QP: Border crossings and gun control

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Even though the prime minister was mere steps away, concluding a press conference with this Latvian counterpart, he was not in the Chamber for QP today, though his deputy was, and most of the other leader didn’t bother to show up either. Luc Berthold led off in French, and he worried about Roxham Road, accusing the prime minister of creating a “gap” in the safe third country agreement, and he echoed François Legault’s demand to suspend the agreement and close the crossing. Chrystia Freeland read that they respect the immigration system, and that they work closely with the Americans on the shared border including with the agreement. Berthold then pivoted to gang violence in Montreal (and for a moment, it sounded like he was drawing a comparison because it was such a clumsy transition), and Freeland agreed with him that as a member from a big city, there is a problem with firearms, which was why the government was taking steps to limit them, and invited the Conservatives to support them in that. Berthold insisted that the prime minister was turning a blind eye, and targeting innocent people, and Freeland repeated her same response. John Brassard took over in English to decry gun violence and noted that in one arrest, the accused had been arrested on an unrelated charge 48 hours earlier. Freeland insisted that as a mother of Toronto teenagers, she was well aware of the problem of firearms, which was why they were banning military-style assault rifles. Brassard listed other gun incidents and insisted the prime minister was protecting violent criminals and not families. Freeland assured him that farmers and hunters do not use military-style assault rifles, which is why they were being banned.

Alain Therrien led for the Bloc, and he worried about the escalating cost of the Trans Mountain expansion, as it gets another $10 billion (loan guarantee, not actually new funds), and Freeland assured him that they did not intend to be the long-term owners and that it was a responsible investment that created jobs. Therrien bellowed louder on the matter, and Freeland repeated her response.

Jagmeet Singh rose for the NDP, and he worried that oil and gas companies got government money and is now raking in massive profits. Freeland listed efforts on eliminating subsidies and imposing emissions caps. Singh repeated the question in French, and got much the same response.

Round two, and John Nater accused the government of censoring debate on the broadcasting bill (Bittle: Tech giants need rules and this is going to committee), Shelby Kramer-Neuman worried about seniors facing inflation (Khera: We have indexed benefits to inflation), Tracy Gray worried that seniors are having to go back to work as they face inflation (Khera: Listing benefits for seniors), and Frank Caputo insisted there were no results from housing programmes (Hussen: Hooray our national housing strategy).

Mario Simard worried about oil profits versus Trans Mountain (Freeland: Inflation is a global phenomenon driven by the pandemic and Putin, but we have other affordability measures in our budget; carbon capture will help other industries too).

Stephen Ellis and Mike Lake complained the mental health transfer was not yet flowing (Brière: We are engaging in provinces to build the new transfer; The CRTC and PHAC are working on the three-digit suicide prevention hotline).

Laurel Collins complained about the loan guarantee for the Trans Mountain Expansion (Freeland: We understand how important it is to get fair value for resources), and Charlie Angus sanctimoniously declared the pipeline to be a “carbon bomb” (Guilbeault: Under our government, pollution has gone down).

Round three saw questions on the RCMP Commissioner’s testimony at committee (Mendicino: Here is what she really said), the environment minister being sued for the approval of Bay du Nord (Guilbeault: We are navigating a “just middle” to reduce emissions), not getting Afghans to Canada fast enough (Fraser: We have made one of the most substantial commitments to resettle, and there will be 13,200 arrivals by tomorrow; Your government wouldn’t let them come to Canada and we had to create a special programme where you failed), passport delays (Saks: We are trying to prioritise emergency cases), the inadequate level of scholarships and index then to inflation (Fillmore: We have been rebuilding the sector, and have given new money to granting councils), and the Trans Mountain expansion (Freeland: It is important to get value for our resources).

Overall, it was a somewhat chippier day today than it has been for most of the week, and the Deputy Speaker even had to yell at one point, which is more than he has done in a while. One thing that did strike me today were just how many questions were being asked in bad faith, framed in a way that was both disingenuous and dishonest, first with the questions on the mental health transfers, for which they know that negotiations are still ongoing; the other was with the so-called “shocking” testimony from the RCMP Commissioner who stated that she didn’t request the use of the Emergencies Act. One sentence later, she also noted that the RCMP weren’t the police of jurisdiction with the occupation, so it wouldn’t have been up to her to make the request. They know this, but they’re going to be dishonest about it regardless. But even more frustrating was the fact that the minister wouldn’t actually point this simple fact out. He clung to talking points about why they needed to invoke the Act, but didn’t push back against this simple bit of disinformation. It’s so gods damned frustrating that ministers can’t use simple facts to push back.

I was also stuck by the fact that the Bloc made some fairly personal jabs at Steven Guilbeault, far more than we normally see in the House of Commons. I get that they have particular disagreements on policy, but this was far further than they usually go, and it gives a very nasty tone to what is going on, which we really don’t need more of in our political discourse.

Sartorial speaking, snaps go out to Arielle Kayabaga for a hot pink jacket over a black top and slacks, and to Sean Fraser for a tailored navy suit with a crisp white shirt and a purple tie. Style citations go out to Larry Maguire for a tan suit with a white shirt and a brown tie, and to Shelby Kramp-Neuman for a long-sleeved blue dress with loud florals. Dishonourable mention goes out to Julie Vignola for a dark yellow jacket over a grey top and black slacks, and to Marie-Hélène Gaudreau or a bright yellow jacket over a floral top and black skirt.

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