By Alexander Panetta
OTTAWA (CP) - It was like a 47-minute attack ad without commercial interruptions.
The ruling Conservatives used the 2007 debut of Parliament to level the same accusations in person against their chief rival as they have in a series of new TV spots. Just like the ads, the Tories repeatedly cast Stephane Dion as a failure on the environment who has done more talking than doing on climate change.
The Liberals groaned in frustration and their leader at one point angrily wagged his finger at the government benches as ministers stuck to a cookie-cutter script.
They sang the same refrain throughout Monday's question period at every possible opportunity.
Did the Conservatives finally believe in the threat of climate change, Dion asked.
"It is not sufficient to simply believe in something. One has to actually do something about it," Prime Minister Stephen Harper replied.
"(Dion) did not get it done."
Liberal defence critic Denis Coderre slapped his desk in exasperation when his opponents used a question about the aeronautics industry as a launching pad to blast past Liberal patronage.
Why wouldn't the government force Boeing to invest in Quebec's aeronautics sector in exchange for a military contract, Industry Minister Maxime Bernier was asked.
"Quebecers and Canadians voted to change the old government," he replied.
"They'd had enough of the politics of interference and patronage of the previous Liberal government."
Bernier conveniently omitted his own party's well-documented financial support for the Quebec aeronautics industry under the Mulroney government.
Amid a chorus of grumbles from the Liberal ranks, deputy House leader Lucienne Robillard heckled toward the government benches: "That's pretty weak."
Harper appeared by turns amused or indifferent. He leaned back in his front-row chair, studied papers on his desk, or fiddled with the cord leading to the earpiece that amplifies the Commons audio.
The prime minister returned to his practice of shielding himself from the taunts of his foes while answering questions by turning to his left and facing the Speaker Peter Milliken. The body language reduces his tormentors to fuzzy spots in his peripheral vision.
It was a good day for props in the Commons - a no-no according to the ancient rules of etiquette governing Commons decorum.
Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn produced not one, but two federal documents which he used to pummel previous Liberal governments.
When his government was accused of re-announcing previous Liberal green programs, he brandished a section of an environmental report that pours scorn on the previous government.
"I know the new leader of the Liberal party pretends holier-than-thou that (Dion) is a great environmentalist," Lunn said. "Why did he not do something when he had a chance?"
The Conservatives sang a similar anti-Liberal tune when asked about Afghanistan.
Why did the defence minister last week describe the mission as "retribution" for 9-11? Isn't Canada supposed to be helping rebuild the country - not punishing it?
"When I referred to retribution, I was talking to the Chretien government's initial (2002) actions in Afghanistan," Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor replied impassively.
The dominant theme of this year's first question period, by far, was climate change.
A half-dozen Liberals wore green clothing accessories or ties, as did new Environment Minister John Baird.
When Baird was asked a question by Michael Ignatieff, he referred to one of the new Tory attack ads which includes footage of the Liberal deputy leader accusing Dion - during a leadership debate last year - of failing on the environment.
Ignatieff is among several dozen Liberals who have been assigned new roles since the end of the leadership race. Dion has surrounded himself with his former rivals, who now occupy choice seats on the front benches.
On television, Harper appears to be surrounded by female colleagues.
Polls suggest his Conservatives face a particular handicap with female voters.
That may explain why four of the five seats to his diagonal rear right - in just the perfect position for the TV cameras - are occupied by female Conservative MPs. But surrounding the tight, televised circle around Harper is a sea of masculinity.
Liberal House leader Ralph Goodale taunted Baird, who is well known for his high-decibel, furrow-browed, finger-jabbing diatribes against the previous Liberal government.
"You're turning pink, John. You're getting mad," Goodale called across the aisle.
Dion exited the chamber early and was gone well before the end of question period at 3:05 p.m.
The session concluded with Harper leaning back in his chair, cracking a smile, and playfully twirling his earpiece.
Copyright © 2007 Canadian Press
