QP: Attempts to call out the NDP

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While the prime minister was in town, neither he nor his deputy was present, and neither were most of the other leaders, save Pierre Poilievre. After a moment of silence for the two police officers who were killed in Edmonton over the weekend, Poilievre led off in French, and said that he was prepared to let any Conservative staff to testify at committee and wanted the Liberals to do the same, particularly Katie Telford. Dominic LeBlanc said that they have taken steps to combat foreign interference, which Poilievre didn’t do when he was minister for democratic reform. Poilievre switched to English to accuse the Liberals of getting help from the communist regime in Beijing, and demanded Telford appear at committee, and called out the NDP for possibly helping the Liberals. LeBlanc said that repeated that they were always transparent, and that they had appeared before committee, and that they looked forward to Johnston’s recommendations. Poilievre said that the question was for the leader of the NDP saying he’s “part of the government”—which is more of his bad faith bullshit—made an un-clever quip about coalitions, and called the NDP out again. This time Pam Damoff recited the lines about taking interference seriously. Poilievre switched back to French to demand that there be national licensing for foreign-trained doctors and nurses—which is not federal jurisdiction. Jean-Yves Duclos said that as part of their new transfer agreement included language about credentials recognition. Poilievre returned to English to ask the same question again, and Duclos repeated that they were already working on this with provinces.

Alain Therrien led for the Bloc, and he demanded a public inquiry into foreign interference. LeBlanc praised David Johnston’s credentials. Therrien took several swipes at Johnston before repeating his demand, and LeBlanc insisted that Johnston will work independently to determine next steps.

Alexandre Boulerice rose for the NDP, and he too demanded that Johnston be directed to recommend a public inquiry—which undermines his role. LeBlanc returned to the recitation of talking points about what they have done to combat interference to date, and praise around Johnston. Leah Gazan railed about wages for child care and personal support workers—which is provincial jurisdiction—and Karina Gould said that recruitment and wages are part of their agreements with provinces.

Round two, and Melissa Lantsman called out the NDP over their Supply Day motion on forcing Katie Telford to testify at committee (Holland: We have offered our national campaign directors to appear and Russia should be included in the examination; We offered your leader a full briefing, which he declined, and we offered ways to examine all documents but you are simply using the opportunity to grind a partisan axe), and Michael Barrett gave the same again with some added sanctimony (Holland: When I was the critic in opposition, you had two justices who asked for independent oversight of intelligence, and the Conservatives refused to act on it), and Gérard Deltell tried calling out the NDP in French (Holland: Same answer).

René Villemure returned to the demand of a public inquiry (Damoff: We agree this should not be a partisan issue which is why we appointed an independent special rapporteur to make recommendations; LeBlanc: We would appreciate your support in our work to stop interfernce), and Marie-Hélène Gaudreau accused the prime minister of delaying all manner of investigations (LeBlanc: We have put in several measures that no other government has done).

Michael Chong also tried to call out the NDP (Holland: David Johnston has been charged to oversee the process), Michael Cooper made an attempt, while calling the prime minister “corrupt” (Holland: Your focus on Katie Telford is a partisan game; Calling a member of this government corrupt is despicable).

Heather McPherson demanded federal oversight of oil sands tailing ponds, which is provincial jurisdiction (Guilbeault: We have sent inspectors and are working with the Indigenous communities), and Charlie Angus sang the praises of Joe Biden on clean energy (Guilbeault: We are going beyond them, such as the price on carbon which they are unable to do).

Round three saw questions on beer taxes—which are rising by one cent on every five cans (Boissonnault: We thank you for your support on the loss of two police officers, and on the issue, the what he is saying is not exactly accurate), inflation (St-Onge: We have reduced poverty for 2.7 million Canadians), green infrastructure projects proposals (LeBlanc: We are working well with the government of Quebec), carbon prices (Wilkinson: We have put in place a range of affordability measures including the climate rebates; Khera: We have reduced poverty in seniors because we invested in OAS and GIS; Bibeau: We have supported farm families more than the previous government), bail (Anandasangaree: We have an agreement with provinces moving forward; Bendayan: We have to strengthen firearms regulations), making the caregivers tax credit refundable (Duclos: We are mindful of challenges, and we are making a history investment in healthcare), and a demand for higher transit transfers (LeBlanc: We will continue to work with municipalities).

Overall, it was a bit of a miserable day, between the excruciation repetition of constantly trying to call the NDP out over the upcoming vote on the Supply Day motion to force Katie Telford to appear at committee, and the demands for a public inquiry while it would be the prime minister who sets its terms of reference. Add to that, the increasingly nasty and personal tone to some of the questions (all showboating for the cameras so they can be used for clips in social media shitposts), to the point of outright calling the prime minister “corrupt,” which is crossing lines that the Speaker just gently chided MPs about rather than actually enforcing rules on unparliamentary language. I would also add that Poilievre’s attempt to insist that he was trying to ask questions of Jagmeet Singh (who was not present) as though he’s “part of the government” is more of this disingenuous bullshit that I am so incredibly tired over. It’s really, really dumb and the Speaker should have said something to the effect that trying to ask questions of the NDP is not how how this works, because they are not the government. Honestly.

Meanwhile, we also did learn from Mark Holland, amidst his unctuous sanctimony, that the government did offer briefings on the foreign interference allegations to Poilievre because he’s a member of the Privy Council (as a former minister) so he has the requisite security clearance to see everything, and he declined. Why? Because there is a long-standing pattern in this country where MPs would rather not know the details because then it would mean that they can’t spout off from a place of ignorance, and if they know details, then they have to be more responsible with them. There is academic research on this. I don’t expect this to be any different. (Poilievre’s office claims no offer was made. I’m not sure that I believe them given their history of lying about absolutely everything).

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Anita Anand for a collared white shirt under a tailored black suit with brass button accents, and to Len Weber for a sharp navy suit with a white shirt and a dark purple tie. Style citations go out to Luc Desilets for a dusky rose jacket over a white shirt and baby blue tie, and to Rosemarie Falk for a pink and black floral top with a pussy bow over black slacks.