Liberals say Commons absences allow Trudeau to ‘ engage’ Canadians

OTTAWA — The Liberal Party of Canada is trumpeting Leader Justin Trudeau’s questionable House of Commons attendance in a new fundraising email that says “the real hard work doesn’t always happen in Ottawa.”

The party sent out an email this week noting that while NDP Leader Tom Mulcair is asking questions in the House of Commons during daily question period, Trudeau is out speaking to thousands of Canadians at events across the country. The email also includes a link to make a donation to the Liberals.

“The real hard work ( doesn’t always happen in Ottawa),” says a graphic in the Liberal fundraising email. “Let others focus on the political circus. Because Justin Trudeau is focused on you.”

An unapologetic Trudeau has come under fire in recent months for his relatively poor attendance record in question period, including only appearing in the House of Commons about two days per week during the fall sitting of Parliament.

His record during the spring sitting hasn’t been much better: he has missed more than half of the 47 question periods since late January — though part of this was when he took some personal time for the birth of his son.

Trudeau has been in the Commons for 20 of the 47 question periods ( 43- per- cent attendance) during the spring sitting, well behind Mulcair’s 31 appearances ( 66- per- cent attendance) but just ahead of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s 19 showings ( 40 per cent).

However, Trudeau and the Liberals aren’t running from his attendance record. Rather, they seem to have no problem highlighting it.

The email notes Trudeau has been to 520 events in 105 cities in 387 days as leader — and during that time spent 141 days on the road in 115 ridings.