A QP double play today

I’ve taken to watching QP in the evenings recently (yeah, I know, I’m a nerd) and I must say, from the sampling I watched last session the Liberals do seem to be coming out with a bit more piss and vinegar these days. And I dare day, it’s about time.

Yesterday I blogged on Rona Ambrose’s misrepresenting what the Canadian Lung Association had to say about her so-called clean air bill. She left the impression the CLA is all for the bill, when in fact they actually have serious concerns, and feel it is not strong enough and not soon enough.

I was pleasantly surprised to see Liberal MP John Godfrey ask the following question in QP today:

John Godfrey: In an attempt to salvage her clean air disaster, the Minister of the Environment has been misquoting the Canadian Lung Association. What the Lung Association really said was that it “has serious concerns that the proposed approach under the Clean Air Act will not reduce emissions of green house gases quickly enough to lessen the health effects of climate change.”

Mr. Speaker, misleading the house like this shows this Minister’s utter disrespect for Parliament. Why did the Minister of the Environment misrepresent the real position of the Lung Association?

A very good question John. Here’s what Ms. Ambrose had to say in reply:

Rona Ambrose: Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that the honourable member likes to pull things out of the Lung Association’s press release (like their actual position on the issue? –ed) but they did say, in fact, that they are in favour of the clean air act to regulate indoor air because it’s one of the largest health risks associated with lung cancer for non-smokers. They are concerned about some of the health impacts of climate change, and we’re working with them and many other organizations to address those issues.

Pretty weak Rona, but thanks for playing. Again, for those interested here’s the actual CLA statement on the Conservative legislation.

And this morning I began a new blog feature, question of the day, proposing the question of the day I would ask were I an MP. Again, probably coincidence, but here’s the question Liberal MP Omar Alghabra asked in QP today:

Omar Alghabra: Mr. Speaker, it’s mid-term election time in the United States, and the Republican television attack ad has outraged many Canadians. The ad says, in part, “let Canada take care of North Korea. They’re not busy.” Is this what Canadians should be expecting to be the outcome of the cozying-up to Mr. Bush by this Prime Minister and his Conservatives?

I have a question for the Prime Minister. Will he call his mentor, President Bush, and demand this insulting ad be pulled from the airwaves immediately, and stand up for Canada, but for real this time?

Indeed, a fine question Omar, I must say. Here’s what Baghdad Bob, er, I mean Peter McKay said in reply:

Peter McKay: Mr. Speaker, I would suggest that the country has been greatly benefited by improved relations with the United States, as well as other countries, when it came to important and contentious trade irritants and other issues. And I would ask the honourable member to perhaps cast his mind back to some of the attack ads that were run in the last election campaign by his party directed at people here in his own country before he starts making these dispersions.

Pretty lame, Peter. But at least he didn’t deny the ad exists, so that’s something anyway. Jason, I think he should have gone with your answer myself.

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