QP: Assertions of no PMO interference

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All of the leaders were absent for the day, and not even the deputy PM was present, making it feel a little more like a Friday than a Monday. Gérard Deltell led off in English, lamenting that the prime minister wouldn’t protect the unconditional freedom of speech, and feeling there should be limits on it. François-Philippe Champagne responded with condolences for the people of France, and saying that Canada would defend freedom of expression around the world. Deltell repeated the question in French, to which Champagne warned him against politicising such a horrific incident. Deltell tried to put forward the notion that it took Trudeau twelve days to condemn the murder of that teacher in France, to which Champagne rebutted that he made a statement the following day. Deltell reminded Champagne that he is not yet prime minister, and insisted that the government was not standing by its ally in France, and Champagne rebutted that the government speaks as a whole. Deltell again returned to Trudeau citing that there are limits to freedom of expression, for which Champagne again chided him about politicising the issue. Stéphane Bergeron led for the Bloc, and he too hammered on Trudeau saying there were limits to freedom of expression, for which Champagne reiterated his that Canada stood by France and to defend freedom of expression. Bergeron accused the government of downplaying Islamic terrorism and hurting Quebec’s special relationship with France, to which Champagne repeated that Canada was standing by France. Jagmeet Singh was up next by video, and in French, after mentioning the attack in Quebec City, he demanded increased funding for mental health services, for which Patty Hajdu reminded him that they have been increasing funds for provinces for mental health services. Singh switched to English to worry about small businesses paying commercial rent, accusing Trudeau of helping “Liberal insiders” instead. Sean Fraser responded with a list of programmes available for small businesses. 

Round two, and Michael Barrett accused the government of making partisan judicial appointments (Lametti: I dispute that, and the only people who get additional consultation are those who passed through the non-partisan process; PMO has not interfered in my decisions and none of my recommendations have been refused, nor have I had an appointment suggested by PMO), and Jacques Gourde repeated the accusations in French (Lametti: Same answer). Alain Therrien repeated the same accusations around judicial appointments (Lametti: Same answer yet again). Lianne Rood and James Cumming worried about competition in the grocery sector (Bains: We want to ensure there are fair market practices, and terms of sale generally fall under provincial jurisdiction). Taylor Bachrach worried that the Canada Infrastructure Bank would allow fees to be charged on projects (Fillmore: Yay Canada Infrastructure Bank!), and Niki Ashton demanded that airlines refund passengers (Garneau: We are encouraging the industry to follow up, and we are working on a package to address the ability to have a reliable and affordable air sector after the pandemic).

Round three saw questions on the Neskatanga First Nation water project (Miller: We have invested $16.5 million in a new plant in Neskatanga, whereas the Conservatives only put in $300,000 per year; It’s too soon to tell how COVID will impact the remaining projects), workers who can’t get EI because of security issues (Qualtrough: I am unaware of this security issue so let me look into it), outbreaks in meat processing plants vis-à-vis rapid tests (Hajdu: We have been delivering thousands of tests over the past two weeks), the motor coach sector needing help (Garneau: We have stepped in where necessary but it is largely a provincial responsibility), mid-sized airports needing relief (Garneau: We are ensuring that these services will be there Canadians after the pandemic is over), military service clubs needing help (MacAulay: We ensured $20 million in Bill C-4 to do just that), cannabis grow-ops being set up on areas not zoned for it (Hajdu: That is a licensing consideration so if there is an issue please forward it to me), student loan payments that were on pre-arranged withdrawals (Chagger: We are looking into this specific matter), and bilingualism in immigration (Mendocino: I am proud of the work we’ve done to increase francophone immigration).

Overall, it was a mediocre day, with the first third devoted to Justin Trudeau once again stepping on a rake when it comes to protecting freedom of expression, and the middle third devoted to judicial appointments based on a story in La Presse that takes a few email quotes out of context and offers zero explanation that the prime minister is politically accountable for all judicial appointments so this kind of consultation is going to be expected. Again, the opposition embellished what was in the story which made no mention of donations (and in fact they somewhat mischaracterise what the Liberalist system is for, which is more than just who donated or got lawn signs, but builds complete political profiles of voters), but as we’ve seen time and again, truth is the first casualty in scoring partisan points. David Lametti was a little better in responding to these concerns today, but he could still be doing better and actually mentioning the concept of accountability under Responsible Government – and that we are not a technocracy, and cannot have a technocratic appointment process. There were also several more questions on the Neskatanga First Nation’s water situation, and Marc Miller did a better job today of providing a bit more candour on the situation – what the government has spent there on the new system, the fraction that the previous government spent during their near-decade in power, and the fact that the same articles that these MPs are quoting also included the chiefs noting that this government has actually been working with these communities unlike previous ones. Candour is a good thing! We need more of it from this government.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Lianne Rood for a short-sleeved, boat-necked dress with a grey and black checkerboard pattern, and to Eric Melillo for a tailored grey suit with a crisp white shirt and a bright blue tie. Style citations go out to Yves Robillard for a taupe suit with a butterscotch shirt and brown tie, and to Patty Hajdu for a shapeless black dress with overly large flouncy sleeves.

2 thoughts on “QP: Assertions of no PMO interference”

  1. I don’t think he stepped on a rake at all. Partisan pundits are going to attack everything he says or does, but Merkel made a very similar statement and was lauded for it. Difference is unlike Canada, ninety percent of Germany’s media isn’t sympathetic to, say, the AfD. All the more reason maybe their model should be replicated elsewhere rather than the Bloc and CPC’s agitating that Canada should basically have its own “First Amendment.” With great freedom comes great responsibility.

  2. Writing ‘once again stepping on a rake when it comes to protecting freedom of expression’ seem kind of weird take. The case of the history teacher who also a Holocaust denier or those protesters with bigoted signage at the motel filled with Romani asylum seekers.
    All he said was accurate, There are limits on freedom of speech in Canada. That isn’t a hot take or P.C. culture gone amuck. I’d rather he said what is accurate.
    And ‘Je suis Charlie’ and turning a blind eye to just how much Charlie Hebbo sucks was debated years ago and I think higherups in Canadian chattering class were kind of narrow in their point of view, but might just be me.

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