It’s likely to be the last day of the Senate’s sitting for 2013, which also means the final QP of the year. There was a lengthy list of speakers for Senators’ Statements, a number of committee reports tabled, and finally, Question Period. Senator Hervieux-Payette led off, and asked about the allegations around Jim Love, the chair of the Royal Canadian Mint and his activities around offshore tax havens. She asked in particular for the government to launch an inquiry into Mr. Love and his activities. Senator Carignan, answering for the government, insisted that this was a private matter between two parties and they had no intention of taking part in legal proceedings, but hey, look at the tough stand they took against tax evaders. Unimpressed, Hervieux-Payette reminded him that they took the stand that those on the government payroll should be suspended if they were found to have financial irregularities, such as with Duffy and Wallin, and she brought up Love’s large travel costs. Carignan returned to the talking point about the government’s stand on tax evaders. Hervieux-Payette pointed out that there was no indication the overseas tax frauds were really before the courts, but Carignan insisted that the government was working hard to stop tax evasion. Senator Moore stood up for a supplemental, concerned about what Hervieux-Payette reported about Love’s $6000 flight between Toronto and Calgary, and that perhaps the minister responsible for the Mint report back to them on that. Carignan tried to evade and speak around the request. Moore made it once again, but Carignan simply fell back onto the talking point that they expect those who spend taxpayer funds to do so responsibly, and Moore kept getting up to demand a report to the Chamber on it, while Carignag kept repeating his talking point.

Senator Fraser got up and pointed out that Carignan won’t take questions as notice, despite repeated demands that he do, as he can’t be expected to know everything, and she cited the rules about that standing order. Senator Mercer heckled that “he needs to ask permission from across the street,” meaning of course Langevin Block, home of the PMO. Carignan took exception to this, and cited an example of when he promised a written answer to a technical question. Fraser was back up, brought up the season, and hoped that Carignan would give the Senate as a whole of the gift of questions taken as notice. Carignan gave a flip response instead of a promise.

Senator Ringuette was up next, and noted the government’s decision to remove Canada Post’s monopoly on international mail and how that resulted in the loss of revenue, bringing them to the state they’re in today. She also noted the lack of consultation by Canada Post on its latest plans, and wanted the government to commit to a consultation profess. Carignan responded by describing the five-step plan to return Canada Post to profitability. Ringuette asked for him to table if there was a call for tenders for the study of the changes, as recommended by the Conference Board of Canada, and Carignan did commit to looking into it — to which Fraser noted “We’re on a roll.” Ringuette brought up home delivery for parcels, for which they have competition, and whether doing it by community mailboxes was removing them from the marketplace, which again would impact on their profitability. Carignan responded by describing their concern for Canada Post’s financial viability, which was what the plan was intended to do.

Overall, it was a bit of a spectacle that Senators Moore and Carignan going back and forth, demanding a report from the minister into the issue of the Mint chairman’s travel costs, and Carignan simply giving talking points instead of committing to take the question as notice and returning with an answer. As Senator Fraser noted, Carignan has been reluctant to take questions as notice, which is unfortunate since that is one of the great things about Senate QP — the commitment to getting answers. It adds fuel to the concerns that Carignan is really a poor choice as government leader in the Senate, and that he really doesn’t have the sensibilities necessary to carry out his duties in the role.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu for a dark grey suit with a white shirt with blue checks and a green tie, and to Senator Claudette Tardif for a tailored black jacket and v-necked dress. Style citations go out to Senator Rose-May Poirier for a fluorescent green smock top with black horizontal zigzags across it over a black top and trousers, and to Senator David Smith for a black suit with a hot pink shirt with white collars and cuffs, and a blue and red paisley tie.

And that’s it for QP in either chamber for 2013. While I’m sorry that I don’t get to see it in the Senate as often as I’d like to, there has been a change there since Senator Carignan became the government leader, and it hasn’t been for the betterment of debate. As always, though, my optimism remains that over in the Commons that next year will be better. We saw glimpses of it this year, but not consistently. I live in hope.