QP: Closing those “police stations”

Posted on by

The prime minister was present today, while his deputy was not, and most of the leaders were present, save Pierre Poilievre. In other words, it was the reverse of yesterday’s attendance. Pierre Paul-Hus led off in French, and he noted that those two Chinese “police stations” in the Montreal area were still operating and wanted the government to account for this. Trudeau said that the RCMP were following up on these, before reading a statement in both languages about the situation in Alberta. Paul-Hus needled that the opposition parties all voted for their Supply Day motion yesterday, before returning to the demand to shut down those stations. Trudeau reminded him that police operate independently, before he read a list of actions taken to date. Melissa Lantsman took over in English, and demanded the government bring in a foreign agent registry, to which Trudeau accused her of being disingenuous because she knows that they are consulting on best way to do it. Lantsman raised those “police stations,” and Trudeau read a statement that the RCMP are currently investigating these two alleged stations. She reiterated her points more angrily, and Trudeau noted that in 2015 when they took office, they took actions that the previous government refused to, such as creating NSICOP and the election oversight panels.

Yves-François Blanchet led for the Bloc, and he accused McKinsey of meddling in Canadian affairs because of the “century initiative” and tried to spin a conspiracy theory around it. Trudeau noted that they are protecting French and Quebec already has the power to select its own immigrants. Blanchet railed more about this alleged conspiracy, and Trudeau insisted that they get the uniqueness of Quebec, and reiterate that Quebec sets their own immigration levels.

Jagmeet Singh rose for the NDP, and he demanded a public inquiry for the sake of diasporic communities who face threats. Trudeau noted the appointment of David Johnston who may yet recommend a public inquiry. Singh repeated the question in French, and got the same response.

Round two, and Larry Brock returned to the two “police stations” around Montreal (Mendicino: You know that the RCMP took action to disrupt their activities, and that they are monitoring the situation, and you should support the funds in our budget rather than sabre rattling), Michael Barrett gave more of the same for clips (Mendicino: Same question, same answer; Here at actions we have taken when your government did nothing for ten years ), and Luc Berthold railed about David Johnston (Holland: He has all options on the table, while the Trudeau Foundation is independent from government; We followed the recommendations of the Iacobucci report which your government ignored).

Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe returns to the century initiative conspiracy theory (Fraser: We set our own targets and we protect French), Denis Trudel railed that about affordable housing in the face of immigration targets (Hussen: We are using immigration to help fill the gaps in the labour market to build more houses).

Karen Vecchio relayed a “cry” from constituents who are struggling in the face of the prime minister travelling (Boissonnault: Let me first make a statement about Alberta before saying that we have measures to make life more affordable; Khera: Here are measures we introduced to help seniors), and Glen Motz complained about the prime minister’s travel (Holland: We sympathise with Canadians, but you are misrepresenting facts), and Dominique Vien gave the same in French (Boissonnault: We have the lowest deficit in the G7 and the best economy in the G7).

Alexandre Boulerice called out a Liberal in Montreal for not treating housing seriously (Hussen: We have been making historic investments), and Leah Gazan railed that the money for Indigenous shelters was too slow to roll out (Hajdu: I’m grateful to talk about our announcement about funding these shelters).

Round three saw questions on the carbon price (Guilbeault: Your election platform contains a carbon price; There is a cost to climate change as Albertans are living through; Let me quote your own MP who was in favour of our federal system; Fraser: Our rebates put more back in most families’ pockets; St-Onge: Canadians know that climate change has impacts, and that a responsible government helps fight climate change while helping people; Saks: We invested in lifting children out of poverty which you voted against; Drouin: You live in a riding where there have been a carbon price since 2007), expelling that Chinese diplomat and calling a public inquiry (Oliphant: We have taken this seriously and took measures when we had concrete information; Lametti: Same answer), Freeland not showing up at committee while travelling (Boissonnault: You would rather talk about carpets and eels at committee than the budget; End the filibuster and she is scheduled to appear on Tuesday), housing and a drug crisis in his riding (Hajdu: We have been a strong partner to provinces and and I will meet with the local group), corporate landlords (Hussen: Hooray our rental supports).

Overall, it was slightly less of a clown show today, possibly in Poilievre’s absence, but that didn’t mean we didn’t still have eruptions, and in particular the third-round issue over the use of props in the Chamber, first from Steven Guilbeault, then from Fraser Tolmie. Because MPs can’t be grown-ups, on either side, apparently. While I am willing to accept that Guilbeault’s use was more inadvertent because he was trying to quote from the document he was holding up, Tolmie’s use of the photo was clear and deliberate, and he should have received more than a tepid warning from the Speaker, were Anthony Rota not completely useless in the role. It’s become quite clear over the past couple of weeks that his complete lack of enforcement has emboldened MPs to break the rules with abandon, because he won’t make them suffer consequences for it. The fact that this is now routinely a circus is his fault.

This while Conservatives are back on their carbon price talking point bullshit, which at some point the government just gives up on not-really refuting and they simply put up a string of parliamentary secretaries to deliver a collection of non sequitur back-patting talking points, and  it’s a lot like nobody is even trying any more. In either case, it’s not enlightening or the exercise of accountability that this is supposed to be, and our democracy suffers ever more for it.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Iqra Khalid for a white jacket over a black dress, and to Terry Beech for a black tailored suit over a white shirt with a maroon tie and pocket square. Style citations go out to Gerald Soroka for a medium-grey suit over a pale yellow shirt and a brown tie, and to Karen Vecchio for a pale blue v-necked top with bright florals under a darker blue long sweater and tan slacks. Dishonourable mention goes out to Julie Vignola for a dark yellow jacket over a black top and skirt, and to Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné for a bright yellow jacket over a black top.

2 thoughts on “QP: Closing those “police stations””

Comments are closed.