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As harsh winter weather rips through most of the country, some NDP MPs can sympathize with those who are struggling to get to work.

A majority of the party's representatives were unable to make it back to Ottawa on time for the start of the winter sitting.

The NDP caucus was in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, for a pre-sitting huddle last week. But a majority, including interim leader Don Davies, were unable to leave over the weekend as flights were cancelled.

MPs Heather McPherson and Alexandre Boulerice represent New Democrats in the House today.

Bloc members are sticking to the topic of 1759, with Martin Champoux, who represents the riding of Drummond, Que., accusing the Liberals of "rewriting the facts." 

Liberal Minister of Identity and Culture Marc Miller, whose riding is in Montreal, called the Bloc the "militant arm of the Parti Québécois today" and said the PQ's own leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has moved on to something else.

"He's having an argument with Bonhomme Carnaval," Miller said, speaking of the Quebec City mascot.

"I think what bothers them the most is the prime minister's message was a national one," he added. 

Champoux replied by saying Louis-Joseph de Montcalm, the lieutenant-general who led the French defenders, died in the battle's aftermath declaring he was disappointed not to see the English surrender in Quebec. 

"The truth is we were conquered, and since then the federal government is just trying to keep us in line," Champoux said.

"What is the prime minister waiting for to pick up a book and learn about Quebec? It's about time."

Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet doesn't appear to be in attendance today.

The Bloc's first question was from House leader Christine Normandin who criticized how Carney framed the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in a speech last week.

The 1759 battle saw British troops defeat French defenders of New France and effectively lead to France surrendering the territory.

The prime minister is taking some flack for describing the battle as the start of a "partnership" between French and English people in Canada. In some circles in Quebec the battle is still described as a "conquest," which is how Normandin described it in her criticisms.

LeBlanc says he reaffirmed CUSMA terms with U.S. Trade representative after China deal

Minister Responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade Dominic LeBlanc says he reiterated to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer that Canada would not enter free trade discussions with countries with a non-market economy per CUSMA, following Canada's recent trade deal with China. 'I was reassured that Ambassador Greer understood very clearly what the agreement is and what it's not,' LeBlanc said.

Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc just told reporters that he had a conversation with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Sunday, where he explained the arrangement Carney brokered with China.

Trump lashed out at Canada over the weekend for cutting a deal with China that includes allowing in a set number of EVs in exchange for tariff relief. Trump said it will be "a disaster" and "will go down as one of the worst deals, of any kind, in history."

Echoing comments by Carney, LeBlanc said he told Greer that Canada has no intention of signing a free trade deal with a non-market economy like China. Under CUSMA, Canada cannot negotiate such a deal without first telling the U.S. And Mexico.

The talks in Beijing were about doing away with some lingering trade issues, like Chinese levies on canola and seafood, not liberalizing trade more broadly.

LeBlanc described the conversation with Greer as "cordial" and said Trump's trade rep "understood well" what exactly China and Canada agreed to do. 

As for the upcoming CUSMA review, LeBlanc will travel to Washington sometime in the next few weeks. "I expressed to him our desire to move quickly," he said of Greer, noting that "officials are already at work." 

Government House leader Steven MacKinnon answered Poilievre's second question and took time to rib the Conservative leader a little bit.

Speaking in French, MacKinnon said he expressed "solidarity" with Poilievre as he is set to face his leadership review later this week.

"I am certain he will be able to convince a majority of his members to support his leadership," MacKinnon said, with Liberal MPs chuckling around him.

Poilievre has made his entire round of questioning about the cost of groceries.

Despite criticizing the GST rebate the Liberals' announced today, it sounds like the Conservatives are willing to support it.

"The prime minister has revived a Trudeau-era rebate — which we'll let pass," he said before arguing the government needs to do more to address the cost of living.

The first question always goes to the leader of the Official Opposition. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre talked about the rising cost of food. He asked when the government would cut the deficit, arguing that it would help lower costs.

Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne answered on behalf of the government and argued that the government is helping Canadians, pointing to the GST rebate Carney announced earlier today.

Conservative House leader Andrew Scheer just spoke to reporters as he was heading into the House of Commons chamber and was asked about the Liberals' proposed GST rebate. His answer leaves his party a bit of wiggle room to manoeuvre one way or the other.

On one hand, Scheer called the rebate a "recycled Trudeau-era policy" that wouldn't offer enough help to Canadians struggling with affordability. Scheer criticized the measure for being temporary, and instead said the government should cut the federal deficit and remove a suite of taxes.

That being said, the House leader didn't completely close the door on Conservatives backing the proposed rebate.

"Conservatives will always support measures that provide relief, even if they are temporary," he said.

Question period is starting now, with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre up first.

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