QP: Triple, triple, triple the bad math

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Even though the prime minister was in town, he was not in Question Period today, though his deputy was. Pierre Poilievre led off in French, worrying that housing prices have doubled, and that bills take up 60 percent of an average paycheque, while the government’s solution is to “triple, triple, triple” the carbon price. Steven Guilbeault reminded him that the carbon price is the most effective in the world, and that emissions have been reduced by nine percent and the revenues go back to households. Poilievre switched to English to decry the carbon prices, misleadingly talking about missed targets and insinuating that it was tripling overnight when it’s over a decade, and misquoted the PBO about the cost to households, before repeating his “triple, triple, triple” line, to which Guilbeault reminded him that O’Toole stated that pricing mechanisms were the best way to go. Poilievre repeated his assertions, and Guilbeault needled the Conservatives for constantly flip-flopping on their position on carbon pricing. Poilievre insisted that the Liberals “attacked” a woman in rural Newfoundland and called her a “polluter” for heating her home, and Guilbeault pointed out their programme to help people transition off of home heating oil. Poilievre mocked the government programme to help people afford a “tax,” accused the government of putting people into energy poverty, and demanded the carbon price increase be cancelled. Chrystia Freeland responded this time, saying Canadians understand that climate change is real, and that the global economy is in the midst of a transition to a green economy, which is why the government is helping Canadians and industry make that transition.

René Villemure led for the Bloc, and he accused the government of secretly giving contracts to Liberal donors around Roxham Road, to which Helena Jaczek read in French that they negotiated fair market value and publicly releasing the details would release commercially sensitive information. Villemure insisted this was just the government sowing doubt other contracts, which were not proven to be in any wrongdoing. Jaczek repeated a version of her statement in English. 

Peter Julian rose for the NDP, and he demanded immediate EI for the Atlantic provinces in the wake of Hurricane Fiona, to which Carla Qualtrough says that Service Canada has waived the requirement for a record of employment. Alexandre Boulerice denounced Poilievre before repeating the same question on EI, and Qualtrough assured him that EI modernisation is on the way. 

Round two, and Poilievre was back up to accuse the prime minister of not showing up at Iranian solidarity protests because he hasn’t banned the IRGC as a terrorist organisation (Mendicino: There are tangible consequences and we have listed new sanctions and will explore all options to bring justice), and raised the downing of PS752 (Joly: What is happening in Iras is unacceptable and we are sanctioning the IRGC’s core leadership), Gérard Deltell spoke about the community fridge being launched in his riding and demanded the government not “increase taxes” (Gould: We understand that costs of living have increased and that is why we have benefit programmes; Freeland: Now is the time for Conservatives to support our measures), and John Williamson went on an rant about taxes (Guilbeault: Math is not your forte, because going from $50 to $65 is not tripling).

Louise Chabot decried the end of pandemic EI supports without the modernisation (Qualtrough: We have extended the seasonal pilot project and the full modernisation is on the way), and Chabot insisted this was not enough (Qualtrough: We are extending sick leave benefits and the whole system is being modernised).

Warren Steinley returned to the “triple” tax line (Freeland: We have affordability measures that you need to support; Gould: I see you are doubling down on your bad math, but in your province, childcare costs have been reduced by 70 percent, two year ahead of schedule), and Tracey Gray worried about “payroll taxes” for restaurants (Virani: We have helped small businesses).

Gord Johns demanded the mental health transfer be sent out immediately (Bennett: We have made historic investments, and we will do more), and Leah Gazan decried CCB clawbacks for people who got CERB but not corporations who took supports (Freeland: We have imposed higher taxes and dividend payments for companies).

Round three saw questions on the carbon prices and EI premiums (Freeland: It’s important for its to be clear and honest with Canadians; Guilbeault: The federal price does not apply to Quebec because they have their own cap-and-trade system), increased shootings in Quebec (Mendicino: We have increased measures at the border, while while gun control bill has higher penalties for organised crime), measures against the Iranian regime (Joly: We are standing up with Iranians, and I have raised this at the UN last week, and in Washington last week, and we are imposing new sanctions: Mendicino: We have listed Iran as a state supporter of terrorism and listed the IRGC Kuds Force), a “just transition” (O’Regan: This is a complex problem and we cannot get to Net Zero without energy workers, so we are investing in training), and Bay du Nord (Guilbeault: Countries need to reduce their emissions by 43 percent by 2030, and we are on the way to do that and to do more than any other country in the G7).

Overall, it was an extremely annoying day, and my last nerve was being worked as Poilievre and his caucus decided to make “triple, triple, triple” their oh-so-clever attack line of the day. Of course, it’s bad math because the carbon price increases from $50 to $65 next year, which is not tripling (the tripling from $50 to $150 per tonne happen by 2030), but it took Steven Guilbealut until well into the second round to point this fact out when he should have started from the top. Why is this so hard? Likewise around the demands around EI and CPP premiums—why not simply call out that the Conservatives want to reduce protections for workers while they pretend they are the defenders of the working class? Sharpen your elbows rather than giving us more pabulum.

Meanwhile, there was another line of attack around Iran, and the fact that the government hasn’t listed the IRGC as a terrorist entity, and accusing them of simply “virtue-signalling” instead. Erm, except that listing the IRGC would pretty much be virtue signalling in and of itself. For one, the government doesn’t list entities on their own—there is a process from law enforcement and national security agencies, and they have not made such a recommendation, in large part because it would be unenforceable. The IRGC is firmly embedded within the Iranian regime, and is too sprawling to make terrorism enforcement mechanisms against them feasible which is why other methods have needed to be implemented instead. And it would be great if the government could actually spell any of this out, but they won’t, so we just get more yelling. Good job, everyone. You’ve really helped.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Blake Richards for a tailored black suit with a pale lavender shirt and dark purple tie, and to Arielle Kayabaga for a navy top under a black suit. Style citations go out to Mona Fortier for burnt sienna top with white florals under a grey suit, and to Mark Gerretsen for a faded maroon jacket over a light blue shirt, blue jeans and a plaid tie.

3 thoughts on “QP: Triple, triple, triple the bad math”

  1. Dale, tell us about your conversations with ministers. Do you point out that their answers could be sharper and with purpose?
    If you do, what response do you get?
    Surely there must be someone on the Liberal with a sharp set of chops or is there some rule that Ministers must be gentlemanly or ladylike in all rejoinders?
    This has always bothered me.

    • I don’t tend to have conversations with ministers, and when I do interview them, it’s usually on specific topics in a limited window of time that doesn’t allow me to get into their QP strategy.

  2. Is there some rule that the Liberals have that precludes them from forcefully countering the daily outright lies from the Cons?
    Next time you have the chance, ask them. Is there no one among the Libs with any chops?

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