Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Once again, I would first like to welcome our minister and the witnesses who came here during the summer.
I want to continue with what we were speaking about, if you don't mind, Minister.
The NDP has been critical in recent weeks of our government's plan to undertake a review of spending, a review of how taxpayers' dollars are actually spent. Disappointingly, some in the NDP have dismissed such a review as “an ideological approach”.
As we know, our next phase of Canada's economic action plan lays out a plan to examine roughly $80 billion of direct program spending. The objective is to ensure that we are spending taxpayers' money as effectively and efficiently as possible and that we are reducing spending. I understand this involves ensuring that we are getting maximum value out of current operating expenditures, improving productivity in government, and examining the relevance and effectiveness of programs.
I think small businesses and moms and dads who also have to balance their budgets think it's prudent that we have this kind of review. They think it's reasonable and want to be assured that we are effective in using their money. That's why, unlike the NDP, I think we ought to proceed and I think that's why Canadians agree with us. The government is doing what is necessary, and I urge the government to continue in that vein.
That said, can you speak further about our government's plan to review spending? Could you also comment on how we expect to satisfy the priorities that Canadians are indicating?