Evidence of meeting #28 for Finance in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was program.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Bill Morneau Liberal Toronto Centre, ON
—which was $85.8 million versus the latest full year that we have reported out from the 2018-19 year, which was $92.4 million. Really, I'm just trying to identify the fact that the spending that has been put forth for the Auditor General has increased.
We certainly support the Auditor General and the important work he is doing and will do for our country, and we'll continue to provide the appropriate level of support for that function.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Yes or no: Will you give the Auditor General's Office the funding it has requested, specifically requested before this committee, in order to carry out his, and soon to be her, audits? Is it yes or no?
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Bill Morneau Liberal Toronto Centre, ON
Well again, Mr. Chair, the way the process works, as it does for all things that we go through financially, is we look at the requests and we look at the appropriate expenditures for each different function.
We'll continue to take that prudent approach and, as you can see, we have increased—
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
So there was no answer to that question. Just a very short question—
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Thank you.
I asked a very simple question. This is the government that is spending another $150 billion on top of its normal budget. We're probably going to have a half-trillion-dollar federal government this year.
The Auditor General has asked for $6 million or $7 million extra in order to properly scrutinize all this spending.
This should be the easiest question you answer all day, Minister. Will you give our auditor the resources that he has said his office needs to do his job? Is it yes or no?
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Bill Morneau Liberal Toronto Centre, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
As I've said, we will continue to fund Parliament appropriately. We will continue to respect the requests of all agents of Parliament and come forth with funding that we believe is appropriate based on the needs and their representation.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
How many cases of fraud have been detected by your government officials that have been paid out in the form of emergency response cheques? Just the number, please.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Bill Morneau Liberal Toronto Centre, ON
Well, I think, as you know, Mr. Poilievre, we've provided you with information on all of the programs we've put out—
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Bill Morneau Liberal Toronto Centre, ON
Clearly, what we've been trying to achieve is a program that can help the broadest number of Canadians possible—
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Just hold on, Pierre. This will be your final question, but I'll let the minister finish first. He was just not quite to your time.
Go ahead, Minister, finish up.
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
Bill Morneau Liberal Toronto Centre, ON
Yes, as I said, we are trying to get to the broadest number of Canadians, and we'll have an approach to audit and people who are fraudulent will be dealt with in the strictest of fashions.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Right. Okay. Thank you.
Your government has told bureaucrats to send out cheques even when they detect fraud. The CBC is reporting that prisoners are receiving the cheques at their jailhouses. How many prisoners does your government believe it has sent $2,000 cheques to so far?
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
Bill Morneau Liberal Toronto Centre, ON
—to our objective here, which is to make sure that we are getting the support to the broadest number of Canadians impacted by COVID-19, and obviously we're very encouraged that the programs are having such—
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Okay. That's it.
Mr. Fragiskatos, for a six-minute round, the floor is yours.