QP: The 2015 or the 2021 Justin Trudeau?

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For Wednesday, proto-PMQ day, the prime minister was finally present for the first time in the week, and he was accompanied by three other Liberal MPs, all of them men. Erin O’Toole led off, script on mini-lectern, and he quoted Justin Trudeau in 2015 calling for then-chief of defence staff General Tom Lawson’s resignation after comments he made about sexual misconduct, and wondered why the same Trudeau did not demand the resignation of General Vance when allegations were raised in 2018? Trudeau merely read a prepared statement about them taking it seriously and ensuring that they are followed up on, and that the changes they are making in the Canadian Forces need to go further, which they are committed to. O’Toole was not mollified and tried again, and this time, Trudeau said that they allegations were directed to independent authorities and they didn’t get enough information to go on. A third time got the same answer, that his office was aware of the direction of the ombudsman to authorities, but no more. A fourth time, this time wondering why Vance’s term as chief of defence staff was extended, and Trudeau repeated his answer. For his final question, O’Toole switched to French to ask why the government was allowing second doses to go up to 40 days in spite of pushback from Pfizer, for which Trudeau reminded him that they listen to science and that the vaccine task force is independent from government. 

Yves-François Blanchet was up for the Bloc, wondering why the government wasn’t increasing supports for all seniors, to which Trudeau reminded him that they did increase the GIS across the board and they have supported seniors. Blanchet complained that seniors’ purchasing power has been diminishing, to which Trudeau listed supports they have given seniors during the pandemic.

For the NDP, Jagmeet Singh appeared by video, and in French, complained that certain documents were only tabled in English, which was treating French as a second-class language.  Trudeau rejected the characterisation, and reminded him that they have been producing millions of documents and are moving as fast as they can. Singh switched to English to demand that long-term care be made non-profit across the country, and Trudeau recited the actions they have taken to help seniors.

Round two, and Pierre Poilievre listed a number of either false or misleading statistics to complain about the efficacy of the government’s pandemic supports (Trudeau: We have been there for Canadians all along, and we will always have their backs; The best way to help Canadians through this pandemic is to be there for them, which is the best way to ensure the economy comes roaring back on the other side), Raquel Dancho demanded a plan for women who have lost jobs in the economy (Trudeau: We recognise that this is a “she-cession” and our support for women is unconditional), and that the task force on women and the economy has no representation from women-dominated industries (Trudeau: The task force will focus on a feminist recovery, but we have provided other supports like childcare and help for women entrepreneurs), and O’Toole followed up by demanding a “real plan” on getting women get back into the workforce (Trudeau: We have been there for women throughout this pandemic).

Mario Beaulieu complained that pandemic documents tabled at committee were in English only (Trudeau: This is false — we provided thousands of documents as directed and the committee subsequently received translated documents, and we will protect the French language across Canada), and he complained that Trudeau did not accede to all of the Bloc’s demands (Trudeau: It’s clear your only goal is to undermine francophones’ trust in the Canadian state).

Richard Martel complained that the government only gave half-measures to provinces and demanded that health transfers be increased (Trudeau: Eight out or every ten pandemic support dollars came from the federal government; We will sit down with the provinces and increase transfers once the pandemic is over), and Michelle Rempel Garner returned to the question of second dose delays and worried it would create vaccine-resistant variants (Trudeau: The vaccine advisory committee grounds their advice in science; it’s disturbing that the Conservatives harbour people who question science).

Rachel Blaney demanded the gender-based analysis of mental health supports for veterans (Trudeau: I will follow up with the minister), and Charlie Angus returned to then worries about the allegations against General Vance (Trudeau: They were forwarded to independent authorities, who did not get any further information).

Round three saw yet more questions on the Vance allegations (Trudeau: We directed the allegations to independent investigators, and did not learn specifics until media reports; My office was only aware of that something was forwarded to investigators; Politicians should not be involved investigations, and we ensured that independent investigators were alerted), protecting Supply Management from future trade deals (Trudeau: We have publicly committed to protect the system and make no future concessions), hotel quarantines at land borders (Trudeau: There are severe consequences for those who do not follow quarantine orders), there have been no seizures of goods from Xinjiang region in China (Trudeau: We are pushing for international investigations and working on a comprehensive approach to protecting Uyghurs and ensuring that Canadians don’t get caught up in supply chains with forced labour), recognising the Uyghur genocide (Trudeau: We are reviewing the reports and working with allies to have the maximum impact on the world stage), Enbridge Line 5 (Trudeau: When I met with the president, I advocated for this, and our government supports it), Canadian visa-offices in China being staffed by a Chinese state-owned company (Trudeau: All third-party contractors are rigorously evaluated and audited, and other Five Eyes allies also use this contractor).

Overall, the day was a fairly average one, and we got another round of repetitive questions being asked to maximise the number of clips that could be gathered for social media, which gets really, really tired very quickly. And Trudeau was little better most of the time, sticking to happy, clappy talking points rather than substantively answering many of the questions put to him. We got another round of Pierre Poilievre lying with statistics, which Trudeau did push back a little about, but what was especially precious was Raquel Dancho and Erin O’Toole complaining that the government has no plan to get women back in the workforce. This from the party that has been pushing for a bro-covery the whole time, and has been astoundingly deaf to the concerns of women over the course of this economic crisis, and suddenly they’re lecturing the prime minister on what constitutes a feminist recovery. It’s really too much, and I cannot even.

Sartorial snaps and citations remain on hiatus for lack of a sufficient sample size.

One thought on “QP: The 2015 or the 2021 Justin Trudeau?”

  1. Rempel-Garner lives in an alternate reality that allows her and her compadres to tell lies knowing full well that the majority of voters including all conservatives are stupid enough to buy in. Again another day when Trudeau takes the quiet approach of the sweet naivety in the attempt to soft peddle these attacks. This must come to an end. I truly believe that Trudeau just doesn’t have the spine to really call these people out. The Cons know this and they will never stop until JT takes the gloves off. Perhaps we will have to wait until the next campaign. Sad!”

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