Carney, Poilievre grill one another on familiar issues as House of Commons returns

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• The House of Commons is back in session.
• There was a loud cheer from the Opposition as Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre returned for the first time since the spring election.
• He and Prime Minister Mark Carney met in the middle of the floor and shook hands before question period began.
• The sitting started with an equally friendly tone as Poilievre thanked Carney for calling the byelection that enabled his return. But the themes quickly returned to the norm.
• The Opposition grilled the Liberals about affordability, particularly when it comes to housing and groceries.
• This fall sitting is a major test for Carney as he prepares to release his first fall budget.

Housing agency under scrutiny

Darren Major (new window)

Carney only launched his new federal housing agency yesterday, but the Conservatives are already criticizing the move.

Build Canada Homes is being billed by the Liberals as a central hub for new federal housing programs.

Conservative housing critic Scott Aitchison blasted what he said is just more bureaucracy, and urged the government to cut red tape to boost housing construction instead.

Why does the prime minister believe that adding $13 billion more bureaucracy is going to suddenly solve the housing crisis? Aitchison asked.

Housing Minister Gregor Robertson said the agency will harness private sector builders and give them confidence to invest in projects backed by the federal government.

Kurek watching from gallery

Darren Major (new window)

Spotted in the gallery: former Conservative MP Damien Kurek.

He gave up the safe Alberta seat of Battle River-Crowfoot so that Poilievre could run. But he might not be relegated to looking down at the chamber for long — Kurek has suggested he expects to be back on the ballot in the next general election.

A ‘promotion’ for Poilievre?

Darren Major (new window)

In a light moment early in question period, Carney began to respond to a question from Poilievre — but he mistitled the leader of the Opposition, referring to Poilievre as minister.

Carney caught himself and quipped that Poilievre got a promotion and jokingly invited him over to the government side of the aisle, which got a laugh.

Blanchet asks about U.S. tariffs

Darren Major (new window)

Bloc Leader Blanchet’s first question was about the U.S. tariffs.

After saying the Liberal government hasn’t been successful in ending the trade war, Blanchet asked when the remaining U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods will be removed.

Carney retorted by arguing that Canada has one of the better deals when it comes to U.S. tariffs, saying most Canadian goods are exempt under the CUSMA trade deal.

This article is republished from RCI.