QP: Demanding support for their carbon price motion

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Even though both the prime minister and his deputy were in town—the PM being in the building—neither were present for QP, and neither were any of the other leaders as well. That left if up to Melissa Lantsman to lead off, and with a script in front of her, she launched into the party’s talking points about inflation (which weren’t true), and then worried about increasing heating costs because of carbon prices, except they don’t go up until April, and the fact that there is no single type of home heating across the country. Nevertheless, she quoted the Liberal premier of Newfoundland and Labrador in opposition to carbon prices, and demanded the government vote in favour of their Supply Day motion to remove the carbon price on home heating. Randy Boissonnault took the question, and used the opportunity to recite his government’s talking points about supporting their bill on the kludge they call dental care, and for rental supports. Lantsman went another round of the same accusations, and Boissonnault recited the government’s record on lowering taxes, which the Conservatives voted against. Lantsman made a third attempt, to which Darren Fisher got up to denounce the Conservatives’ former policy of increasing the age of OAS eligibility for seniors to 67 as proof that the Liberals care more about seniors than the Conservatives. Pierre Paul-Hus took over in French to raise Chrystia Freeland’s new plan to tighten fiscal policy, insisting this was a surprise to the prime minister, that this was an admission that they created inflation (it’s not and they didn’t), and demanded that the carbon price not be “tripled” (that happens over seven years). Boissonnault said the Conservatives are only interested in cutting supports for things like seniors and housing. Paul-Hus insisted that the Conservatives want to cut the carbon tax and demanded the government stop raising taxes (erm, the only actual taxes going up are to corporations and on luxury goods). Boissonnault insisted that he respects his counterpart, but the Conservatives only cut jobs.

Alain Therrien led for the Bloc, and said that the government could simply have enriched the Canada Child Benefit rather than creating their dental care plan, and recited the Parliamentary Budget Officer’s report that this benefit “discriminates” against Quebeckers because they won’t get as much money—because they have existing provincial benefits. Jean-Yves Duclos stated this fact—that they already have dental coverage and the federal benefit will enrich it. Therrien repeated his question and called it “majority insurance” rather than “dental insurance,” and Duclos pointed out how much his government has reduced child poverty.

Alexandre Boulerice rose for the NDP, and in French, he read a statement from a doctor who lost a patient, and demanded the federal government do something about the crisis in healthcare. Duclos admitted there is a crisis, but he said they are providing additional funding to provinces to reduce delays, for workers, and for long-term care. Lindsay Mathyssen read her own condemnation of the state of healthcare in English, to which Duclos reiterated his comments, noting that the Canada Health Act has conditions, and that he was work with premiers.

Round two, and Jasraj Hallan misquoted Mark Carney and Tiff Macklem about inflation and demanded that home heating be removed from the carbon price (Boissonnault: Support our bill on dental care and rental supports; Wilkinson: Eighty percent of households get more back than they pay and we are making green heating more affordable), Andrew Scheer spouted a bunch of more nonsense about inflation and demanded the same carbon price break (Wilkinson: Most G7 countries have higher inflation, you supported COVID supports, and more households get more back than they spend; inaction on climate change will cost even more in the future), and Gérard Deltell gave the same again in French, never mind that the federal price does not apply in Quebec as they have a cap and trade system (Boissonnault: Vote for dental care and rental supports).

Kristina Michaud applauded the ban on handguns, and wanted more action on illegal firearms (Mendicino: Our freeze as a good first step, and we will continue to add resources to the border; We transferred $40 million for a gang prevention strategy).

Raquel Dancho demanded the resignation of Bill Blair for the bogus allegations of interning in the Nova Scotia investigation (Blair: I did not direct her, and the Commissioner confirmed this), and Dane Lloyd repeated the demand (Blair: Same answer).

Alistair MacGregor asked the same thing (Blair: Same answer), and Matthew Green appeared by video to shout about EI changes (Qualtrough: Our reforms are on the way soon).

Round three saw questions on the ArriveCan subcontractors (Mendicino: The CBSA is conducting a review and we will provide updates when we have them), pesticide limits authorised by Health Canada (Duclos: We will deal with these issues better), support for the Conservative motion on removing the carbon price from home heating (Duguid: Weeks after a climate catastrophe in Hurricane Fiona, you want to take a tool off the table; Fisher: The only thing tripling is misinformation under the opposition leader; Just a year ago, every member of your party ran on a platform with a carbon price, and you are consistent flip-floppers; Boissonnault: We are working on inflation like a responsible government), the St. Anne’s residential school survivors (Miller: We are looking into certain files and will go to the court monitor with them), and “payroll taxes” (Ng: We are always looking out for small businesses).

Overall, it was a slightly punchier and shoutier day than usual, not that we got much new in terms of content from either side. The Conservatives shilled for their Supply Day motion, misleading premise and all, and repeated the same misleading points about the alleged interference in the mass shooting investigation (there was no interference and what was asked for would not have interfered with any investigation), or the ArriveCan costs (which no credible developer could have done, back-end and regulatory and legal legwork included, for $200,000). The government, meanwhile, was largely just recited established talking points to nearly all of this, didn’t poke holes in their logic, didn’t correct almost any of the misinformation or disinformation—just called for them to pass Bill C-31 over and over again. Come on, guys, this is just sad.

I also wanted to bring up Charlie Angus’ outburst, and the Speaker’s response. After Angus angrily demanded the minister look at him when he was talking, the Speaker said it wasn’t appropriate—but didn’t do anything about it. He didn’t revoke the question spot, or censure Angus in any other way, such as telling him that he won’t be recognised, or anything else to make it known that he is serious about decorum and ensuring that MPs don’t be jackasses when they stand up. But no—this was a slightly sharper rebuke than his usual gentle chiding, but even then there was absolutely nothing to indicate he is serious or there are consequences. It’s just so disappointing.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Anthony Housefather for a dark grey suit with a crisp white shirt and a lavender tie, and to Marci Ien for a bright fuchsia jacket over a black top. Style citations go out to Rosemarie Falk for a black dress with peach and white florals, and to Luc Desilets for a light blue jacket with a white shirt, and a black tie and slacks. Dishonourable mention goes out to Bardish Chagger for a black sweeter and slacks over a pale yellow top.