Declaration of Emergency Committee on June 14th, 2022

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

I'm not asking you to speak for the CBC. I'm asking whether you were informed that the CBC retracted the story, the false story, about foreign funding and donations to the convoy.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Again, Mr. Brock, I don't believe that the CBC is being interrogated here. I believe it's the Government of Canada.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Just answer the question, Minister Freeland. Were you aware, yes or no? It's a simple question.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

I don't have the article before me, and I'm not here to answer questions about the CBC and its reporting.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

The Deputy Prime Minister, the most senior cabinet minister, is not prepared to accept whether or not the CBC retracted a false story?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

I don't speak for the CBC, sir.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

You, as the most senior cabinet minister and the Deputy Prime Minister relied upon that initial story from the CBC and shared your concerns with Canadians regarding “terrorism funding” and “money laundering”—your words. Is that correct?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Let me be very clear. My principal concern when it comes to the illegal occupation and the illegal blockades is the economic harm that was done to Canada.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Let me be very clear, Minister Freeland: Several times in the House you referred to terrorism funding and money laundering.

Are you saying you didn't use those words?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

I am speaking here today and I am talking about the central motivation of our very serious actions.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

And I'm here to ask you questions, and I expect, unlike in question period, a response.

My question is do you recall using the words “terrorism funding” and “money laundering” in the House and reporting outside the House—yes or no, Minister Freeland?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

I believe if we were in a court of law, where I think you once worked, that might be called badgering the witness, Mr. Brock.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Chair...?

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Gwen Boniface]

Can we allow the question to be answered?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Thank you.

As I said, my core concern as Minister of Finance, and my central justification for these very serious measures that we put in place, as was clear in my opening statement—

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

You're not answering the question. I'm going to move on.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

—[Inaudible Editor] is the economic impact.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

You're not answering the question, and I will move on.

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Madam Chair, on a point of order, it's entirely possible that Mr. Brock doesn't like the answer he's hearing, but the witness is entitled to provide an answer. Could she be provided the opportunity to provide an answer?

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Madam Chair, the witness may not like the questions, but she's not entitled to establish her own facts in responding with an answer that is non-responsive and not relevant to the question.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Gwen Boniface]

We'll move it back 20 seconds and allow you to ask your last question.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Do you agree with me that the deputy director of FINTRAC, Mr. MacKillop, confirmed at committee that the convoy funding did not come from terrorism funding or money laundering, and the typical person who donated hundreds and thousands of dollars to the convoy...came from their own resources and posed no security threat? Do you accept that?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

What I accept, Mr. Brock, is that the core threat was to the Canadian economy, to our reputation as a trading partner and investment destination. I made that clear in my opening remarks—

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Thank you for the non-response, Minister.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

—and that is my view.