QP: Full of shameless slogans

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It being Wednesday, proto-PMQ day, the prime minister was present, while his deputy was elsewhere. All of the other leaders were also present, and for a second day in a row, before things could get started, a new MP was introduced to the Chamber, this time for the NDP. Pierre Poilievre led off in French, and he worried about a recent report on housing costs in Montreal, and demanded an election. Justin Trudeau said that slogans don’t build homes or meet Canadians’ needs, and that meant hard work, in partnership with municipalities. Poilievre took undue credit for conditions when he as “housing minister,” and made a list of false claims to demand an election. Trudeau said that the Conservative don’t really want to cut taxes because they voted against removing the GST on rentals, and didn’t have a plan. Poilievre kept going in French to denounce capital gains taxes before switched to English to demand an election. Trudeau, in both languages, said they are asking the wealthiest to pay a little more to build more housing. Poilievre claimed that New Brunswick was challenging the carbon levy in court (not actually true), and demanded an election. Trudeau pointed out that provinces have all lost at the Supreme Court when challenging the levy, and they won three elections on the carbon price. Poilievre read the bullshit from Scott Moe that the carbon levy means firing teachers and nurses, and again demanded an election. Trudeau said that Poilievre wants to abandon the fight against climate change and take away the rebates people rely on.

Yves-François Blanchet led for the Bloc, and claimed that the seniors minister said that the seniors groups on the Hill yesterday were separatists. Trudeau said that the government was already there for seniors, and that they weren’t interested in petty partisan games. (Well…) Blanchet note that the House of Commons, in different capacities, has voted for their OAS bill (which is ultimately not voteable) and demanded the PM bring his minster to order. Trudeau trotted the various times the Bloc vote against seniors.

Jagmeet Singh rose for the NDP, and blamed the federal government for rental increases by “corporate landlords.” Trudeau noted the things the government was doing for affordable housing. Singh then worried about unsuitable housing for Indigenous people, decrying delays, and Trudeau noted the tripling of investments and that they are investing with Indigenous communities, and that they were actually delivering.

Round two, and Poilievre got back up to claim something about the “food professor” blaming the increase in food on carbon pricing—which is not true (Trudeau: The costs of droughts and floods increase prices, and our rebates help eight out of ten families), cited some more utter nonsense about food prices (Trudeau: Are you actually quoting an expert? Maybe you need to listen to those who say that carbon pricing now the best way to fight climate change), demanded an election (Trudeau: While you are playing politics, we are delivering a school food programme which you voted against), Poilievre denounced the programme before repeating his demand for an election (Poilievre: If you cared about vulnerable Canadians, you would offer solutions), he decried the costs to the trucking industry for carbons (Trudeau: The leader of the opposition is full of shhhhhhameless slogans today), and the claim that Trudeau was panicking (Trudeau: The rebate helps eight out of ten families).

Blanchet was back up, and disputed that there was a vote on just increasing the GIS or restoring the retirement age (Trudeau: You’re pretty defensive), and accused the prime minister of hurting seniors (Trudeau: We are always there for seniors and the most vulnerable, which is why we are supporting older seniors whose savings run out).

Poilievre quoted the Economist to worry about GDP-per-capita (Trudeau: We have high foreign direct investment because we are leading on the green economy), claimed our economy was worse than Alabama (Trudeau: Here are investments we are making by putting out best balance sheet in the G7 to work for Canadians), and turned to French to decry consumer and mortgage debt before repeating the same GDP-per-capita concerns (Trudeau: The IMF predicts we will have stronger growth next year than the U.S., and our macroeconomic situation is very sound), and repeated the Alabama comparison (Trudeau: Our population growth has been stronger than that of other G7 countries, which has helped our economy to grow).

Alexandre Boulerice declared that homelessness kills and demanded “concrete action” on encampments, which is a provincial responsibility (Trudeau: We have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in municipalities to take action, and this is a shared responsibility with provinces and municipalities and the federal government), and Lisa Marie Barron decried unhoused veterans (Trudeau: We invested more in supports than the Conservatives did, and have worked with municipalities to offer more supports for veterans).

Round three saw more questions from Poilievre about the Jasper fire (Trudeau: It’s astonishing to hear him talk about the impacts of climate change while fighting action on it; Jasper was one of the most fire-smart communities, and this was a tree-top fire which was a result of climate change, which he doesn’t want to fight; One of Canada’s natural jewels burned because of climate change and he wants to blame Ottawa; Your attacks on experts and sciences will mean there will be no economy of the future and no Jasper to rebuild), the forestry sector vs the caribou (Trudeau: You can’t have an economy without also protecting the environment, and that includes protecting species at risk), softwood lumber tariffs (Trudeau: You wanted us to capitulate to the Americans during NAFTA renegotiations; Quebeckers know your track record is austerity), swipes at Mark Carney (Trudeau: You only offer cuts and tax breaks for the wealthy), SDTC documents (Trudeau: Both the RCMP and Auditor General have raised concerns with this motion impacting their independence, and the Charter rights of Canadians; You are willing to upend independent institutions for political gain, which is banana republic behaviour). There were also questions about the Bloc bill in the Senate (Trudeau: They are independent, but we do support Supply Management), corporate landlords (Trudeau: We used to work together on progressive things, but the NDP turned their backs on doing the work), and UNRWA (Trudeau: We are committed to full accountability and necessary reforms for UNRWA but right now we need them to deliver humanitarian aid).

Overall, it was actually a relatively decent day, with far less of the sniping and attacks on other party leaders, the heckling largely at a dull roar, and there were exchanges that included a few halfway decent quips, albeit mostly from Trudeau rather than Poilievre, who pretty much just spent virtually every question demanding an election. This being said, a better day is not necessarily a good one, and the topics largely stuck to the same slogans and the same bullshit talking points that falsely portray particular issues, whether it is the cause of housing unaffordability, food price inflation, or even forest management practices in Jasper. (No, seriously—four questions on that, while trying to build the case that it was this, not climate change, that was responsible for the wildfire?) Poilievre again tried to insist that he’s being calm and controlled and that anytime Trudeau raised his voice as being “ranting and raving,” which just makes the performative aspects of it all even more blatant.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Eric Melillo for a tailored eggplant suit over a light blue shirt and a black tie, and to Christine Normandin for a black and grey checked jacket over a black dress. Style citations go out to Karen Vecchio for a beige long-sleeved top and slacks under a sleeveless cream jacket, and to Stephen Guilbeault for a tan suit with a white shirt and a burgundy tie. 

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