Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to all for being here.
Perhaps I could begin with the three who talked about child care.
To Susan Harney, you say that maybe this time you'll convince the committee. I think you have already convinced the majority on the committee. The question is convincing the government. I would remind you that when we were the government, we had a $5 billion signed agreement with the provinces for child care. I personally have been an admirer of Fraser Mustard for many years. It was the Conservatives who ripped up those agreements when they came to power.
I'm not saying that we could spend $22 billion per year in year one. Even if you abolished the Department of National Defence, you'd still be short of money to fund that.
I would give one piece of advice to you, Ms. Harney, even though I'm with you in spirit. I would recommend that you not say that child care pays for itself, because it doesn't. People on the right sometimes say that tax cuts pay for themselves. They don't. It is equally untrue to say that child care pays for itself. I am an economist, and I know that you can build up big multipliers and show that somehow that's true, but it defies common sense. Ask the Province of Quebec if they think child care pays for itself.
So I just think you weaken your own argument when you add things like that, things that are not necessary to the argument and are patently untrue.
I'd like now to turn to....
Perhaps I should let you answer, if you want to. But don't be too long, please, because I don't have much time.