Both the prime minister and his deputy were in the House together for the first QP in weeks, which is always nice to see. Pierre Poilievre led off in French, he asked if any public servants, security officials, or police inform the prime minister of Beijing’s alleged interference in elections. Justin Trudeau said that while security and police take foreign interference very seriously, he could assure Canadians that in the 2019 and 2021 elections, there was no foreign interference that could have changed any of the results in any significant way. Poilievre found the answer to be tricksy, and in English, wanted to know if there was any interference period. Trudeau pointed out that there is always some level of interference, be it cyber or disinformation, but they had assurances this was not an issue and that the elections were free and fair. Poilievre still was not satisfied, and asked again. Trudeau reiterated that they had the panel of top civil servants and national security who monitored both 2019 and 2021 and found no interference. Poilievre tried again, more slowly, if there were any briefings about alleged interference, period. Trudeau stated that he had no briefings, period, around foreign-funded candidates. Poilievre insisted this was a denial of an absurdity, and repeated yet again if he had any intelligence of any interference of any kind from Beijing during either election. Trudeau reiterated that the report from the non-partisan panel that there was no interference that impacted those elections.

Yves-François Blanchet led for the NDP, and raised that the RCMP was now investigating, and if democracy was at stake, the prime minister needed to know which alleged eleven candidates were in question. Trudeau repeated that all of the reports stated anything about any interference or funding directly or indirectly from China. Blanchet was not mollified and worried that Trudeau was somehow isolating China for the sake of grandstanding. Trudeau once again cited that China does try to interfere, which is why we work with allies to protect ourselves. 

Jagmeet Singh led for the NDP, and worried about conservative premiers trying to privatise healthcare, and demanded the prime minister do something about that. Trudeau noted that on some days the NDP demand he send more money to premiers and today he was telling them not to, but any future transfers would be subject to the Canada Health Act. Singh switched to French and sounded concern about Quebec hospitals in particular, and Trudeau reiterated that they were working with provinces to deliver “real results.”

Round two, and Poilievre got back up to try once again around if he had been informed at any time about interference from Beijing before the media reports (Mendicino: We know the elections were free and fair because we had two independent panels confirm this), he mentioned the RCMP letter to the committee and noted it included interference “in democratic processes” (LeBlanc: We put in place an independent process of experts and that group ensured that the elections were free and fair; Mendicino: Same answer; LeBlanc: NSICOP has access to all of this confidential information), and Richard Martel read the usual talking points about inflation and “tax increases” (Freeland: Hooray dental care!)

Blachet got back up to demand to know which eleven candidates were allegedly funded (Mendicino: We created the two independent panels), and Andréanne Larouche demanded more support for all seniors and not just those over 75 (Khera: We doubled the GST credit, gave dental and rental supports and doubled the OAS for those over 75).

Michael Chong demanded to know what briefings the PM received about Beijing’s attempted interference (Mendicino: We created two panels), what RCMP investigations were happening (LeBlanc: You were in Cabinet and know that RCMP doesn’t share those details, but we put more process into place unlike your government), and Michael Cooper got back up to again demand to know if they were briefed on election interference (Mendicino: Two panels…), and Luc Berthold gave the same again in French (LeBlanc: If you want documents maybe try NSICOP).

Niki Ashton—in person for the first time in months—railed about corporations and windfall taxes (Freeland: We did bring in a COVID windfall tax and a higher tax on banks and insurers, plus a luxury tax on private planes and yachts), and Matthew Green demanded the government do something about Telus outsourcing jobs (Fillmore: We are holding big carriers accountable and our plan to make lower prices is working).

Round three saw questions on violent crime (Anandasangaree: We ensured that resources are focused on serious crime; Hussen: Your government cut billions from CBSA which weakened the border, and your fought a bill that is trying to fix the discriminatory effects on Black and Indigenous people), modernising the Emergencies Act and the precedent of the invocation in February (LeBlanc: No civil liberties were suspended and your saying so doesn’t make it true), carbon prices (Wilkinson: Eight out of ten families get more money back than they pay, and if we’re talking about misleading the House, your party campaigned on carbon prices; Khera: You opposed all of our measures to help seniors), hospitals being over capacity (Duclos: We have announced the emergency importation of Children’s Tylenol), some nonsense about tax increases that aren’t happening (LeBouthillier: The only Conservative slogan is “cut, cut, cut”), inflation (Gould: We put forward significant benefits to help Canadians), Canada Post putting on a fuel surcharge on packages (Jaczek: Canada Post operates at arm’s length from government), aviation safety (Alghabra: We are working with stakeholders to maintain the high level of safety).

And yet I’m still sitting through #QP. https://t.co/HwXkkBFOL3

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) November 29, 2022

Overall, it was an even more mind-numbingly dull QP, as Poilievre asked the same question nine times, eight of them in English, and then Michael Chong and Michael Cooper each took their own cracks at it. It very much seemed to be a contest where Poilievre was trying to trap Trudeau into saying something he would turn against him (because remember, he fancies himself Matlock getting witness-box confessions on the floor of the Commons), and Trudeau wasn’t going to give him what he was looking for, nor were any of his ministers, who just repeated the same point about the two independent panels over and over again. It’s really annoying, and nobody wins.

Meanwhile, we didn’t get any instances of the “triple, triple, triple” ear worm today, and no instances of the talking points that are the subject of my current QP drinking game, so small mercies? Otherwise, I am very curious what mechanism that Jagmeet Singh thinks the federal government can use to stop provinces from privatising healthcare services, because aside from cutting funding under the Canada Health Act, there don’t seem to be. And hey, Niki Ashton showed up in person today, when it doesn’t look like she’s been here since May, and no she hasn’t indicated any particular health concern that I’m aware of. This is exactly why continuing hybrid sittings should not be allowed to carry on.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Anna Roberts for a navy jacket with leather detailing around the buttons over an off white top and a navy skirt, and to Anthony Housefather for a navy suit with a pale blue shirt and a pink tie. Style citations go out to Darren Fisher for his hateful brown corduroy jacket over a mint green shirt and a green-grey tie, and to Mary Ng for a navy long-sleeved dress with tight white florals. Special mention goes out to Bardish Chagger for a white sweater with red striped sleeves and a Xmas-themed panels across the front.