QP: Brandishing an RCMP letter

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Neither the prime minister nor his deputy were present today, though both were back in town (if a bit jet-lagged from their travel over the weekend), while only a few other leaders were present. Pierre Poilievre led off in French, and after reciting some slogans, he said that the RCMP had confirmed that they have opened an investigation into ArriveCan, and tried to tie in the Aga Khan and SNC Lavalin. Dominic LeBlanc said that they have been giving authorities all of the documents they request. Poilievre repeated the question in English, and LeBlanc repeated his same response in English. Poilievre then cited a Food Bank report, and demanded the carbon levy be lifted (which has nothing to do with food price inflation). François-Philippe Champagne deployed his usual “take no lessons” line before saying that Conservatives on the committee were defending the profit margins of food processors, and exhorted then to support Bill C-59. Poilievre tried again, and Champagne patted himself on the back for spearheading the largest reform of competition in history. Poilievre then cited the existence of a dumpster diving Facebook group and blamed it on the carbon price. Sean Fraser got up to list assistance programmes that Poilievre and the Conservatives have voted against.

Alain Therrien led for the Bloc, and he repeated yesterday’s question about federal government spending to give other provinces what Quebec already has, and wanted compensation to opt out of any national pharmacare. Mark Holland said that a bill would be coming soon, and exhorted them not to criticise a bill they haven’t seen. Therrien wanted compensation to Quebec and the ability to opt out of dental care, and Holland insisted this was just trying to pick fights rather than helping people who need it.

Alexandre Boulerice rose for the NDP, and he complained that people in Quebec can’t get a family do form which should be a question for François Legault. Holland said that they were cooperating with provinces, and that it takes time. Don Davies gave a non-Quebec-centric version of the same question, and Holland went on a tear about how the Conservatives would cut while the current government is investing. 

Round two, and Andrew Scheer read some slogans before reciting a GoFundMe report (Anita: Last year was the hottest year on record ever while our rebate puts money in people’s pockets), Melissa Lantsman took a swipe at the Toronto Star as she framed her attack on the carbon levy (Anand: Same answer; Champagne: Just look at our record of fighting climate change and creating a prosperous future), and Eric Melillo tripped over his slogans before giving his own demand to end the carbon levy (MacKinnon: Pass the fall economic statement and help Canadians; Guilbeault: Farmers experiencing climate change mean higher food prices).

Andréanne Larouche wanted OAS top-ups extended to all seniors, not just those over 75 (O’Regan: The OAS increase was the right thing to do, as older seniors run down their savings), Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe demanded a billion dollars to Quebec for asylum seekers (Miller: We work with the province).

Michael Barrett recited his slogans before returning to the RCMP investigation question (LeBlanc: We referred a number of these issues to the RCMP because it’s important), and Larry Brock repeated the same (Duclos: This has been known for weeks; LeBlanc: Same answer).

Lori Idlout worried about food prices in the North and demanded reforms to Nutrition North (Vandal: We are committed to ensuring that the one hundred percent of the subsidy is passed on to consumers), and Matthew Green worried about personal support workers who need retirement savings commitments (Holland: We made a commitment  to support provinces and we are waiting for them to take the lead because it is their file).

Round three saw yet questions on ArriveCan (Duclos: I want to commend you on repeating your leader’s slogans, but this is old news; Will your leader meet with the municipal council in Quebec to apologise for calling then incompetent?; The Auditor General did her job; Champagne: Will you vote in favour of our bill to improve competition?; Bibeau: We have a competent team who are tackling tax havens; LeBlanc: If money was misappropriated, we will work to recoup it; Just because you assert something with manufactured indignation, it doesn’t make it true). It also saw questions on the Winnipeg Lab documents (Holland: If you think that the government should be involved in redactions, that is a problem), a woman attacked by her ex-husband (Virani: We will always fight against domestic violence), the cap on family members fleeing Gaza and Sudan (Miller: We are ready to be more flexible as the situation evolves), and CATSA firing screening officers (O’Regan: I will look into the situation).

Overall, it was a much calmer day than yesterday, though it still had its moments, particularly when Eric Melillo tripped over his slogans. It was another day where the the headlines were largely phantoms—the letter from the RCMP that Poilievre received didn’t really say anything, let alone confirm a formal investigation, and his trying to bring in the Aga Khan situation and SNC-Lavalin as instances of criminal investigation as opposed to ethical breaches, which are not the same thing, was both absurd and telling. Nevertheless, it was more misleading rhetoric dressed up as principle, which is pretty much what we get in this place day in and day out now.

I will note that while the NDP were once again focused on questions that were mostly to do with provincial jurisdiction, Mark Holland actually did say at one point that their commitment was to support provinces on that particular issue (being pensions for caregivers), but that the provinces needed to take the lead because it’s their file. It’s been a while since a minister has actually acknowledged an area of provincial responsibility rather than just mouthing some platitudes (which Holland did, to be clear, but then went further). I can’t say loudly enough that if the NDP want to ask about issues that are solely with in provincial jurisdiction, they should run for their local provincial legislature. Cripes.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Anita Anand for a tailored dark purple jacket over a white collared top and black slacks, and to Eric Duncan for a navy suit over a white shirt with a purple tie. Style citations go out to Eric Melillo for an otherwise nicely tailored maroon suit with a white shirt paired with an unfortunate fluorescent orange tie, and to Sophie Chatel for a sickly yellow-green jacket over a white, blue and black multi-coloured top and black slacks.

One thought on “QP: Brandishing an RCMP letter”

  1. Everytime Singh and his NDP raise issues the question of jurisdiction comes into play. He and his cohort are ignorant or it may be a ploy alike to Poilievre who uses confusion over who is responsible to make his spurious points.

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