The PM was present today for the only time this week, while Pierre Poilievre was also present. He led off in English, and went on a rant about the Cowichan decision and his deliberate misreading of the litigation directive. Mark Carney declared that they defend private property which is why they appealed the decision. Poilievre carried on with his complete nonsense reading of the litigation directive, and Carney said the only person tossing and turning is Poilievre trying to come up with new ways to fear-monger. Poilievre switched to French to deliver his nonsense claims that it is Liberal taxes pushing up gasoline prices, and Carney pointed out how they already suspended the excise tax and the consumer carbon levy, while Poilievre opposed all measures to help people. Poilievre repeated the same nonsense claim in English, and Carney pointed to changes in refineries since the Harper days, and repeated his same swipe about Poilievre voting against help. Poilievre carried on his rant about how great things were in the Harper days, and Carney pointed to things they are delivering on like higher wages and greater participation of women in the workplace. Poilievre then read some stats from Equifax about people struggling, and Carney patted himself on the back for strength of the economy face of tariffs and global uncertainty.
Christine Normandin led for the Bloc, and demanded Carney respect the referendum questions put forward by provinces. Carney said that he is the prime minister, that he heard back from his advisory council and Alberta’s question doesn’t trigger the Clarity Act, but any question needs to be clear. Normandin went on a rant about “democracy” and demanded the Clarity Act be repealed, to which Carney said that under the Act, the House of Commons needs to consider the clarity of the question and the majority, which is not just fifty percent plus one. Rhéal Fortin took over rail about fifty percent plus one, and claimed it was an “authoritarian overreach,” and Carney said that “the Clarity Act is clear.”
Round two, and Poilievre got back up to rail about household debt (Long: Time to put down the kettlebells and build Canada; Hajdu: I had lunch with the head of the Canadian Building Trades union, and they are excited about our plans; There is a mining boom in northern Ontario is you didn’t know; Hodgson: You should come see the mines and nuclear reactors we’re building; McKinnon: You’re asking all of the questions to save writing them out for your caucus to read; Long redux: World-class statement on our side while your guys has slogans, gimmicks and props).
Poilievre is on one of his most economically illiterate series of questions yet. And the government is responding by patting themselves on the back. This is ridiculous. #QP
— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2026-05-26T18:36:34.545Z
Patrick Bonin chided the rumours that Steven Guilbeault is about to quit while the industry minister defends the oil industry (Dabrusin: We launched our electricity strategy last week, which HydroQuébec asked for).
Gérard Deltell blamed food prices on government deficits (Lightbound: Yes some Canadians have a challenge with the cost of living but you voted against help for them; We won’t take lectures from you, and we have a vision for the future), Jason Groleau read the same script (Gainey: The first thing we did as a governor is cut taxes and we are providing new supports), Rosemarie Falk raised the Global News story about people spending more than their entire income on food and housing (Belanger: Canadian sales to China and India are happening!), and Tony Baldinelli worried about food insecurity and demanded a complete gasoline tax cut (Fragiskatos: Canadians facing food insecurity will find no help from the Conservatives).
Round three saw questions on immigration (Diab: The PBO verified that we have known, that the reasons are tied to volumes, which are coming down; These are temporary benefits for those in need; MacKinnon: Why are you against healthcare for the people in most need), lax airport security (Sahota: The RCMP has investigated this matter and six arrests have already been made), a criminal case (Fraser: We are getting tough on crime), the Cowichan decision (Alty: Your motion was full of falsehoods, McKnight: We disagreed with the court decision and filed an appeal), Chinese tariffs on sea cucumber (Thompson: Will you vote to support the budget be funding for small craft harbours?), trolling for support for a private member’s bill on Section 107 of the Labour Code (Hajdu: Will you vote for the budget?), and capitulating to the oil industry (Dabrusin: Hooray for our latest marine protected area).
We’re into the racist questions about health benefits for refugee claimants now. The Conservatives are just covering themselves in glory today. #QP
— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2026-05-26T18:53:02.736Z
Rempel Garner: “Premium benefits” are going to failed claimants while Canadians are on wait lists. That’s not fair!Talk to your fucking premier. This is just disgusting. #QP
— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2026-05-26T18:55:33.669Z
Apparently the government controls individual prosecutions? What the fuck is this? #QP
— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2026-05-26T19:00:16.297Z
Overall, the day was a bit odd, particularly in how Poilievre decided to push the Cowichan Decision issue off the very top, which has been one of those frustrating issues where the Conservatives absolutely refuse to listen to what the government has to say, and use half-truths and outright bullshit as a means of driving fear and anxiety—which is, to be perfectly frank, is more than tinged with racism. And to add to that, the questions on immigration and supposed “premium” or “luxury” health benefits were outright racist, which is really not a good sign of the state of the current discourse. Poilievre also spent much of the second round trying to goad Carney into responding by spouting some of the most ridiculous and outright lunatic economic nonsense, and absolutely none of it was disputed or countered with fact—just more back-patting by government about how great their plans and the budget are. That kind of abdication of their rhetorical responsibility is frankly pathetic. Let me also call out the fact that the government did not call out one of the worst questions of the day, around someone who was beaten by thugs and left for dead, and the charges were dropped. How is this a question for government? Sean Fraser should have pointed out that the government doesn’t control prosecutions, and that Todd Doherty should talk to his premier, because Crown prosecutors are their responsibility.
The only other notable thing was that Carney noted that he had received advice from his “advisory council” on the Clarity Act, who told him that this referendum doesn’t trigger it, which we pretty much already knew, but then he started saying “The Clarity Act is clear,” and then repeated that in English to the reporters outside of the Chamber after QP. So you’re responding to absolute lunacy from both Danielle Smith and the Bloc with a tautology? Zeus wept.
Sartorially speaking, snaps go out to Fraser Tolmie for a light taupe three-piece suit over a light blue shirt with a bright yellow tie and pocket square, and to Joanne Thompson for a navy suit with a crisp white v-necked top. Style citations go out to Patty Hajdu for a long grey jacket with bright pink florals over a pale pink top with a pussy bow, and to Burton Bailey for a light grey knit jacket over an off-white top, tan brown slacks, and a butterscotch tie.