Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I want to welcome all of my colleagues back. I hope you have been having an interesting but somewhat restful summer. It has been a summer of concern.
Canadians expressed to this government that the economy and jobs were of the utmost importance, which is why we introduced in the last Parliament a plan called Canada's action plan. It was an action plan that helped to focus on job creation. It helped to focus job creation in such a way that we have now seen over 600,000 jobs created since July of 2009. That is a success story, so much so that there are countries across this world that look at Canada with envy. These are countries that our Minister of Finance is continually in contact with and continues to dialogue with about the global economy, because it's not certain. I have to agree with Mr. Brison that there is uncertainty.
However, this meeting today is to talk about what we're going to do to instill confidence in Canadians and to ensure that they know that Canada has a plan. That plan is the next phase of Canada's economic action plan, a budget that was put forward by the Minister of Finance and this government in anticipation of some risk but also in anticipation of providing jobs and protecting the economy of this country.
It's important that we as the finance committee do address the concerns of Canadians, but the committee must remain a serious forum. I am concerned today that the finance committee might go down a path of no return, a path of no return that would turn this forum into something it was never designed to be.
We're asking for a special meeting to instill confidence in Canadians and to talk about a government plan. I am in agreement that we ought to do that.
The people we ought to invite to do that are the Minister of Finance and the Bank of Canada. The government side would endorse inviting the Minister of Finance to appear before this committee on Friday morning at 9 a.m., and a representative of the Bank of Canada from 10 to 11. Hopefully Governor Carney will be available, but given the short notice, he may not be available. However, we could certainly ask for other representatives from the Bank of Canada.
Let's not forget that the IMF and the OECD have said that Canada has weathered this storm very well and is expected to have one of the fastest growth rates of the G-7 countries. We've just received a AAA credit rating because we have stability in our economy and institutions. Even the government's financial strength was evaluated during that AAA credit rating, and we are considered to be very strong in that area as well.
I want to assure Canadians today that this government is continually looking at the global economy. The finance minister spoke as recently as last weekend with the G-7 finance ministers. He speaks regularly with Governor Carney and will continue to do so to preserve the interests of Canadians.
I believe this committee can do some good work here this week to continue to maintain that confidence. I hear many people in my riding who are concerned but very thankful to be in Canada at this time, very thankful that this government has taken some measures to protect their jobs and the economy, and very thankful to be the envy of the world.
I think the minister would be very happy to appear from 9 until 10 to further indicate what has been done to ensure that we continue on this steady, prudent track. The leadership that's been shown in Canada has been commented on around the world.
I would endorse inviting the Minister of Finance from 9 until 10 and a representative from the Bank of Canada from 10 to 11 on Friday morning so that we can continue to advise Canadians that this government is working hard and will continue to protect their interests when it comes to the global economy, when it comes to the economy of this country, and when it comes to creating and protecting their jobs.
Thank you.