QP: Fergus’ first day

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Things got off to a very late start as a result of the Speaker election that saw Greg Fergus take the Chair, somewhat unexpectedly. After the procession returned from the Senate, where they attended the Governor General giving her acknowledgment of Fergus’ new role, things got underway as they normally would, albeit an hour late. When QP got started in earnest, Fergus implored MPs to treat him like a new car and not dent him on the first day. Pierre Poilievre led off in French, citing a payroll institute report on people struggling, and demanded the government refund taxes they have created (though that may have been a translation issue). Justin Trudeau patted himself on the back with the list of programmes the government has been rolling out. Poilievre wondered if Trudeau would reduce the cost of turkey in advance of Thanksgiving this weekend. Trudeau recited about their meeting with grocery CEOs and their “grocery rebate.” Poilievre switched to English to repeat his first question, demanding the government reverse its so-called inflationary deficit and taxes. Trudeau read a list of programmes they have undertaken. Poilievre insisted that Thanksgiving turkeys now cost $120 and demanded to know if they would come down. Trudeau repeated that his government met with grocery CEOs. Poilievre insisted that the government was misleading about that their promise on prices (they weren’t), and Trudeau again recited about what they are doing with grocery CEOs to try and stabilise prices.

Alain Therrien led for the Bloc, and raised the notion that there are half a million non-permanent residents in Quebec and that this was too many and that their social services couldn’t handle it. Trudeau recited some bland assurances that immigration is good for Canada and they were doing what they could to get everyone employed as soon as possible. Therrien railed that Quebec controls permanent immigration but not temporary visitors and demanded the levels be lowered. Trudeau pointed out that Quebec industry is crying our for workers because there is a labour shortage, which is why they were working with the provincial government. 

Jenny Kwan rose for the NDP, and she condemned the government for empty promises on building houses, to which Trudeau read a script about a groundbreaking at a housing project in downtown Vancouver that includes housing for people with HIV. Alexandre Boulerice took over in French and demanded the government instruct the Bank of Canada not to raise interest rates further. Trudeau responded that they respect the independence of the Bank, and read a list of their housing programmes.

Round two, and Melissa Lantsman read some angry talking points about inflation (Freeland: While the Conservatives recite trite and misleading talking points, we are taking action), Jasraj Hallan read some angry talking point word salad (Freeland: These are misleading comments, and our Aaa rating has been reaffirmed), and Pierre Paul-Hus asked a misleading question about carbon prices while trying to needle the Bloc about it (Guilbeault: You ran on a carbon price in the last election, but we are taking action).

Julie Vignola complained about the Governor General’s expenses (St-Onge: There are always audits being done), and Mario Beaulieu railed that the RCMP is not living up to its official language commitments (LeBlanc: I am meeting with the Commissioner tomorrow and will raise this issue; Boisonnault: Bilingualism is a fundamental principle of this government and we expect the RCMP to life up to its obligations).

Gérard Deltell worried about a woman who had to live in a garage but blamed it on carbon pricing (Fraser: We are changing the way cities are building houses to get more built), and Kyle Seeback claimed that the prime minster personally isn’t building houses (Fraser: We are doing more than your proposal would), and Leslyn Lewis repeated the same anecdote as Deltell (Freeland: We would tell people that they can’t afford Conservative austerity).

Peter Julian demanded a windfall tax (Freeland: We did impose a COVID dividend on banks and insurers), and Laurel Collins demanded the government reduce emissions faster (Guilbeault: We eliminated fossil fuel subsidy, and we have reduced emissions by 53 millions tonnes since 2015). 

Round three saw questions on carbon prices (Guilbeault: Agricultural associations have committed to net zero and climate change is affecting farmers; MacAulay: Farmers are being affected by drought, and we are helping where we can; Freeland: Quebec has a carbon exchange early on and they care about climate change; Guilbeault: Quebec takes climate change seriously when Conservatives don’t; Fraser: Why are you not putting forward a plan that will reduce emissions; Freeland: I spent time in Newfoundland and they want good-paying jobs at home lane they are about to become the hydrogen capital of the world), CN moving jobs out of Quebec (Rodriguez: The Conservatives shouldn’t beat up on the Bloc when they’re down, and we respect official languages; Boissonnault: We passed a new bill that has regulations on federally-regulated workplaces), the so-called podcast registry (St-Onge: This is about web giants paying their fair share), apologising to veterans about the Nazi veteran guest (Duclos: This was Rota’s responsibility alone), Loblaws delivering health services (Holland: We are ensuring that public healthcare remains public), the anniversary of the murder of Jamal Khashoggi and if Saudis are using Canadian arms on Ethiopian migrants (Joly: We have strong export controls and arms control treaties).

Overall, things were a little quieter during QP because MPs were (more or less) on their best behaviour for Fergus’ first day in the Chair, but it didn’t really last long as the boorish jeering started during the points of order after QP was over. Because really, the problem is less the Speaker than is MPs themselves (though the Speaker can help). Nevertheless, Fergus did call out a couple of MPs for their consistent chirping, not the least of whom was NDP MP Peter Julian who likes to shout “Thanks to the NDP!” all the time in QP, and Rota never said anything. Fergus did, but we’ll see if he continues to going forward. 

Meanwhile, the Conservative mendacity was continuing apace. Poilievre’s assertions about $120 turkeys apparently came from a BlogTO piece citing prices for pre-seasoned and partially cooked birds at Longo’s in Toronto, which is obviously not usual, average, or median, and is just a stupid rhetorical gimmick to try and drive panic (never mind that absolutely everyone who actually looks at their grocery store will wonder just how out of touch Poilievre is. Big Lucille Bluth “It’s one banana. How much could it cost? $10?” energy). There was an added focus to needle the Bloc and the Atlantic Liberal MPs because of tomorrow’s vote on their Supply Day motion about cutting the carbon price, which they are planning to use for future shitpost campaigns about how they voted to keep said price as people are suffering (never mind that the carbon price is fairly negligible in the cause of inflation). It’s really not clever, but this is the state of politics today.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Michelle Ferreri for a slate-coloured suit over a black v-necked top, and to Seamus O’Regan for a tailored navy suit with a crisp white shirt and pocket square with a pink tie. Style citations go out to Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe for a dulce de lèche-brown jacket with a light blue shirt, navy tie and blue jeans, and to Rosemarie Falk for a pink floral top with a pussy bow over black slacks.