QP: Setting the stage for a filibuster

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While the prime minister was in town, he was not at Question Period, but his deputy was. Most of the other leaders were present, and just hours before, the Conservatives announced their plans to filibuster the budget with every tool in the book until they got their demands about a balanced budget and an end to increase on carbon prices. Pierre Poilievre led off in French, worrying that the budget adds fuel to the “inflationary fire” (it actually doesn’t), and demanded a plan for a balanced budget. Chrystia Freeland said that this shows they are completely irresponsible and trying to pick partisan fights, as they are trying to suppress the help that Canadians need, such as the Workers’ Benefit. Poilievre worried that Canadians were the most heavily indebted in the G7 ands worried about higher interest rates. Freeland considered this an adolescent position, and listed actions in the budget to help Canadians. Poilievre switched to English to repeat his first question around deficits and demanded a plan to balance the budget, and Freeland said that she was “truly appalled by the reckless and irresponsible behaviour” of the Conservatives, preferring adolescent partisan games instead of help for Canadians, adding in a line about “Parliamentary childishness.” Poilievre said that what was reckless as high inflation and interest rates before repeating his demand. Freeland suggested that someone who told Canadians they could opt out of inflation by crypto was in no position to offer advice on finances. Poilievre returned to French to worry about Quebec families impacted by forest fires, and wanted an update on the situation. Bill Blair said that there are 370 forest fires, with 217 out of control, and noted that Canadian Forces are involved in three provinces.

Alain Therrien led for the Bloc, offering cooperation on forest fires and climate change. Pablo Rodriguez gave a paean about the efforts of firefighters assisting Quebeckers. Therrien then turned over to David Johnston preemptively hiring Navigator, suggesting that he knew off the top that the fix was in. Dominic LeBlanc dismissed this, and said that Johnston did his job thoroughly and reached an independence conclusion.

Jagmeet Singh rose for the NDP, and he cited a survey about people struggling to make housing payments, and demanded steps to bring down the cost of rent (never mind that this is provincial jurisdiction). Chrystia Freeland patted herself on the back for the top-up provided to renters in last year’s budget. Singh railed both the possibility that the Bank of Canada raising rates, and corporations, to which Freeland assured him that the government was on the side of Canadians.

Round two, and Melissa Lantsman demanded a balanced budget (Freeland: You’re reckless playing childish parliamentary games), Jasraj Hallan gave his usual angry word salad (Freeland: This is desperate and reckless because you want people to forget how badly you dealt with the 2008 financial crisis), and Pierre Paul-Hus quoted former federal and provincial politicians about the deficit (Champagne: We are doing what Canadians asked of us with the grocery rebate, health transfers and building the economy of the future).

 René Villemure worried about the foreign interference allegations (Mendicino: Here is an old quote from Poilievre about how great Johnston is), and demanded a public inquiry (LeBlanc: You may be confused about who is keeping Canadians in the dark, and it’s the Conservatives who did nothing when they were warned of it in 2013), and Marie-Hélène Gaudreau worried that there would be no investigation under Johnston (Mendicino: We have a record of tangible action on foreign interference).

Philip Lawrence demanded “common sense” (Gould: I don’t think there was a question in there, but let me pat myself on the back for measures we have taken to help Canadians), Adam Chambers quoted several people about the deficit (Gould: We left a surplus in 2006 which the Conservatives spent through before the global recession; Guilbeault: We need to address climate change because of all of these fires).

Alexandre Boulerice demanded investment in accessible housing (Martinez Ferrada: We have our national housing strategy), and Blake Desjarlais worried about the destruction facing First Nations and Métis who lost houses in the forest fires (Blair: We did meet with the Métis National Council on emergency management and Indigenous Services are engaged).

Round three saw questions on the deficits and the disinformation about carbon prices and the clean fuel standard (Guilbeault: Let me praise Michelle Rempel for talking about climate change, which your leader won’t do; Your platform included a carbon price and a clean fuel standard; You don’t even believe in climate change; St-Onge: You keep talking about deficits but you spent through the surplus we left in 2006; Fraser: We know that the most cost-effective way to combat climate change is to price carbon and we give more back to eight out of ten families; Gould: When the country is literally on fire, how can fight measures to combat climate change?; We have lowered taxes for Middle Class™ Canadians and lowered child poverty; Bibeau: Quebec is under a different system, and we have programmes for farmers), the Trans Mountain pipeline (Freeland: We do not intend to be the long-term owner of this pipeline), vessel graveyards on the coasts (Alghabra: Hooray our Oceans Protection Plan), and Canada Summer Jobs funding (Ien: We have a suite of programmes for youth, including this programme).

Overall, it was a much calmer day today than the past few, but it was also extremely repetitive in that we are once again farming for clips so as many MPs as possible are asking the same questions over and over again. And true to form, the Liberals put up a rotation of ministers to pat themselves on the back for government supports to date, because they too are not missing the opportunity to harvest clips. It’s incredibly boring.

As for the substance of the questions, it was all predicated on the false notion that it was government deficits driving inflation, which was not the case, nor does the government control interest rates, and achieving a balanced budget will not mean lower interest rates. Not to mention, the clean fuel standard is not a carbon price, and the actual carbon price come with rebates. Not only is the entire substance of the Conservatives’ objections based on being completely economically illiterate, but it’s also mendacious. I know that people keep insisting that talking about inflation is “good politics,” but how can it be “good politics” when you’re getting it absolutely wrong? I don’t get that, but maybe that’s me not getting how lying to the public is “good politics.” Silly me. 

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Mélanie Joly for a dark blue suit over a yellow v-necked top, and to Randeep Sarai for a blue suit with a white shirt, turban and pocket square and a light blue tie. Style citations go out to René Villemure for a medium blue jacket with a windowpane pattern over a light blue shirt, orange tie and grey slacks with a pink pocket square, and to Karina Gould for a black jacket over a white top and a black skirt with bright florals. Dishonourable mention goes out to Marci Ien for a shapeless yellow and white leopard-print dress, and to Julie Vignola for a dark yellow jacket over a black top and slacks.