Declaration of Emergency Committee on June 14th, 2022

[The Joint Chair, NDP, Matthew Green]

I've already confirmed that. I just want to know, do you have notes?

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

They were concerned about the Canadian economy. When it comes—

[The Joint Chair, NDP, Matthew Green]

Do you have notes, yes or no?

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

When it comes to the conversations I had with the bank CEOs after the invocation of the emergency measures, at that point their job was to act in accordance with the law we had passed—

[The Joint Chair, NDP, Matthew Green]

Madam Chair, listen, everybody watching this committee right now can see that you're just refusing to answer a very basic question. It's to the point of almost being contemptible, quite frankly.

I'm asking you a basic question: Do you have notes pertaining to those high-level meetings, yes or no? I'm not asking for the content now.

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

I'm not sure it's very appropriate to call a fellow MP contemptible—

[The Joint Chair, NDP, Matthew Green]

I said it's “almost” to the point of contemptible. That's my observation, based on my experience.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Gwen Boniface]

I'll just remind you that when you both talk at once, it's difficult, so keeping in mind the time, Minister, would you please respond?

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

Yes.

I think that I have spoken about the content of those conversations. It was entirely appropriate for me and my deputy minister to have both individual conversations and group meetings with the CEOs of the main banks. They spoke to us about—

[The Joint Chair, NDP, Matthew Green]

Do you have notes? Do you have notes?

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

I'm speaking to you now about the content of those conversations.

[The Joint Chair, NDP, Matthew Green]

I'm asking you if you took notes.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Gwen Boniface]

The time is up.

[The Joint Chair, NDP, Matthew Green]

That is unreal.

Madam Chair, just...you know—

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

On a point of order, Madam Chair, I don't believe the member has the floor any longer.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Gwen Boniface]

We're moving to Senator White.

[Vernon White]

Thank you very much.

Thanks again for being here, Minister.

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

Point of order, Madam Chair.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Gwen Boniface]

Yes, go ahead.

[Vernon White]

Freeze my time, please.

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

Freeze the senator's time, please.

I disagree with my colleague Ms. Bendayan in denying the right of Mr. Green to raise a point of order. I think a point of order can be raised at any point in time.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Gwen Boniface]

I would agree with you, but he didn't flag it as a point of order.

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

Those were his words at the end before he was cut off.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Gwen Boniface]

I did not hear that.

Mr. Green, did you want to go ahead? I did not hear—

[The Joint Chair, NDP, Matthew Green]

No. At this point, you know what? I just anticipate that we're going to have to call the witness back to have an opportunity to actually get some answers. We're now over an hour into this, and I don't think we've gotten any answers, so I'll leave it at that. It's not even a point of order at this point.