While the prime minister was at the tail end of his COIVD isolation, he did not make a virtual appearance today, while his deputy was in Toronto in order to meet with her American counterpart, and only one other leader was present. Candice Bergen led off, script on her mini-lectern, and she declared that the government had no plan to deal with inflation other than “mismanagement” and “out of control spending.” Randy Boissonnault reminded her that the Conservatives ran on a plan for higher deficit spending than the Liberals did, and listed indexed benefits for people. Bergen demanded a reduction in federal taxes in order to ease gasoline prices, insisting that the Liberals say no to good ideas. Jonathan Wilkinson said they were doing the right thing, which was dealing with supply constraints caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Bergen then pivoted to higher crime rates, and made the false equivalence of the handgun freeze with the bill to remove mandatory minimums that target Black and Indigenous people. Marco Mendicino accused Bergen of not reading the bill, because it raises penalties on gun smugglers, while the Conservatives want to make AR-15s legal again. Bergen listed the recent sins, real or imagined, of a number of ministers, declaring the government of being a “disaster.” Mark Holland pointed out that the government has seen the government grow the economy, lift people out of poverty, and was focused on delivering for Canadians while Bergen was trolling from subject to subject for attack lines. Luc Berthold took over in French, and he recited his own list of alleged “chaotic incompetence” and wondered who would stand up to the prime minister, to which Boissonnault listed supports for Canadians that Conservatives voted against, while they are trying to find some “snappy lines for Twitter.” (I think you mean clips for future shitposts, though I grant you that may not be parliamentary language).

Alain Therrien warned that police needed to intervene with lines at passport offices, and that the situation was out of control. Ya’ara Saks responded that they have added more resources, including to MP lines to get help to those who need it in time. Therrien was incensed, raising a memo that said that help for MPs’ offices was being ended only to have been withdrawn hours later, citing this as signs of incompetence. Saks repeated her assurances, giving some figures on the additional resources.

Alexandre Boulerice rose for the NDP, and railed that the government wasn’t doing enough to help people deal with inflation, citing that the GST credit only increases by $7 dollars? Randy Boissonnault insisted that this was false, and listed other measures that the government was taking, including indexed benefits. Daniel Blaikie took over in English, and repeated the demand for enriched supports, while Boissonnault insisted this was nothing more than cynicism before he repeated his same points.

Round two, and Dan Albas accused the finance minister of being afraid of making cuts lest she wind up like Bill Morneau—which makes no sense as a big part of Morneau’s exit had to do with his compromising himself ethically over the WE Charity issue (Boissonnault: You ran on a platform to spend even more, which should have been irresponsible), Gérard Deltell accused the government of spending too much (Boissonnault: We have ensured that things like benefits are indexed to inflation, while you voted against our measures), he worried about passport lines (Saks: The department did plan for it and hired 600 new employees last September, and we are outperforming international comparisons), Dominique Vien repeated the same worry (Saks: Same answer), and she decried inflation (Boissonnault: Your party has no plan and just vote against our measures).

Louise Chabot repeated the concern about lines at passport offices (Saks: Centres have been open overtime and on weekends, and Service Canada employees are going into those lines to triage cases; Passport offices will be open over the next two long weekends), and made a few other complaints about Service Canada (Saks: We owe public servants our gratitude for helping during the pandemic).

Michelle Ferreri complained the government wasn’t doing anything to fight inflation (Boissonnault: Inflation is global, but we have affordability measures, which your party voted against), Ted Falk demanded a tax cut on fuel (Boissonnault: Look at our economic fundamentals), Stephen Ellis worried that there aren’t enough primary care physicians (van Koeverden: We are working to advance high quality care).

Anti-vaxxer Ted Falk gets an ovation from the Conservatives for asking a question in the Chamber now that he’s allowed back in. #QP

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) June 20, 2022

Taylor Bachrach complained that the government wasn’t paying airport workers enough while incentivising those who don’t take holidays (Alghabra: We have hired over 900 CATSA employees of the past several weeks and added more CBSA staff), and Heather McPherson demanded a comprehensive list of sanctions and assets seized (Oliphant: We have strengthened sanctions at unprecedented levels).

Round three saw questions on ArriveCan problems (Mendicino: We are improving the technology), passport line-ups (Saks: We hired new employees), official languages versus diversity (Petitpas Taylor: Our objectives are clear and we have an ambitious bill to protect and promote French throughout the country), warning labels on ground meats (van Koeverden: We are concerned about the rising rates of diet-based chronic diseases), northern food prices (Vandal: We expanded Nutrition North, and announced $25 million more dollars post-COVID), Hockey Canada getting funding without reporting abuse allegations (St-Onge: I was horrified to read about the allegations, and I have ordered a full financial audit), a landslide in a Quebec riding (Blair: We are engaged with provincial counterparts), plastic pollution (Dabrusin: We have done this, with a deadline by the end of the year), and reducing global emissions (Dabrusin: We tabled an ambitious, detailed plan).

Overall, it was a rowdy day in several parts, and generally full of silly season antics. Bergen was in full shitpost-clip-gathering mode, as were most of the other Conservatives, grabbing the last few clips they can, often on two different topics apiece, before the summer hits and they can’t get them any longer. It’s nothing unexpected at this point, but is still poor form overall. But really, there weren’t any memorable exchanges, and the whole exercise is running on fumes. Everyone needs to go home for the summer and recharge, and hopefully think about their behaviour a little more.

Sartorial speaking, snaps go out to Melissa Lantsman for a hot pink jacket over a white v| necked top and black slacks, and to Peter Schiefke for a medium-grey suit with a light blue shirt and pink tie. Style citations go out to Darren Fisher for a seersucker jacket with a blueberry shirt and a red and blue tartan tie, and to Louise Chabot for a blue dress with white florals under a white sweater.