QP: Today’s script was about a food report

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The prime minister was on his way back to town from Montreal and was not present today, though his deputy was. None of the other leaders were present either, for what it’s worth, and Speaker Greg Fergus was back in the chair today, and that was definitely an issue for some. Melissa Lantsman led off, and she read some slogans about carbon prices, and paid mention to a report that predicts that food prices will increase next year for a family of four by $700, before demanding the carbon price be lifted. Jonathan Wilkinson notes that a carbon price is an important part of an emissions reduction plan and that most people get more back in rebates than they pay, and the Conservatives are only fighting for the rich. Lantsman accused the prime minister of calling senators to intimidate them on Bill C-234 (which is risible). Karina Gould note that most of the Conservatives senators didn’t show up to vote on that bill. Lantsman repeated the concern about the food report, to which Wilkinson noted that farmers are already largely exempt from carbon pricing, and that farmers are on the front lines of climate change, before taking a swipe at the Conservatives for voting against the bill on the trade agreement with Ukraine. Luc Berthold took over in French repeat the same accusation with some added swipes taken at the Bloc. Jenna Sudds rose and spoke about how humbled she is to work on behalf of Canadians, and decried that the Conservatives voted against a (symbolic) bill about school food programmes. Berthold raised the stories of children asking for grocery gift cards for Christmas and demanded the government cancel the carbon price to lower grocery prices (which it won’t do). Chrystia Freeland said that everyone knows that Conservatives don’t support those who aren’t well-off, and raised the UNICEF report about how Canada lowered child poverty thanks to the Child Benefit that the Conservatives vowed against.

Alain Therrien led for the Bloc, and raised the notion about the government allegedly owing Quebec for asylum seekers, and demanded the minister get out his cheque book. Mark Miller noted that there isn’t a one-way relationship, and he’s working well with his provincial colleague. Therrien thundered that they needed to pay more, and Miller noted that they transfer a lot of money to Quebec for a lot of things.

Jagmeet Singh appeared by video to badmouth grocery CEOs, to which Marie-Claude Bibeau stood up to praise the government’s competition legislation. Singh repeated his question in a French, and Bibeau repeated her same response. 

Round two, and Andrew Scheer got up to read the same script about anticipated grocery price increases (Sudds: We are investing in programmes that help Canadians; Freeland: UNICEF shows how we reduced child poverty in this country), Kyle Seeback read the same script (Freeland: Here are some good news economic statistics), and Joël Godin read the French version of the script that takes an additional swipe at the Bloc in it (Lebouthillier: You oppose workers rights, you don’t support women’s rights and you even betrayed Ukraine).

Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe worried about human traffickers at the border (LeBlanc: We have reprofiled the RCMP officers stationed at Roxham Road to secure the border), and Monique Pauzé denounced the oil sector emissions cap as being insufficient (Wilkinson: Let me quote Quebec’s environment minister praising it; We are a world leader because we were the first country to announce a cap while ensuring a strong, prosperous future).

Shelby Kramp-Neuman read the same daily script (Sudds: You could have supported school food programme, but you voted against it; van Koeverden: Our government has solutions, not slogans), and Don Mazier gave his own rendition (Freeland: Here’s that UNICEF report, and you should have ashamed for voted against Ukraine).

Laurel Collins denounced the oil emissions cap (Wilkinson: Here are some quotes about is showing leadership), and Charlie Angus demanded more help for Attawapiskat (Hajdu: We are ensuring they have long-term solutions).

Round three saw yet more recitations about today’s script (Wilkinson: You were a member of the BC Liberal caucus that put a carbon price in BC; Wilkinson: O’Regan: Who told you how to vote on the Ukraine trade agreement?; van Koeverden: Let me quote the economists saying most people get more back in climate rebates than they pay; Would your children agree with climate action?; MacAulay: Climate change is destroying crops, and you don’t have a plan to deal with it). There were also questions on the CBC/Radio-Canada cuts (St-Onge: They get taxpayer funds and I would invite the management of CBC to answer people’s questions), a committee question on the just transition bill (Stubbs: Partisan slogans and threats), human trafficking at the border (LeBlanc: We have been in touch with our American counterparts and the number of officers has not decreased), China looking to acquire a rare earth mineral company (Turnbull: We have review mechanisms), the emissions cap (Wilkinson: We are importing half as much oil as under Harper, and this cap is achievable; We will achieve our targets), and anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes on the rise (Ien: We will always support these communities, and we have a $100 million action plan).

Overall, it was a pretty rowdy day, both because it’s that time of year when MPs start getting feral, but also because the Conservatives are making a point of being obnoxious to prove that that Fergus is unable to keep them in line, as they seek to have him ousted. It’s the dumbest, most childish of games, but that’s where we’re at in the life of this parliament. So while most of the day was just every Conservative reading today’s mendacious script, there was only one noteworthy interaction, which was one of the rare attempts to ask the committee chair a question, but because they knew said chair wasn’t in the room, it would go to the deputy chair, who was in their own ranks, which is why Shannon Stubbs wound up answering a bullshit question on a bill being passed by means they claim were against the rules, with a partisan bullshit response full of slogans and threats about the chair, and Fergus issue the weakest of warnings around it. Because they needed the clips for that.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Christine Normandin for a red leather jacket over a black dress, and to Randy Boissonnault for a blue suit with a white shirt and pocket square and a cranberry tie. Style citations go out to Chad Collins for a taupe jacket with a windowpane pattern over a brown sweater, light blue shirt and grey tie over blue jeans, and to Jenna Sudds for a white jacket with an oversized brown and grey tartan pattern over a white top and black slacks. Dishonourable mention goes out to Brenda Shanahan for a dark yellow poncho over a black turtleneck and slacks, and to Anna Roberts for a different mustard jacket over a black top and slacks.