QP: In the shadow of O’Toole’s demise

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In the wake of the vote ousting Erin O’Toole as Conservative leader, he was absent from the Chamber, as one would very well expect. As well, because Justin Trudeau was still in COVID isolation, he would be answering everything by video. Candice Bergen led off, with her script in front of her, and she demanded that the prime minister bring resolution with the grifter occupation and let them know that they are being heard. Trudeau, by video, first thanked O’Toole for his service, before reminding them that there was an election where vaccine mandates were an issue. Bergen repeated that these grifters need to feel like they’re being heard (you do know that their demand is to overturn democracy, right?), and Trudeau recited that they are engaged in encouraging people to get vaccinated. Bergen worried about the supply chains as a result of this vaccine mandate, and Trudeau reminded her that the mandates have not impacted the supply chain, but COVID has, which is why they need to be vaccinated. Gérard Deltell took over in French and said a bunch of nonsense about the PBO blaming government spending on inflation, which Trudeau disputed given that COVID has ultimately been the cause. Deltell gave a somber recitation about food inflation and insisted that this was not a global problem but because of government spending—a complete falsehood—and Trudeau reiterated that this is a global issue, while they are there to help families.

Yves-François Blanchet, the only leader in person today, rose for the Bloc, and he too paid brief tribute to O’Toole, before worrying about the grifter occupation and wanted concrete action to end it. Trudeau reminded him that politicians do not direct police forces, but they would provide all resources necessary for law enforcement. Blanchet that Trudeau wasn’t taking action and wanted a timeline, and Trudeau noted that he did tell them that they had been heard and that it was time to leave, and that they would continue to work with law enforcement agencies.

Jagmeet Singh appeared by video, and he wondered why the laws to protect healthcare workers are not being enforced—because he just heard that governments don’t direct police, right? Trudeau recited about how they passed that law and that healthcare workers deserve a safe workplace. Singh then made a brief thanks to O’Toole for his service before repeating his question in French, and Trudeau repeated his response.

Round two, and Melissa Lantsman worried about a proposed interprovincial vaccine mandate (Trudeau: The threat to our supply chain is COVID and vaccines are the way through), John Brassard offered a false narrative about publicly available anonymised mobile data (Trudeau: Data is important in a pandemic, and PHAC used de-identified data and worked with the Privacy Commissioner), and Dominique Vien worried about the rise in demand for food banks because of inflation (Trudeau: Food insecurity is a problem and we support community organisations that help those in need). 

Blanchet was back up to returned to the grifter occupation and demanded a deadline for it to end (Trudeau: Governments do not direct law enforcement).

Michelle Rempel Garner asked what percentage of Canadians rely on imported energy for home heating (Trudeau: We are relying on the energy sector to transfer to lower-carbon sources of energy), and demanded a transformation to sovereign-produced energy (Trudeau: We have committed to moving to net-zero by 2050), took an out of context quote from the Natural Resources Minister’s mandate letter (Trudeau: We need to plan for moving away from fossil fuels instead of doubling down).

Singh returned to complain that federal governments have “under-funded” healthcare and demanded higher transfers immediately (Trudeau: We transfer over $43 billion a year and gave an additional $63 billion over the pandemic, and we are committed to robust conversations with the provinces on delivering healthcare).

Round three saw questions on a shortage of feed for livestock (Trudeau: COVID has disrupted everything, and will be there with supports when they need it), PEI potatoes (Trudeau: I raised this with Biden and are supporting farmers), increasing healthcare transfers (Trudeau: We have sent billions to the provinces), inflation (Trudeau: The best way to blunt the effect that the pandemic has on the economy is to get vaccinated), the situation in Ukraine (Trudeau: We gave Ukraine what they asked for, while you are trying to mislead Canadians), immediate relief for seniors who had GIS clawbacks (Trudeau: We increased the GIS and have a one-time payment on the way), and about the opioid crisis (Trudeau: We are treating this as a health issue and the minister will have a comprehensive plan).

Overall, it was a bit of a strange day as the Conservative leadership vote had just gone down, and Erin O’Toole’s fate had been sealed. The tone had started to veer back toward Monday’s belligerence, particularly from Candice Bergen as she continues to go to bat for the grifter occupation outside of Parliament Hill, while the prime minister didn’t take the bait. Meanwhile, both Yves-François Blanchet and Jagmeet Singh were calling on the federal government to take action against the grifters, and Trudeau had to remind them time and again that governments don’t direct police forces because we are not a police state, and that’s something that they seem to forget. The fact that the Ottawa Police, whose jurisdiction Wellington Street is, have mismanaged and dropped the ball in allowing protesters to turn into an occupation is a problem in and of itself, but it’s not Trudeau’s problem (much like Trudeau is not the one responsible for 99 percent of the public health measures that these grifters are calling for an end to).

Otherwise, we got another reminder about how terrible hybrid sittings are, given that Trudeau was not able to be responsive to what was happening in the Chamber as he answered. For example, the Conservatives rose to applause after he made his remarks about O’Toole, but because Trudeau couldn’t tell they were applauding, nobody could hear him as he kept speaking rather than pausing to let the applause conclude. It’s not a great way to carry on, but this is where we are, unfortunately.

Sartorial speaking, snaps go out to Stephanie Kusie for a short-sleeved navy dress, and to Blake Richards for a tailored dark grey suit for a crisp white shirt and a dark purple tie. Style citations go out to Yves-François Blanchet for a dark blue jacket over a grey-blue shirt, a blue striped tie and blue jeans, and to Rachael Thomas for a black vest over a magenta and cream floral top and black slacks. Dishonourable mention goes out to Rachel Bendayan for a bright yellow jacket over a black top and slacks.

One thought on “QP: In the shadow of O’Toole’s demise”

  1. Watched O’Toole give his swan speech and was struck by how beaten he looked after the swift and ignominious dispatch his members gave him today. The Canadian version of Tories continue their history of bloodletting . O’Toole is the author of his demise, that should be understood. Having said this, we should never forget that his failing, fractured, mean and cobbled party is equally to blame for where they find themselves today in the history of Canadian politics. Sadly, they don’t have the talent to drag themselves out of their morass. My hope is that the Liberals, no party of perfection either, will be relentless in continuing to expose the conservative inadequacies as often and as vigorously as possible. Today in the house, I say that loosely as it was a hybrid version, led by the ignorant leader of the NDP, and followed by the rump known as Quebec’s answer to a severe case of diarrheia attempted to make points having as usual a complete understanding of how our laws work in this land. Good luck to them on fixing that. Unfortunately this lack of knowledge and the general inability of the public to perceive it gives these dolts cover.

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