The Bloc Québécois is howling over Conservative legislation introduced today that will add 30 new MPs to the House of Commons, diluting the power of Quebec on Parliament Hill.
A rowdy Question Period before a one-week Easter Break began with Liberal attacks on the conduct of Secretary of State Helena Guergis, followed by Bloc and NDP queries on employment insurance. The tension ratcheted upward when the Bloc raised the new legislation and its impact on Quebec.
"After recognizing the Quebec nation, the government is now invoking representation by population in order to reduce the political weight of Quebec," MP Claude Debellefeuille fumed.
With Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe planning a cross-country tour to build his case for a sovereign Quebec, the party insisted the province is being treated unfairly in terms of transfers.
That clearly got Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's back up.
"It takes a lot of nerve to stand in this House and say Quebec is being short changed by the federation," Mr. Flaherty said. "Quebec in fact is receiving, as part of its budget, 17.4 per cent of the Quebec budget comes from the revenues from Canada - the transfers to Quebec."
The government legislation, which has been altered from a previous version, would grow the House of Commons to 338 seats from 308. Ontario would get 18 new MPs, British Columbia would get seven and Alberta would receive five.
Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff was not in the House of Commons today, leaving Bob Rae to lead off the questioning of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Mr. Rae quoted from the Prime Minister's own written statement on ministerial accountability and ethical conduct. He asked Mr. Harper to explain how the order is compatible with the conduct of Ms. Guergis, who caused a scene at a Charlottetown airport and admits her staff posed as regular citizens to write letters to newspapers in her defense.
"The minister of state for women has answered all questions on the matters that have been raised," Mr. Harper replied. "The minister of state, Mr. Speaker, continues to do good work for Canadian women."
NDP Leader Jack Layton focused his questions on the fact the previous Liberal government used the EI surplus to balance the books rather than leave the money on hand to cover benefits for workers. He accused the Conservatives of continuing the practice in this year's budget. "Why is the Prime Minister legalizing this Liberal theft," Mr. Layton asked.
"As everybody knows, money, some 10 years ago, was taken by the previous government and used for other priorities," Mr. Harper answered. "The $60-billion no longer exists. It has been spent. But Mr. Speaker, we're instituting a system that will protect workers' premiums in the future [and] make sure they are used for the programs."
(Photo: Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)
Bill Curry