Question Period is so Useless… but is Baird a bear or a cub?

Today watching Question Period in the House of Commons, it became clear that it really is useless.  When visiting in person, I could hardly hear the various members giving their 2 cents on a wide range of topics.  As a result, I resorted to critiquing fashion and seat placement.  However, watching it on TV and being able to hear it as it happens, I started to wonder other things.  First off, the translators must be the most well versed Canadians when it comes to politics.  I would bet they know more than many of the MPs in Ottawa, many of which don’t show up for Question Period.  The Conservatives in government rarely answer questions.  Their responses are curt and they always spin the end of their question into some sort of astonishment that they would even be asked those questions.  Some examples today are the Chuck Cadman affair and the environment.  Opposition MPs were very critical, suggesting that the new “environmental initiatives” put in place by the government favour Alberta.  What I did learn was that the government is ONE BILLION DOLLARS OVER BUDGET in Afghanistan.  They certainly don’t go over budget on health care or child care.   The NDP whines a lot, and the government does make a point in saying they could never do anything because they would never get elected.  John Baird however, is the worst.  He fails to answer questions and makes grunty faces at the end of every sentence.  I was pondering two things: what does the big, flamboyant ring on his right hand signify and does he consider himself a bear or a cub?