QP: Return of the ear worm

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The prime minister was present, but only a couple of other leaders were. Melissa Lantsman led off with a script on a mini-lectern, and she wanted an update on the earthquake situation in Türkiye and Syria. Justin Trudeau assured her that the government was working with partners to offer whatever assistance is required. Lantsman pivoted to government spending, quoting Bill Morneau and misquoting Mark Carney’s alleged concern, to which Trudeau offered some well-worn talking points about helping people in the pandemic and ensuring growth for the future. Lantsman demanded humility and an admission of responsibility for people having a tough time. Trudeau insisted that they have stepped up with supports for those who need it, because it’s the smart thing to do to ensure growth in the future. Pierre Paul-Hus took over in a French, and raised both spending and McKinsey contracts, because McKinsey. Trudeau repeated his talking points about being there for people in the pandemic and ensuring future growth. Paul-Hus cited the PBO’s concerns about overspending and tried to wedge concern about the closure of Medicago in Quebec, for which Trudeau reminded him that in the height of the pandemic, we didn’t know which vaccines would win the race, and the Conservatives only want austerity. 

Yves-François Blanchet led for the Bloc and railed about health transfers and the need for speed, urging a quick cheque with no strings attached. Trudeau disputed the question, noting the record number of meetings with premiers over the pandemic and the record spending he sent to them. Blanchet went on a tear, blaming Trudeau for the Quebec government’s choices in health spending. Trudeau reiterated his same response.

Alexandre Boulerice falsely accused the federal government of cutting health spending before railing about private health delivery. Trudeau assured him he always defend the Canada Health Act and the public system, which is why he wanted results from future transfers. Blake Desjarlais took over in English to rail about creeping privatisation and demanded strings on those dollars, and Trudeau repeated that he was standing up for the public system. 

Round two, and Michael Chong raised the Chinese “spy balloon” before worrying about research funding with Chinese institutions (O’Connell: We have national security screenings on funding), Raquel Dancho painted an apocalyptic scenario about rising crime and demanded the government vote for their Supply Day motion (Lametti: Bail reform has been on our radar for months and we are working with provinces), Tracy Grey blamed the federal government for a particular bail issue (Lametti: Our bail system balances Charter rights and the presumption of innocence; Mendicino: We have invested in police and addressing the root causes of crime, and you voted against all of it), and Richard Martel gave the same talking points in French (Lametti: We have invested in protecting victims, and nobody is going to be released who is a threat to safety).

Mario Beaulieu disputed Montreal Liberals’ supposed fear-mongering on enshrining Quebec’s language laws in federal legislation (Petitpas Taylor: We have an ambitious bill so please pass it; Rodriguez: The Bloc are only looking for a fight).

Lianne Rood and Mark Strahl recited the “triple, triple, triple” ear worm (Guilbeault: Carbon prices is the most effective way to fight climate change, and here are next year’s rebate levels; Gould: Poverty in Canada has been reduced by 2.7 million Canadians since we took office; Boissonnault: All this time in opposition and you haven’t figured out that catchphrase don’t help people).

Jenny Kwan accused the federal government of supporting corporate landlords, never mind that rent is a provincial responsibility (Hussen: We have delivered rental supports for people), and Leah Gazan complained that Alberta is not living up to their federal childcare agreement (Gould: I was happy to announce new spaces in Alberta).

Round three saw questions on carbon prices (Guilbeault: You don’t have a plan and people get rebates; You just want to pass on the costs of climate change to your children and grandchildren; Fraser: You would take that rebate money away from families, while you should see the devastation in my riding from Hurricane Fiona; a story that New York is paying for tickets to Roxham Road (Fraser: Your solution would only move the goal posts, and we are supporting Quebec, while we have domestic and international obligations; Mendicino: We are working to strengthen our borders and are collaborating with Quebec), more questions on carbon prices (Khera: We have increased supports for seniors while you told them to invest in crypto; Fraser: The programmes we have put into place since 2015 have been designed specifically for people like your constituent; Gould: We have brought in a number of affordability measures for low-income Canadians), investing in the Medicago vaccine (O’Connell: We are disappointed to learn of the decision but we are in discussion to save the workers, technology and intellectual property), McKinsey contracts (Boissonnault: You guys are all catchphrases and no plans), matching Joe Biden’s clean energy investments (O’Regan: We are on the side of workers, and they are the people we need to lower emissions and create jobs), and pressing for peace in Ukraine (Anand: We stand with Ukraine, and decisions around peace will come from Ukraine itself).

Overall, it was the return of the gods damed “triple, triple, triple” ear worm, in spite of the news that it wasn’t landing and that the Conservatives were planning to retire it. Apparently not, but not only did it make a comeback today, it was paired with a second new line being field-tested that declared “Conservatives will keep the heat on and take the tax off.” It’s more of the same when it comes to the misleading talking points around carbon pricing, with more of the usual ineffective pushback from the government on things like the rebates and the whole reason why price signals are important.

Otherwise, there were fewer of the talking points we’ve seen in recent weeks about the false assertions about the causes of inflation, and the lines about mortgage costs and rent increases. In fact, it felt a lot like this was a QP that took place in the fall rather than any from last week, and the only way to tell it wasn’t a rerun were the references to the earthquake in Türkiye and the Chinese “spy balloon.” But again, the fact that this whole exercise has become this repetitive is not a good sign for the health of our democratic discourse.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Anita Anand for a burgundy suit with a banded-collared jacket over an off-white top, and to Marc Miler for a tailored dark grey suit with a crisp white shirt and a bright pink tie. Style citations go out to Darren Fisher for a brown suede jacket with added pockets an shoulder straps over a grey shirt and no tie, and to Michelle Ferreri for a faded black jacket with dusky rose florals over a black top and brown leather slacks. Dishonourable mention goes out to Anju Dhillon for a yellow wrap top with a choker collar under a bright green jacket and black slacks.

3 thoughts on “QP: Return of the ear worm”

  1. Blanchet…of course… feigned ignorance about jurisdiction is stock, like every solution to problems is a plea for more education. As for Strahl… he uses triple ditto ditto because he can remember as he is non compos mentis.

  3. I heard a radio ad this morning with Poilievre using the “keep the heat on and take the tax off line”

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