Thank you, Mr. Chair.
My question is to Dr. Cross, but anyone who feels comfortable can chime in.
Some of my honourable colleagues seem to be advocating for austerity in response to this government's unprecedented emergency support spending. However, following the global financial crisis, countries that took extreme steps to cut costs not only experienced slower rates of economic growth but also saw poorer health outcomes for their citizens.
Given the fact that we will be emerging from a public health crisis, one which many economists have suggested must be addressed through higher rates of economic growth, why does it make sense to be advocating for government cost-cutting and austerity measures that have historically resulted in such negative outcomes?