While the PM was in Washington, things carried on as usual back here in Ottawa as Question Period got underway. Pierre Poilievre led off in French, and complained that the only thing accomplished at the White House was a trillion dollar concession, and wondered why every time the prime minister goes to lunch at the White House, Canada winds up losing. Steven MacKinnon reminded him that Trump invited Carney in order to further the relationship, and that the entire country was hoping it could advance the file. Poilievre griped that a billion in a U.S. investment was offered with nothing in return, and wondered why the PM had sold out the country. MacKinnon called it absurd, and said that these investors in the U.S. were bringing their profits back to Canada. Poilievre switched to English, go repeated the first question, and MacKinnon repeated that the PM is advancing Canada’s interests. Poilievre read the quote again about the trillion dollar investment, and MacKinnon responded that if this was about pension funds, those profits get returned to Canada. Poilievre hammered away at this point, and MacKinnon started shouting about the pride Canadians feel when they see Carney there. Poilievre kept at it, and again accused Carney of selling out Canadian workers, and MacKinnon insisted that they will continue to open mines and expand ports as the Build Canada.
Christine Normandin led for the Bloc, and she worried that nothing was accomplished at the meeting as there are new tariffs on softwood lumber and trucking, and cast doubts about the prime minister’s negotiating abilities. MacKinnon insisted that Carney is trying to improve the situation. Normandin repeated her concerns, and MacKinnon reminded her of the supports they have for affected sectors. Yves Perron worried that the government was ready to make concessions on Supply Management, and MacKinnon reminded him that everyone voted in favour of a law to protect Supply Management.
Round two, and Melissa Lantsman recited the litany of Carney’s failures with regard to trade (Bardeesy: We have supports and investments using Canadian products and union labour; Leitão: Here are things I have announced), Jasraj Hallan recited the same script (Hajdu: Canadians were under no illusion that this was going to be easy; Long: Canadians chose a leader with economic experience over one with none), Shelby Kramp-Neuman wondered if Carney was incompetent (Hajdu: NAFTA gives us the best deal in the world), and Gérard Deltell gave the French version of the condemnation script (Leitão: This is a complex situation and we need the best deal; We won’t be rushed into a bad deal),
Marilène Gill blamed the government once again for the Canada Post strike (Lightbound: We are not dismantling the service, we are saving it).
Michael Barrett demanded a trade deal (Turnbull: We were standing up for Canadian jobs while your leader was busy saving his; Pathetic is the man who has sight but no vision, and your party has no vision), Adam Chambers made his own demands for a deal (Long: We criss-crossed the country over the summer while your boss was getting back the only job he’s ever had; Our leader has economic experience and yours doesn’t), and Jason Groleau gave the French version of the same (Leitão: Most exports to the U.S. are without tariffs and we are working on the rest).
Round three saw yet more questions demanding a trade deal (Hogan: We stand with the forestry sector and have supports in place; Buy Canadian procurement is part of the solution; We should look at the comments from conservative premiers about their optimism about the energy future; Production is up while our policies have opened up new markets; MacKinnon: You should know that production is up, emissions were flat, and we have opened new markets; Conservatives seem to be a little too happy to see a tough negation in the White House; Bardeesy: Our procurement will use more Canadian lumber and steel; here are some stats on investment into Canada; Leitão: Eighty-six percent of exports don’t have tariffs). There were also questions on recycling old ferries and investing in the process (MacKinnon: I look forward to having more conversations on this), and making mental health part of healthcare (Michel: This is at the heart of our concerns, and we have a programme for mental health for youth).
Kusie is apoplectic about the Imperial Oil job losses and blames Carney…except those job losses are purely for productivity. #QP
— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2025-10-07T18:54:10.398Z
Kusie and Calkins both charge that the government “refuses” to put a pipeline on his major project list. Which pipeline? Which proponent. Name them.(It would be great if a member of the government could ask them that). #QP
— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2025-10-07T18:57:36.814Z
Overall, you could be excused if you nodded off because it was pretty much one single topic for the entire day, at least as far as the Conservatives were concerned, and that was to troll about Carney’s trip to Washington and the demands that he secure at trade deal with Trump. The problem wth this line of attack is that in trying to cast Carney as the incompetent rube at negotiation, it makes Trump look like the rational actor, which he absolutely is not. I’m not sure what they think this accomplishes, other than making themselves look foolish, but this is where we’re at. There was an added twist in the third round where one Alberta MP after another added some added language around Carney not forcing through a pipeline as part of their condemnation of his not getting a trade deal, but no one could actually name a project or proponent that should be fast-tracked. Mind you, the government didn’t demand that they name a project or proponent either, which is on them, but wow, what an absolutely vapid and empty QP that was. Just incredibly free of substance, for a solid forty-five or so minutes.
Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to David Myles for a tailored navy suit sticking a crisp white shirt and a thin black tie, and to Patty Hajdu for a navy suit with a white v-necked top. Style citations go out to Alana Hirtle for a dress with clashing multi-coloured patterns in a quasi patchwork of panels, and egregiously, also had wizard sleeves, and to Ernie Klassen for a light grey jacket with a windowpane pattern over a lavender shirt with a light purple tie, and dark grey slacks.