For the day’s proto-PMQs, prime minister Justin Trudeau was present, along with three other Liberals — still a pathetic turnout and contemptuous of Parliament. After a late start, Erin O’Toole led off, mini-lectern and script in front of him, and he accused the prime minister of being out of step with allies and his own caucus on China, and demanded that Canada remove itself from the Asia Infrastructure Bank — as though that would do anything. Trudeau stated that they continue to express their concern about China’s activities and human rights record, solidarity with the two Michaels, and that more discussions were happening in next week’s virtual G7 meeting. O’Toole tried to wedge Canadian job numbers with the Asia Infrastructure Bank, and Trudeau took the opportunity to pat himself on the back for the measures they rolled out to help those who lost their jobs because of the pandemic. O’Toole then worried about our vaccination rollout, and the lack of domestic production capacity, and Trudeau read about their investments in Canadian bio-manufacturing, and how the vaccine plan was on track. O’Toole switched to French to repeat the question and got the same answer, before he demanded to know how many Canadians would be vaccinated next week — as though he can answer for the provinces, but Trudeau listed what deliveries we were expecting this week,

Yves-François Blanchet led for the Bloc, and stated that the Quebec government was investing in that Laval vaccine candidate, to which Trudeau listed what investments that particular researcher was given by the federal government. Blanchet was not mollified, and he continued to rail that multinationals got contracts instead of Quebeckers, for which Trudeau chided that we can hear the frustration in the Bloc leader’s voice because Ottawa was delivering for Quebec.

For the NDP, Jagmeet Singh got up, and in French, demanded a promise from the government that they would not call an election in the pandemic, and Trudeau took the opportunity to call out the Conservatives for stalling the latest pandemic aid bill. Singh repeated his demand in English, and Trudeau noted that in a minority parliament, the government doesn’t have the sole determination of that, before praising their efforts today.

Round two, and Pierre Poilievre gave a sob story about job losses (Trudeau: We promised to Canadians that we would have their backs, as long as this pandemic lasts; The IMF has lauded our recovery potential), and Richard Martel raised the Laval vaccine candidate (Trudeau: we gave his research a $1 million subsidy at the start of the pandemic for research) before he made false connections with CanSino and then the Baylis Medical contract (Trudeau: We signed contracts with international companies to ensure Canadians got the vaccine, while we also invested in domestic capacity; You have been doomsaying and your predictions have turned out to be false).

Poilievre’s unemployment comparisons are straight-up mendacity. #QP

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) February 17, 2021

Alain Therrien returned to the gripe about the Laval vaccine candidate (Trudeau: We invested in domestic production quickly from the start), and he railed about getting vaccines from COVAX and India (Trudeau: We secured vaccines for Canadians).

Once again: COVAX IS NOT ONLY FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.
It would be great if the opposition parties could accurately describe this programme rather than undermine it entirely. #QP

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) February 17, 2021

Candice Bergen lamented that the government did not throwing a big enough tantrum about Keystone XL (Trudeau: I did raise it, but his mind is made up; I get that you have a job to do, but all you are doing is throwing random accusations and seeing what sticks), and Raquel Dancho raised the poor communications around CERB repayments (Trudeau: At the same time as you say that we spent too much helping Canadians while insisting we should have done more, and are completely incoherent).

Bergen insists that Trudeau start throwing public tantrums about pipelines. #QP

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) February 17, 2021

Gord Johns accused the government of turning a blind eye to Mi’kmaq fishers before violence flared up (Trudeau: We have been engaging, and are helping them build a better future), and Leah Gazan demanded immediate social housing (Trudeau: We continue to work on rapid housing initiatives and partnering with municipalities).

Round three saw questions on the Mi’kmaq fishery (Trudeau: The minister is doing a great job in resolving this issue), supporting fisheries on the West Coast (Trudeau: I’m the proud grandson of a fisheries minister, and our minister is doing a great job; We defer to scientists to restore the fishery), the assault rifle buy-back programme being voluntary (Trudeau: It has been illegal to own or use military-style weapons, and now we are putting in steps to provide fair compensation), the modernisation of the Official Languages Act (Trudeau: It’s coming, but why won’t your party commit to only appointing bilingual judges to the Supreme Court— you don’t really want to protect French, you are playing petty politics), China’s actions and committing not to send a government representative to the Beijing Olympics (Trudeau: Olympic athletes build bridges, and we support our athletes, while we defend human rights), allegations of genocide in China (Trudeau: We are calling for an international investigation, and are working with our allies), an employer using the wage subsidy to pay for scab workers during a lockout (Trudeau: We delivered these programmes to help Canadians, and we have been refining and improving the system, and we will be there for Canadians).

Canadian party leaders promising certain actions with the first 100 days of forming government is a tiresome Americanism. #QP

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) February 17, 2021

Me during #QP. https://t.co/JPi8CQjpOy

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) February 17, 2021

Overall, the day was not terribly illuminating on any front, and the level of outright mendacity on issues has not abated in the slightest. The prime minister was present in person for the second day in a row – which is great – but he seemed to be far more dependent upon scripts today than he often tends to be, so maybe he’s simply out of practice. The sniping between the Conservatives and Trudeau about the Official Languages Act was nothing short of ridiculous, whether it’s trumpeting Erin O’Toole’s pledge to table legislation in his first 100 days of forming government (an Americanism that has no place in Canadian politics), or Trudeau’s constant nonsensical rejoinder about how he wants a pledge by the Conservatives to only appoint bilingual Supreme Court of Canada judges. It’s tiresome and petty, and nobody comes out ahead. O’Toole also started back in on his follow-up schtick for both Official Languages and China questions, because he needs clips for social media. As well, Jagmeet Singh’s demand for a promise not to call an election during the pandemic was useless posturing, particularly given that this is a hung parliament and a loss of confidence could theoretically come at any moment.

I’m going to give a style citations to Mark Gerretsen for a taupe jacket with a subtle windowpane pattern, with dark blue slacks, a white shirt and a medium-blue skinny tie.