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OTTAWA — Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau is making no apologies for appearing in the House of Commons only two days per week during this fall’s session of Parliament.

Trudeau says Parliament is not addressing Canadians’ problems thanks to the hyper-partisanship that has become commonplace, and that he is accomplishing more by meeting real people in their homes and communities.

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“This government, and unfortunately this House of Commons, tends to be focused on attacks and insults much more than on the service that Canadians are expecting of their parliamentarians and their representatives,” he said in an interview Tuesday.

“People are struggling. And they want people who are listening to them, who are proposing solutions.”

There have been 34 question periods in the House of Commons since the throne speech on Oct. 16, during which significant time has been given to such issues as the Senate expense scandal, free trade with the European Union, aboriginal affairs and rail safety. It’s not unusual for party leaders to skip some question periods, especially Mondays and Fridays, meaning none of the major party leaders has a perfect attendance record.