QP: Leaks and legal fees

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While there were more leaks and allegations on the ongoing Double-Hyphen Affair, neither Justin Trudeau nor Andrew Scheer were present today, so it was all going to be overwrought Conservative talking points versus Bardish Chagger’s bland assurances. Candice Bergen led off, accusing Trudeau of misleading Canadians on the Affair, to which Chagger gave her usual reply that he was transparent, gave the waiver, and that everything was in the public. Bergen accused Trudeau of smearing Wilson-Raybould, and Chagger repeated that all facts were now public. Bergen read a selective timeline of events, and Chagger repeated that the committee heard weeks of testimony and that this was all public. Alain Rayes took over to repeat Bergen’s allegations of falsehoods, but in French, and Chagger repeated her same response in French, without notes, as she’s memorised it all by now. Rayes then raised the issue of the media Access to Information request about the PCO documents raised in the case, but Chagger stuck to the same points about everything being public, adding at the end that they would receive the documents they requested (but did not say when). Jagmeet Singh was up next, and  raised elements of an interview Jane Philpott earlier today in which she commented on the potential of a Deferred Prosecution Agreement for SNC-Lavalin and wanted assurances that they would not give a deal to the company, to which David Lametti reminded him that they were still in the appeal period for the judicial review request, so he would not comment publicly.  Singh tried again in French, got the same answer, and then asked a Quebec-flavoured pharmacare question. Ginette Petitpas Taylor reminded him they created an advisory council and their final report was on the way. Singh switched to English to demand immediate action and touted his party’s plan, to which Petitpas Taylor repeated her response in English.

Round two, and Shannon Stubbs, Pierre Paul-Hus, and Mark Strahl returned to their demands to “ending the cover up” (Chagger: He was transparent which is why he gave the waiver and this is all public). Ruth Ellen Brosseau read a script about Jane Philpott’s ouster (Chagger: Canadians are going to hear for themselves, which is why this is all public), and Charlie Angus delivered some self-righteous sanctimony (Monsef: Daughters of the Vote was an example of what happens when the federal government steps in and supports these initiatives). Michael Barrett, Rosemary Falk, and Gérard Deltell returned to the same accusations of a cover-up (Chagger: You focus on us, but we’re focusing on Canadians, and we respect our institutions). Wayne Stetski demanded green jobs (Fraser: Hooray for young people marching for climate action, we announced consultations on eliminated non-tax fossil fuel subsidies and the budget has 50 measures), and Rachel Blaney asked about the Veterans Affairs questionnaire truncating PTSD questions (Lauzon: The process was streamlined and the assessment rate is up).

Round three saw questions on the leaks of the Supreme Court of Canada appointment process (Lametti: I met with the Chief Justices of Canada this morning to assure them the process is sound, and I will ensure no future leaks), a human trafficking investigation where a witness is being detained for deportation by CBSA (Hussen: I can’t get into the specifics of a case, but I will look into it), taxing Netflix and their not producing Francophone content (Fillmore: The Official Languages Commissioner was clear in that we are fulfilling our responsibilities), legal fees for VADM Mark Norman (Lametti: The rules for counsel in all cases are set by the department), playing fast and loose with the rule of law (Chagger: The rule of law has been respected), the CEO of VIA Rail (Garneau: I thanked him for his service and we have a new CEO with a vision of high-frequency rail), Quebec’s “secularism” legislation (Lametti: We defend the fundamental rights of Canadians, and you can’t pick which rights you defend and which you curtail), and carbon taxes (Fraser: Climate change is real and the cost of inaction is too high to ignore).

Overall, it was a bit refreshing to get some actual new questions for a change, both with regards to the leaks in the Supreme Court of Canada appointment process, and the legal fees for Vice-Admiral Mark Norman, and even better was the fact that it meant that David Lametti could answer some questions and it wouldn’t be another Bardish Chagger-a-thon day. A bit of variety in the day can really go a long way. As for the NDP questions on their own pharmacare plan, there was a wide open opportunity for the minister to actually say that the issue is implementation, which is why it needs study and you can’t just hand-wave your way though the process — like the plan the NDP released does. But, as this government does with virtually everything, she stuck to some prepared pabulum lines, and we are far less edified than we should be.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Iqra Khalid for a black top and slacks with a white jacket, and to Matthew Dubé for a navy suit with a white shirt and pocket square with a light blue tie. Style citations go out to Scott Reid for a pale moss jacket with red pinstripes, along with a dark grey waistcoat and light grey slacks, a blue patterned shirt and blue patterned bow tie, and to Marie-Claude Bibeau for a black turtleneck and slacks with a tan vest and black and grey scarf. Dishonourable mention goes out to Karen Ludwig for a back top with a boxy mustard-yellow jacket.