With the (non) drama around the first “confidence vote” (which wasn’t really either) out of the way, MPs were back for Thursday QP, but this time most of the leaders were absent. While Andrew Scheer was present, it was Jasraj Hallan who led off, citing that the PBO was “concerned” about the size of the interest payments on the federal debt, and demanded to know what date the budget would be tabled on. François-Philippe Champagne thanked him for voting for the Ways and Means motion on the tax cut, and couldn’t wait for the Conservatives to support the main bill. Hallan demanded Champagne apologise for collecting the carbon levy (erm, which went back to people), railed about inflation, and demanded a budget. Champagne patted himself on the back for not only the tax cut, but the GST break on first-time house purchases. Leslyn Lewis read the same script demanding a budget with the same false threats about inflation, and Champagne enthused about all of the good things that were in the Estimates, such as dental care and child care. Lewis read the same concern from the PBO and accused the Liberals of breaking their promise to cap spending, to which Champagne proclaimed that they were proud to support people with their programmes. Chris Lewis read the script about counter-tariffs and demanded a budget, to which Dominic LeBlanc said that they are negotiating a new agreement with the Americans because the tariffs are unjustified and ridiculously punitive. Richard Martel read the French script about aluminium tariffs, and LeBlanc praised the aluminium workers, and he denounced the tariffs again, saying they will support workers.

Christine Normandin led for the Bloc, and worried there was still no help for the aluminium industry, and demanded action. LeBlanc repeated his praise for the industry and that they are working to protect the workers. Normandin worried about forestry and aerospace also being targeted, and again demanded action. Mélanie Joly raised her meetings with the CEOs in the industry and insisted they are protecting the sector. Jean-Denis Garon took over to also demand support, along with a budget being tabled, and Champagne insisted they are fighting against tariffs and protecting industry while they build Canada.

Round two, and Shelby Kramp-Neuman raised food price inflation, blaming government spending (Hajdu: We have reduced child poverty since 2015; Competency would mean not voting against things like school food programmes), Carol Anstey demanded a budget to address cost-of-living (Hajdu: We have also reduced poverty in adults because of our programmes; Thompson: It was so disappointing that your party voted against school food programmes), Scot Davidson accused the government of failing to tackle inflation (Hajdu: You keep voting against measures to help people), and Eric Lefebvre worried about children with empty lunch boxes, and wanted a budget that will reduce inflation—which is currently below target (Lightbound: Canadians refused the vision of the Conservatives which would have cut benefits).

Davidson says the government can’t tackle inflation. Inflation is currently below target.FFS #QP

— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2025-06-05T18:35:45.292Z

Mario Simard demanded more support for forestry (Joly: We will work on solutions), and Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay demanded more liquidity support for steel and aluminium (Joly: We have we need to be constructive).

Rob Moore worried about homelessness in Halifax (Robertson: We are focused on building affordable housing; Long: You would have more credibility if you didn’t vote against all housing incitative), Marc Dalton also worried about housing in order to balance a budget (Robertson: Contrary to your disinformation, housing starts are up and we will build more homes), Terry Dowdall cited a TD report on housing promises and again demanded a budget (Robertson: Hooray for the GST cut), and Joël Godin demanded a budget in French (Lightbound: We cut taxes as our first action).

Round three saw questions on repealing environmental legislation (Hodgson: Canadians told us they want us to build, and we will build a low-cost, low-risk and low-carbon economy; Dabrusin: Working with the premiers gets things built), foreign study permits (Diab: Those figures are inaccurate; Lightbound: We need to be clear about capacity as we cap the numbers of temporary foreign workers, which your constituents tell us they need), tough-on-crime (Sahota: The provinces also have a role to play here; The border bill will make it easier to catch predators), the history of a Liberal Cabinet minister harassing an employee in a former job (MacKinnon: My colleague is determined to foster a workplace of respect and collegiality), the PBO saying the Liberals can’t meet spending targets without severe spending cuts (Champagne: We are committed to presenting a responsible fiscal framework), and the lack of a minister of labour and demanding EI reform (Hajdu: We did make it easier for workers affected by tariffs to access EI).

Apparently Frank Caputo doesn’t understand the presumption of innocence.But the government won’t say anything about it either. #QP

— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2025-06-05T18:59:06.613Z

Bloc just passed their bill on protecting Supply Management at all stages on a unanimous consent motion. #QP

— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2025-06-05T19:09:32.259Z

Overall, it was really more of the same, with some very slight deviations in the script. Today’s twist was demanding a budget that will reduce inflation—erm, except inflation is below target, and if they want to blame food price inflation (which is above headline inflation) on government spending, well, that’s both wrong and it’s incredibly stupid, and you would think a competent government would call them out on that, but they won’t. The government could point out how climate change is impacting food prices, such as with drought on the prairies making it hard for ranchers to feed herds, and therefore reducing supply and driving up prices, but they don’t. No, they’re going to pat themselves on the back for the tax cuts they can’t actually afford instead.

Meanwhile, the Conservatives are dog-whistling more and more about immigration, with a lot of MAGA-adjacent talking points about expiring visas, and continuing to blame immigration numbers for provincial policy failures around housing or healthcare, but will the government call this out? Nope. Immigration minister Lina Diab has been an absolute disaster in answering so far, trying to assert that the Conservatives’ numbers are wrong, and started absolutely flailing and making absolutely no sense whatsoever, which gives the Conservatives a win. Yet again, this government continues to fail to be able to communicate their way out of a wet paper bag. Slow clap, guys.

Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Peter Fragiskatos for a dark grey three-piece suit with a white shirt and pocket square and a dark blue tie, and to Sophie Chatel for a navy suit with a white collared top. Style citations go out to Shelby Kramp-Neuman for a bright high-necked fuchsia dress with a giant fabric flower at the neck under a silver and black jacket, and to Jim Bélanger for a greenish-grey microfibre jacket over a light grey shirt, navy slacks, and a muted blue and beige striped tie. Dishonourable mention goes out to Linda Lapointe for a bright yellow jacket over a black top and slacks.