Democratic Institutions Minister Maryam Monsef was largely left to grin and bear it in question period Tuesday thanks to the back-to-back comedy stylings of her two top critics. One day after the Liberals’ new online electoral reform survey was roundly mocked online and in the House of Commons, NDP democratic reform critic Nathan Cullen and Conservative Scott Reid piled on with more jokes. Cullen said watching the Liberals’ electoral reform process was a lot like watching that bus in Montreal slide hopelessly down an icy hill. “Mesmerizing disaster in slow motion,” Cullen said.

Cullen charged that the just-launched online survey, which asks questions about democratic “values” and “preferences” that many have found simplistic or silly, has already turned into a “dumpster fire” on social media. He noted how a pollster tweeted that he’s seen “Cosmopolitan quizzes that were better designed,” suggesting the data was unusable. “So, I’ve got a question for the minister, inspired by her own survey, does she believe seats in Parliament should be allocated based on popular vote or based on the outcome of rock, paper, scissors?” Cullen asked, sparking an ovation from his caucus and some Tories. Liberals sat stone-faced. "Does she believe seats in Parliament should be allocated based on popular vote or based on the outcome of rock, paper, scissors?" — NDP MP Nathan Cullen Monsef said she was pleased Canadians are engaging with the website, MyDemocracy.ca. “Here’s what Cliff, the CEO of this Canadian company who created MyDemocracy, had to say…” she began. Monsef was drowned out by guffaws and sarcastic applause from the opposition benches. NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair incredulously threw his arms in the air. After House Speaker Geoff Regan told everyone to calm down, Monsef tried again. “I think we can all agree that we are proud of Canadian scientists,” she said, adding that “prominent scholars” served on the advisory board that helped craft the survey.