Tuesday, and with the Auditor General’s report now on the table, there promised to be more than a few questions about some of his scathing findings. Rona Ambrose was ready, mini-lectern on desk, she read a question about Trudeau telling resource sector workers to “wait it out,” and concern trolled about a national carbon tax plan — you know, one that doesn’t exist. Trudeau reminded her that her government made things worse for Albertans after ten years in power. Ambrose asked again in French, and Trudeau told her that a responsible economy meant being responsible about the environment. Ambrose then called the bill repealing those anti-union bills “payback,” to which Trudeau reminded her that their first piece of legislation was actually lowering taxes. Gérard Deltell took over, asking again in French, to which Trudeau insisted that they rectified the situation when they learned about the illegal donations. Deltell took a swipe at unions, but Trudeau shrugged it off. David Christopherson led off for the NDP, demanding that they fix the items highlighted in the Auditor General’s report. Trudeau said that they were alarmed and were working to repair the damage of the last government. Christopherson demanded proof of commitment, and Trudeau insisted that unlike the previous government, they did more than just make announcements. Brigitte Sansoucy took over to ask again in French, particularly around the Social Security Tribunal, to which Jean-Yves Duclos let her know that he met with the AG and he would do everything in his power to fix the situation. Sansoucy raised the AG report on export controls, to which Ralph Goodale insisted that they intend to follow his advice and that they were implementing an action plan.

Round two, and Blaine Calkins asked about rules around contacting judges and tribunals (LeBlanc: We released our Openness and Transparency rules), and raised the issue of LeBlanc writing to certain citizenship judges (LeBlanc: These were about the natures of appointments, not about specific cases), Karen Vecchio and Alexander Nuttall asked the same thing (LeBlanc: We’re undoing your ethical messes), and Nuttall demanded that Dalton McGuinty not get an ambassadorial appointment (Goldsmith-Jones: We don’t comment on it, but our appointment process is open). Karine Trudel asked about the AG report on gender-based analysis (Hadju: We are changing the tone and making this a priority), and Niki Ashton asked about the Social Security Tribunal (Duclos: We are making changes). Lisa Raitt wanted an assurance that the Conservatives left a surplus (Champagne: We released the fiscal and economic statement showing a deficit), and Maxime Bernier decried deficits and wanted lower taxes (Champagne: We reduced taxes on the middle class). Randall Garrison wanted to know if there were plans to expand the ground mission in Iraq (Sajjan: We are ending air strikes in a responsible manner), and Hélène Laverdière asked for a plan (Goldsmith-Jones: Discussions are ongoing with coalition partners).

Trudeau makes a "bring it on" gesture. #QP

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) February 2, 2016

Round three saw questions on what “mistakes” made in Afghanistan were being referred to (Sajjan: We had discussions on the ground about how political leadership failed us), the policy on Russia over Ukraine, Supply Management compensation, TPP signing affecting temporary foreign workers, the senate appointment process, transparency for First Nations, asbestos in government buildings, EI disparities, and infrastructure funding lapses.

The Speaker just referred to O'Toole and Blaney as Statler and Waldorf. #QP

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) February 2, 2016

"This is not The Muppets [Show]" — House of Commons Speaker @geoffregan #cdnpoli #hw pic.twitter.com/lEsRYBk99u

— Susana Mas (@susanamas) February 2, 2016

Sajjan: "The election is over. We don't have to take things out of context." #QP

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) February 2, 2016

I am thoroughly convinced that Scott Reid has picked out paragraphs from the Senate reference without actually reading it. #QP

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) February 2, 2016

Overall, the Conservative strategy on trying to make hay about the letters to tribunal members who received a questionable appointment was probably not their best strategic decision. On the one hand, trying to compare it to past instances of ministers needing to resign for writing to judges and tribunals while the issue was LeBlanc writing to these officials about the fact that they were given reappointments far ahead of their terms expiring by an outgoing government, was disingenuous, followed no logic, and reflects poorly on their former government rather than on LeBlanc. That they kept asking about it was embarrassing, even after LeBlanc gave hammered them right back on the issue didn’t reflect well on the fact that they relied on their scripts for the questions rather than trying to follow up to what LeBlanc said, or move on entirely. Suffice to say, the Official Opposition still isn’t firing on all cylinders. Also, I will express my extreme disappointment in the Liberals for not only carrying on with the ridiculously scripted “Can the minister please update…” backbench suck-up questions rather than real one, and my double disappointment in the minister answer for obvious reading a prepared statement in response. This kind of thing was supposed to be a thing of the past, a relic of a former government that couldn’t trust its caucus or ministers to speak for themselves.

Scripted backbench suck-up questions merits a scripted talking point. YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE BETTER THAN THIS, LIBERALS! #QP

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) February 2, 2016

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Michelle Rempel for a blue dress with a black windowpane pattern, and to Rob Oliphant for a medium grey suit with a lavender shirt and a dark purple cross-hatched tie. Style citations go out to Peter Julian for a brown suit with a white shirt and a garish orange and grey patterned tie , and to Patty Hajdu for a pastel floral long top with a taupe cardigan.