They’re back in the House and, as we predicted (was there ever any doubt?), the CPoC has decided that they’re going to flog their dead anti-terrorism law extension at every opportunity….. it started off during members statements.

Mr. Rick Norlock (Northumberland—Quinte West, CPC): Mr. Speaker, last night the opposition parties voted against extending the two special emergency provisions of the Anti-terrorism Act.

As a member of the subcommittee on the Anti-terrorism Act, I am saddened that the Liberal members of that committee, the members for Ajax—Pickering, Vaughan and Richmond, who previously endorsed the view that the provisions were necessary for the safety and security of Canadians, decided to play politics and voted against the motion last night.

They, along with other members who flip-flopped, ignored the sound advice of their colleagues, such as Bob Rae, Anne McLellan and John Manley.

For the past few weeks, numerous groups, including family members of the Air-India victims, wrote letters pleading for support for the renewal of these provisions. What a shame that Liberals chose to ignore their pleas.

We on this side are still dedicated to protecting Canadians from the threat of terror.

The average Canadian hearing this might go, ‘OK, fair game, members can say pretty well whatever they want during this period’ - provided of course that they didn’t know that the sub-committee the CPoC member from Northumberland-Quinte West referenced sent back something like 40 recommendations regarding the law that the government side decided not to do anything with.

– I wonder how many Canadians hearing that statement know that? I wonder why the member didn’t mention them? I wonder why the member mislead the Canadian public during his statement?

But it didn’t end there

Hon. Stéphane Dion (Leader of the Opposition, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister uses fiscal policy to enforce his neo-conservative ideology. He attacks women’s equality. He attacks funding for literacy. He attacks the poor and vulnerable and he restricts their access to the courts, all by slashing their budgets.

Will the Prime Minister stop his campaign of intimidation against decent Canadians or will we see more of the same unfair treatment in the next budget?

Right Hon. Stephen Harper (Prime Minister, CPC): Mr. Speaker, this is the party that brought in new tax benefits for senior citizens. The Liberal Party opposed those measures.

This is the party that brought in new benefits for families with children at all income levels. The party opposite opposed those measures.

This is the party that proposes human rights protections for aboriginal people and matrimonial property rights for aboriginal women. The party opposite opposes those measures.

The Liberal Party is the party that yesterday voted against the families of the victims of the Air-India disaster. That is the party that called the victims of the terror attacks on 9/11 a sideshow. I say shame on the Liberal Party.

A rhetoric filled question followed by an equally rhetoric filled answer, which, by the way mentioned absolutely none of the three items in the question, and ended with comments that had even less to do with the question asked of the Prime Minister.

I am willing to bet that once upon a time members from both sides of the House conducted themselves far, far, better.

I am willing to bet that once upon a time there were real questions asked, and real answers given… heck, I am even willing to bet that once upon a time members on both sides of the House treated each other with respect and common decency.

– what I am not willing to do is place any bets on when, or even if, the conduct of members in the House will ever change for the better.

The leaders of the political parties could effect change, but they choose not to, the 30 second sound bite on the 6:00PM news is obviously more important.