Finance Committee on May 1st, 2019

[Bill Morneau, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

—and we're working on that right now and—

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

The date...?

[Bill Morneau, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

—that will come to a conclusion on June 18 when the cabinet considers our next steps.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

When will the construction begin? What date?

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Give the minister time to answer in the equal amount of time that you asked the question.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

It doesn't matter how much time he has. He doesn't answer any questions anyway, so I'll move on to another one.

The finance minister introduced budget legislation that was widely reported to give a quarter of a billion dollars to the Asian infrastructure bank, but on closer examination we see that the same legislation authorizes him, in fact, to double the amount to half a billion dollars. We've been talking about the $250-million taxpayer contribution you're giving the Asian infrastructure bank. Your bill allows you to double that amount.

Can you confirm that you will never use that authorization and that Canadians will not be forced to contribute one penny more than the $250 million you have so far admitted?

[Bill Morneau, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

I'm happy to talk about our continuing commitment to being part of the global community and ensuring that the global economy does well not only through our aid budget but through important investments in development banks so that we make a difference around the world. We've made a commitment to multiple development banks around the world. The International Monetary Fund is an example of an organization to which we've made a commitment. The World Bank we've made a commitment to—

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

I'm not asking about any of those things. I'm asking about the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. You didn't answer the question so would you tell us this? What is the maximum amount of money that Canadians will be forced to pay under your plan to the Asian infrastructure bank? Just the amount—

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, I'm just trying to understand the rules here.

Is the minister allowed to answer with a response of an equal amount of time as the question that is posed?

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Yes, he is, and it would be nice if he were allowed to answer the questions without interruption.

Minister, the floor is yours.

[Bill Morneau, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

As I was saying, we have worked and will continue to work together with like-minded countries around the world—I've mentioned some of the countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand—to invest in development banks that can help to ensure that not only the most challenged countries in the world are more successful but also that the global economy does better, and that's—

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

What's the maximum amount of money Canadians will have to pay to the Asian infrastructure bank?

[Bill Morneau, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Am I able to continue with my response, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

You can continue your answer.

[Bill Morneau, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

We see this as important. We think that the ability for Canada to be a responsible member of the international community and to help in all regions of the world—

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

I asked a five-second question. He was supposed to answer in the same amount of time in which the question was asked.

Again, what is—

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Mr. Poilievre.

Mr. Minister, the floor is yours, and you'll have time for one last question, Mr. Poilievre.

Mr. Minister, the floor is yours. Finish your answer and we'll go to one last question from Mr. Poilievre.

[Bill Morneau, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

As I was completing my answer, we do see it as important for us to be part of that international community that's improving our global economy. It has been very successful over the last generation, as we've seen literally billions of people around the world being raised out of poverty. Some of it has obviously helped those people, but it also has helped industrialized countries like Canada to be successful as well, so we will maintain that even in the face of uneducated criticism on that approach.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Thank you, Mr. Minister.

Mr. Poilievre, this is your last question.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

That is the kind of elitism we have come to expect from you, Minister. You think that Canadians who are worried about the protection of their tax dollars are just uneducated, but maybe they didn't inherit massive family fortunes allowing them to go to fancy schools.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

We're not going to get into personal questions.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

I'm going to ask you again, and you're going to get one last chance to answer this question.

What is the maximum amount of money Canadians will have to pay—

[Kim Rudd, Liberal, Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON]

I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Wayne Easter]

Pierre, there's a point of order.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

Look, I appreciate you're trying to protect the Minister.