have the opportunity to vote the con liars out very soon. Loved your comment about the infantile players in the house. The last four years in the US have taught these con liars the art. I just wish that Trudeau or his ministers would simply say, “Mr. Speaker the member opposite has just misrepresented the well known facts and I ask you to chastise him/her. 10 pushups or an hour in the corner. LOL

    • How about sentencing them to community service? I mean: that’s what they were getting paid for, but they’ve been wasting the time on self-indulgence.

  3. Trudeau needs to start doing his COVID updates again, maybe on a weekly basis, so reporters can ask him about all of these bizarre charges and he can get the truth out there.

    • I am so tired of petty party politics . Where are the news reporters to give voters accurate information on these smear tactics .Better still ; don’t give them a voice . I can’t imagine how the opposition parties would have dealt with Trump and COVID-19. Yes, some missteps but I would like to see the perfect person !!

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